RSS
Home
Road Test: 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid car review, hauling while hybrid
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
They made a movie, Escape from New York, didn’t they? It could have been about our first few miles in the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid pickup, headed south on 11th Avenue with the goal of eventually reaching the other side of the Lincoln Tunnel. Not that New Jersey is a particular treat, but crawling mirror to mirror with a plumber in a work van has a special drama of its own.
But perhaps there was no more apt test of the Silverado Hybrid than this particular avenue of pain. At least that’s how we rationalized it, watching the tachometer drop to “Auto Stop” every time the engine stopped, and in that traffic, that was often. In fact, more often than not.
The 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid is equipped with GM’s Two-Mode Hybrid, which has impressed us in the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, and the Saturn Vue Hybrid. In none of those, however, were we subjected to the Manhattan crawl. We’ll not repeat the description of the inner workings of the GM system here, although as a full parallel hybrid system, it enabled the Silverado Hybrid not only to go to AutoStop when the truck was stopped—which was often enough—but also remain off when moving ahead at a slow pace.
It didn’t take a huge amount of pressure on the gas pedal, however, to switch on the engine, and when Officer Friendly of the NYPD—they do this every day!?—waves one though an intersection, one doesn’t wait to be asked again. And in those cases, a subtle jolt can be felt as the gasoline engine comes on line.
It’s not seamless or transparent or whatever term that means “you can’t feel it” The big 6.0-liter V-8 has not insignificant internal mass, and when it is rotated into motion, there is an unavoidable torque reaction. Ditto when the engine turns off. It’s not an annoyance, however, but a subtle reminder that the truck is a hybrid.
The 6.0-liter V-8 differs from that used in non-hybrid Silverados in that it has “late intake valve closing”—Atkinson cycle—and Active Fuel Management—GM’s terminology for running on only half of the cylinders under light load. Its maximum output is 332 horsepower combined with 367 lb.-ft. of torque.
See the photo gallery below for more pictures of the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid pickup.
Chevrolet says that the Silverado Hybrid can operate on its electric motors alone at up to 30 mph. The emphasis should be on the “up to.” We found it relatively easy to stay in electric motor mode to over 20 mph but it didn’t take much pedal pressure at that point to tip the engine into gasoline engine mode.
We had little need of the air conditioner—it was cool when we had the Silverado Hybrid—so we didn’t notice that the air conditioner compressor is driven by an electric motor, which reduces vibration but also allows the air conditioning system to cool the cabin even when the engine is stopped. And we’ll have to take GM’s word for it that the electrically-boosted power steering saves 0.5-mpg by reducing parasitic losses from belt-driven hydraulic power steering systems because we really couldn’t compare it to anything.
The Silverado Hybrid is offered in rear-wheel or four-wheel drive but only as a crew cab. The nickel-metal hydride battery pack, er, Energy Storage System, is stowed under the rear seat.
The Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid 4x4 carries an EPA mileage rating of 20mpg /20mpg city/highway. We didn’t see numbers that big. During our exit from Manhattan crawl, we noted 16.8 mpg. Actually, that we considered quite impressive. A standard Silverado no doubt would have recorded in the single digits. However, in general mixed use, we recorded only 15.8 mpg, and that’s without hauling or towing—the Silverado Hybrid is tow rated at 6,100 lbs with 2WD and 5,900 lbs with 4WD. Our driving included hills, however, and in our experience that seems to hurt hybrid fuel economy.But for your next escape from New York, we’ll recommend the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid. At a base price of $41,170 for the four-wheel drive model, it’s not inexpensive although it is fully equipped. Its mileage in 1-mph stop-and-go driving is respectable, and that plumber in the van, who no doubt bullies lesser hybrids from you-know-who every day, has a lot more respect for the Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid. And you just know poor his gas mileage is.
Illustrations: 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid. Photos courtesy General Motors Corporation.
| Engine | 6.0-L 332-hp ohv 16-v V-8 |
| Displacement, cc | 5967 |
| Compression ratio | 10.8:1 |
| Horsepower @ rpm | 332 @ 5100 |
| Torque, lb-ft @ rpm | 367 @ 4100 |
| Recommended fuel | regular unleaded |
| Transmission | two-mode continuous electric ratio hybrid w/ four fixed ratios |
| Suspension, f/r | double A-arm / live axle on 2-stage leaf spring |
| Brakes, disc dia. in. | Front: 13.0; Rear: 13.5 |
| Wheel size and type | 18 x 8, chrome-clad aluminum |
| Tires | 265/65R18 |
| Dimensions | |
| Length, in. | 230 |
| Width, in. | 79,9 |
| Height, in. | 74.0 |
| Wheelbase, in. | 143.5 |
| Curb weight, lb. | 5,882 |
| Max. payload, lb. | 1,418 |
| Bed, length, in. | 69.3 |
| Tow max w/ ball hitch, lb | 5,900 |
| Seating | 5 or 6 |
| Fuel econ., mpg, EPA, city/hwy | 20/20 |
| Fuel econ., mpg., observed | 15.8 |
Be sure to read the next review. Subscribe now.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
The Aston Martin One-77 hit a top speed of 220.007 mph in testing at a top secret facility in southern Europe, Aston Martin reported today. The speed, …
While General Motors was announcing this morning that it is considering offers from several suitors for its ailing Saab Automobiles subsidiary, Spyker …
- 2011 Kia Sorento EX V6
- 2010 Reviews
- 2010 Audi A5 2.0 TFSI
- 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10
- 2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet
- 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2LT RS
- 2010 Chevrolet Equinox AWD 2LT
- 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
- 2010 Ford Taurus Limited AWD
- 2010 Ford Taurus SHO
- 2010 GMC Terrain SLT1 FWD
- 2010 Hyundai Elantra SE
- 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track
- 2010 Kia Forte
- 2010 Kia Soul
- 2010 Lexus HS 250h
- 2010 Lexus IS 350 C
- 2010 Lexus RX350
- 2010 Lexus RX 450h
- 2010 Mazda CX-7 i Sport
- 2010 Mazda Mazdaspeed3
- 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata
- 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart
- 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic
- 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster
- 2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid
- 2010 Nissan Cube 1.8 Krom
- 2010 Nissan Versa 1.8 SL Hatchback
- 2010 Porsche Panamera 4S
- 2010 Toyota Prius
- 2010 Toyota Prius II
- 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI
- 2010 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI
- 2009 Reviews
- 2009 Acura TSX
- 2009 Audi A4 Avant 2.0T quattro
- 2009 Audi A6 3.0 TSFI
- 2009 BMW 135i Coupe
- 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive 3.5i
- 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid 4WD
- 2009 Chevrolet Aveo5 1LT
- 2009 Chevrolet Kodiak pickup truck
- 2009 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
- 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid
- 2009 Chevrolet Traverse FWD LTZ
- 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic
- 2009 Dodge Journey SXT AWD
- 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Quad 4x4
- 2009 Ford Fiesta
- 2009 Ford Flex Limited AWD
- 2009 Ford Fusion SEL I-4
- 2009 GMC Acadia SLT-2
- 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid
- 2009 Honda Fit Sport w/Nav
- 2009 Honda Ridgeline RTL
- 2009 Hyundai Genesis 3.8
- 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible
- 2009 Infiniti M45x
- 2009 Jaguar XF Premium Luxury
- 2009 Jaguar XKR Porfolio Coupe
- 2009 Jeep Patriot Limited 4x4
- 2009 Kia Borrego
- 2009 Kia Borrego EX 4x4
- 2009 Land Rover LR3
- 2009 Lincoln MKZ
- 2009 Lotus Exige S 260 Sport
- 2009 Lotus Exige S
- 2009 Maserati Quattroporte S
- 2009 Mazda Mazda6 s Grand Touring
- 2009 Mercedes-Benz CL550 4Matic
- 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK300
- 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster
- 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS 4WD
- 2009 Nissan 350Z Roadster Touring
- 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport
- 2009 Nissan Murano SL AWD
- 2009 Nissan NISMO 370Z
- 2009 Pontiac G6 4-cyl
- 2009 Pontiac G8
- 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
- 2009 Pontiac Vibe AWD
- 2009 Porsche Boxster RS60
- 2009 Saturn Aura XR 4-cyl
- 2009 Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid
- 2009 Scion xB
- 2009 Subaru Legacy 3.0R Limited
- 2009 Suzuki SX4 Crossover AWD Technology
- 2009 Toyota 4Runner Sport Urban Runner
- 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
- 2009 Toyota Highlander/Hybrid
- 2009 Toyota Matrix XRS
- 2009 Toyota RAV4 Limited 4-cyl. 4WD
- 2009 Toyota Sequoia Platinum
- 2009 Toyota Sienna XLE AWD
- 2009 Toyota Venza 4-cyl. AWD
- 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
- 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
- 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 4Matic
- 2009 Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 TDI
- 2008 Reviews
- 2008 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell
- 2008 Bentley Continental GT
- 2008 BMW X6 xDrive 5.0i
- 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
- 2008 Kia Amanti
- 2008 Lexus IS-F
- 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring PRHT
- 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR
- 2008 Nissan Cube JDM
- 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line
- 2008 Scion xD
- 2008 Volkswagen Passat Turbo
- 2008 Volkswagen Toureg V8
- 2008 Volvo XC70 3.2
- 2008 Volvo XC70 D5
- 1971 Honda N600
