Photo: Chevrolet
Now 87 years old, Bob Lutz is one of the bad boys of Detroit. Having spent years at Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors, the Swiss American automotive executive knows a thing or two about the inner workings of the industry. On this occasion, Lutz fired shots at General Motors for the uninspired interior of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
All new from the ground up for 2019, the full-size pickup lacks in some notable departments. “I tried to convince GM that the interior is where the buyer spends the ownership period, not outside,” said Lutz in an interview for Automotive News. “I cannot believe that GM is trying to get away with these low-cost interiors.”
We have been saying it again and again, and people who have tested the Silverado 1500 know too well the quality of the plastic could be a lot better at this price point. Ford and Ram are better in this regard, but Lutz has a soft spot for the Ram’s interior, describing the cabin as “drop-dead gorgeous.”
Cutting costs. That’s how the build quality of General Motors dropped so consistently with the passing of time, but more so after the bankruptcy from 2009. Those dark days for GM were followed by the discontinuation of Pontiac, Hummer, Saturn, and Saab. There’s hearsay Hummer could come back as an all-electric SUV, but General Motors hasn’t confirmed the report.
Turning our attention back to the Silverado, the 1500 has been criticized in the media for its harsh ride and inefficient Tripower turbo. Who would have thought a four-cylinder engine makes sense in a vehicle of this size and weight? The 2.7-liter turbo is also expected in the Camaro as a replacement for the 2.0-liter engine, which is expected to go hybrid along with the small-block V8.
Pricing for the Silverado 1500 starts at $28,300, but a well-equipped model is closer to $45,000 including destination charge. By contrast, the F-150 is $28,155 while the Ram 1500 starts at $33,190 excluding delivery.
We have been saying it again and again, and people who have tested the Silverado 1500 know too well the quality of the plastic could be a lot better at this price point. Ford and Ram are better in this regard, but Lutz has a soft spot for the Ram’s interior, describing the cabin as “drop-dead gorgeous.”
Cutting costs. That’s how the build quality of General Motors dropped so consistently with the passing of time, but more so after the bankruptcy from 2009. Those dark days for GM were followed by the discontinuation of Pontiac, Hummer, Saturn, and Saab. There’s hearsay Hummer could come back as an all-electric SUV, but General Motors hasn’t confirmed the report.
Turning our attention back to the Silverado, the 1500 has been criticized in the media for its harsh ride and inefficient Tripower turbo. Who would have thought a four-cylinder engine makes sense in a vehicle of this size and weight? The 2.7-liter turbo is also expected in the Camaro as a replacement for the 2.0-liter engine, which is expected to go hybrid along with the small-block V8.
Pricing for the Silverado 1500 starts at $28,300, but a well-equipped model is closer to $45,000 including destination charge. By contrast, the F-150 is $28,155 while the Ram 1500 starts at $33,190 excluding delivery.
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