2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado has a well-built and comfortable interior. Buyers can choose from two basic interior packages. The base Work Truck (WT), or "pure pickup" interior has few features but durable materials that are easy to clean, making it a good choice for buyers who care more about capability than luxury. Chevy also offers a Luxury Truck (LT) or "luxury inspired" interior, which has the option of luxury accents like leather seating and a Bose stereo. Both basic interior packages can be enhanced with individual options as well as option packages, though some reviewers say the competition offers more bells and whistles in its interiors.

• "In terms of comfort and space, the crew cab's interior is similar to that of the Tahoe. The instrument panel was redesigned last year to give the cabin a more open feeling. Seams are few and the textures are appealing." -- Kansas City Star
• "The Silverado cab is spacious and well-organized." -- Cars.com
• "Chevys have always been known as workhorse trucks happy to take abuse, but up until this latest redesign, they'd also been known for terrible interiors. While nobody will mistake the new Silverado interior for a Lexus, even two years in it still has a purposeful appeal we can appreciate." -- Jalopnik
• "Despite its work-truck intentions, the materials on Silverados with the Pure Pickup interior don't look bargain basement. The luxury interior has dressier trim. Despite ample use of hard plastics with the luxury trim, the ambiance is still upscale." -- Consumer Guide
• "The Silverado's interior has very good fit and finish, though on base models the overall look is rather dull relative to the competition. The Silverado LTZ improves things greatly with a unique upscale dash and door panel treatment, a full center console and attractive wood grain and metallic accents, although you'll pay a stiff entry price for the luxury ambience." -- Edmunds

Seating

Reviewers are generally impressed with the seating in the Silverado, though many feel that the backseat of the Extended Cab model, which doesn't have a full-size backseat, leaves a lot to be desired. The Crew Cab model's full-size backseat receives better reviews.  Silverado buyers can choose from bench or bucket front seats.  In either case, reviewers say that the front seats are comfortable.

• "Ample adult room. Bucket or bench, the [front] seats are comfortable if somewhat lacking in side support." -- Consumer Guide
• "The Silverado's front bucket seats are more comfortable than those you'll find in the F-150, though the leather quality isn't quite up to par. It's certainly a step above the vinyl-with-a-touch-of-leather Dodge slaps in the Ram, however." -- Left Lane News
• "The back-seat area in my extended cab test Silverado was cramped, and the seat was too upright for much comfort. Opt for the crew cab version for a more comfortable back seat." -- MSN
• "The rear seat in crew-cab models is quite comfortable, and the seat cushions can be flipped upward for a nearly flat load floor." -- Edmunds

Interior Features

Because of the number of trim levels and option packages offered on the Silverado, it's possible to have a pure workday interior or a near-luxury experience. No matter what interior set up or features are chosen, reviewers agree that the interior is well-laid-out and solidly built.

Though the base WT model comes with only an AM/FM stereo, upgraded entertainment options are also available. The 1LT trim has an upgraded AM/FM stereo with MP3 compatible CD player and an auxiliary input jack, and the top-of-the-line LTZ model has an in-dash six-disc CD changer with auxiliary input jack and a Bose speaker system. An optional rear-seat DVD player is also available on the Silverado. Though options can quickly inflate the Silverado's price, and aren't always available on the base trims, many of the Silverado's optional features, like a remote starter, are reviewer favorites.

• "Classic and elegant, the Silverado's interior is light on trendy chrome and silver-painted plastic. It's a design that will age well, even if it's a little conservative for some buyers today." -- Left Lane News
• "The optional navigation system absorbs some audio functions, but higher trim levels offer redundant controls on the steering wheel." -- Consumer Guide
• "Those with portable MP3 players can connect and play their music collections through the truck's audio system using a USB input." -- Cars.com

Cargo

Interior cargo space in the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado depends on the type of cab you get and the various interior options. While Regular Cab models suffer from lack of interior storage options, reviewers like the Crew Cab's extra storage space -- the backseats flip up, giving you an almost-flat load floor for larger items, like flat-screen TVs, you might not want in the bed. Storage space for smaller items is available, but depends on the trim and interior packages that buyers select. 

• "In extendeds and crew cabs, the rear seat cushion flips back against the seatback leaving a large cargo area with a nearly flat floor." -- Consumer Guide
• "There are no stash boxes under the floor or in the center console." -- Jalopnik