Car Buyer Labs

Car Buying Advice, Tips, and Reviews

Three 2016 Silverado trucks are parked in a field.

Save Money By Buying Used

Looking for a vehicle that will give you the utmost performance along with the best towing capabilities in the entire industry? Check out used trucks. The truth is, trucks can be rather pricey, especially when looking at the latest and greatest offerings from some world-renowned manufacturers. Many drivers are aware of the bustling used market, which is increasing at a rapid pace, but that doesn’t exactly mean they’re informed on the benefits that come along with it. If you’re looking for used trucks and want to make sure you’re getting the most power for the best value, then you should check out a used Chevy Silverado.

Used trucks are quite advantageous in a number of ways. Firstly, many pre-owned trucks from even half a decade ago can often meet similar performance metrics to their newer counterparts as they are often equipped with powerful V6 and V8 engines. Furthermore, trucks from the past few years usually contain much of the same tech-centric feature sets and even safety features as well. Used trucks also aren’t affected by depreciation nearly as much as a new truck, so you’ll be saving quite a bit of money.

2016 Chevy Silverado 1500

A popular used truck, a blue 2016 Chevy Silverado, is parked in a field outside Albany, NY.

The Silverado 1500 is a popular truck amongst Chevy fans and for a good reason. What may surprise some aspiring Silverado owners, however, is the fact that you can get an equal amount of performance out of Silverados dating as far back as 2014 should they be fitted properly. Looking at the 2016 Chevy Silverado 1500, in particular, you’ll see a similar array of features that you will find with the latest 2020 models. Aside from an array of strong and efficient powertrains, the 2016 Chevy Silverado can be fitted in a multitude of ways, so you may come across a few different variations in your search. For example, both the 2016 Silverado and the 2020 model come standard with rear-wheel-drive (RWD) with the option to upgrade to all-wheel-drive (AWD).

At a base level, however, you’ll be looking at the same 4.3L V6 engine paired with the same 6-speed automatic transmission like the one found in the base 2020 Silverado 1500. This engine produces 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque with a max towing capacity of 7,600 lbs. When it comes to fuel efficiency, this V6 gets 18 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway, which is similar to the same V6 in the 2020 variant. There are two engine upgrades for the 2016 Silverado 1500, both of which are also present in the 2020 model with a couple of additional ones plus you can upgrade the 6-speed transmission to an 8-speed.

The first engine you can upgrade to from the standard one is a 5.3L V8 that produces 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. Fuel efficiency ratings are slightly lower on this engine with 16 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway, but the numbers are still certainly respectable. Surely this engine is a notable upgrade over the base V6, but for those looking to take it up a notch, we recommend you look for a 2016 Silverado 1500 with the upgraded 6.2L V8 engine. This engine is a great fit for the Silverado 1500 because of its 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, which compared to the base engine is an ample 47% and 50% increase to horsepower and torque respectively. For those looking for the very best towing performance with their 2016 Silverado 1500, then this engine will get the job done as a properly equipped Silverado 1500 combined with this engine sees the maximum towing capacity upgraded up to 12,000 lbs. Considering the difference in price between a used 2016 Silverado 1500 and a brand new 2020 version, there is even more reason to invest in a used one.

When looking at the interior of the 2016 Silverado 1500, there’s a host of features that you’d find in many modern vehicles. For starters, the base Silverado comes with a 4.2-inch screen for media controls, but going with a higher-tier trim will grant you a MyLink infotainment center provided by Chevy. The infotainment center grants a plethora of additional features along with an included 8-inch screen with built-in touch controls. Many of the added features help bring a whole new level of connectivity between your smart device and your vehicle. Amongst these additions is Bluetooth connectivity, which allows you to wirelessly connect your device to the infotainment center and access your favorite music playlists and stream them to the speakers. Speaking of speakers, the 2016 Silverado 1500 could also get an upgraded speaker system, turning from a four-speaker arrangement to a seven-speaker one supplied by Bose.

Along with Bluetooth, the 2016 Silverado 1500 can also be fitted with a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot that lets you and your passengers connect your wireless devices to a built-in internet connection so that passengers will no longer be burdened by boring road trips and can stream their favorite music or videos while browsing the web with a consistent connection. The infotainment center the 2016 Silverado 1500 may come with also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included. With the inclusion of these two pieces of software, you can access navigation, media playback, and hands-free phone calls and text messages. Although very popular in the current year, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto made their way into the industry back in 2014 and 2015, respectively, so you’ll be seeing it in vehicles from that point onwards, including the 2016 Silverado 1500.

A red 2016 Chevy Silverado 1500 is parked in front of a restaurant at dusk.

Find Your Used Truck Today

Thanks to a large number of helpful tools available at your disposal, all accessible through your web browser, there are now more ways than ever before to ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck. What the 2016 Silverado 1500 helps indicate is the fact that a used truck doesn’t always mean lackluster performance when compared to newer trucks. Many of the V6 and V8 engines that are included in a wide range of used trucks are still comparable to today’s models in terms of power and efficiency. The reality is you won’t be paying an exuberant amount of money to achieve respectable towing performance, and many used offerings from the likes of Chevy and others can be found used at much more affordable prices.

Used trucks, as we’ve mentioned, are often able to maintain a stable level of relevancy by making use of modern tech-centric features. Many times, drivers are drawn to these features in particular as they are usually considered highlights in many current day vehicles. Even in 2020, there are some manufacturers who omit the likes of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from even their newest lineups, so seeing their inclusion in much cheaper used vehicles is always a plus. If you’re looking to shop for a used truck, you should perform an internet search and then visit your local chevy dealer to get a great deal on a truck that does it all.