Chevy may not be the oldest carmaker around, but it sure is one of the most well-known. Besides, 108 years (and counting) isn’t too shabby of a run, with many more years sure to follow. So, what makes a Chevy so popular? Well, every year offers new releases of vehicle models Chevy enthusiasts have come to know and love. Every local Chevy dealership can proudly showcase these new vehicles because while they’re familiar vehicle names, they’re built with innovation for a modern world.
Innovation requires change, and change can sometimes be a shock, but there’s always an end goal in mind. So is the case with Chevy. With the announcement that a few Chevy models would be discontinued, some wondered if the company had hit a bump in the road, but the truth is, Chevy has never been more focused on the future. America’s most beloved carmaker has an exciting new vision that includes trending towards trucks and SUVs, while keeping it classic.
So, let’s see what Chevy has in store for us.
Silverado
It may come as a surprise to you that trucks are an extremely popular vehicle. If you live in a big city, it might be rare to see many full-size trucks roaming around – kind of a fish-out-of-water situation. But, guess what? Trucks are the most popular vehicle in the United States, and they have been for a long time now. The heartbeat of a nation lies in its workforce, and that workforce needs trucks to get the job done.
The Chevy Silverado is one of the most well-known pickups on the market, and for good reason. It’s a solid, dependable vehicle that can adapt to almost any situation. If you’re looking for a workhorse, look no further. The Silverado’s maximum available trailering capacity is 13,400 lbs. and its maximum available payload is 2,250 lbs. Pair that with 89.1 cu. ft. of maximum available cargo space and 460 lb.-ft. of maximum available torque and you’ve got one powerful machine. Not only that, but the Silverado continues to be one of the most dependable, long lasting full sized trucks in the world.
Normally, that kind of power comes at a price, both in dollars and sacrificing other features. Usually, one of those sacrifices is gas mileage. Pickups aren’t prized for gas mileage – especially if you continue adding bigger engines and additional features – but you can find a Silverado with highway mileage over 30. A Silverado 1500 2WD with available Duramax 3.0L turbo diesel I-6 engine will get an EPA-estimated 23 miles per gallon in the city and 33 on the highway. A full sized truck with great fuel economy? Now, that’s what you call versatility.
Because of its versatility, the Silverado also functions as a great commuter vehicle. Whether you’re picking up groceries or heading out on a road trip, it can get the job done. And, as previously mentioned, certain configurations help to boost gas mileage, so you’ll make fewer trips to the gas station. You’ll also find there’s plenty of space for the whole family. With available seating for up to six people, a family vacation in the pickup is a real possibility. Plus, the Silverado offers great storage spaces, including two available rear-seatback storage compartments, rear under-seat storage, and a storage compartment in the available center console.
One of the best parts of checking out a new model (especially one as revamped as the 2020 Silverado) is exploring its many technological features. The Silverado has an available multi-color 15-inch head-up display that provides you with important information like vehicle speed, navigation, and safety alerts – and because it’s located directly in your driving line-of-sight, it won’t pull your eyes from the road. Also available is an advanced camera system with up to 15 different camera views. This includes the useful Transparent Trailer view, which allows you to “see through” the trailer you’re towing to see what’s behind you. This is just some of the nifty camera technology at work, but it’s still extremely useful. With so many viewing angles, trailering just got a lot safer.
Corvette
The 2020 Corvette won’t be available until early 2020, but it’s already making a splash in the automotive world, winning Motor Trend’s 2020 Car of the Year award. Although always a favorite among sports car enthusiasts, the new Corvette has ascended into new territory with numbers that confirm it is faster than it’s ever been. The 2020 Corvette has the look and feel of a supercar but is priced under $100K. To be more accurate, the base starting MSRP is less than $70K ($67,495 for the 1LT Convertible configuration). The 3LT Convertible configuration goes up to $78,945, which is still nowhere near the hundreds of thousands of dollars you might pay for many other vehicles in the same league.
To further explain the significance of the excellent price point for such a vehicle, the new Corvette achieved a 0-60 miles per hour time of 2.9 seconds. This is faster than sports and supercars from brands like Porsche, McLaren, Nissan, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Ford, and Dodge. In some cases, it may only be marginally quicker, but the fact remains it’s quicker and less expensive. To put it into perspective, a used 2013 Lamborghini Aventador will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and yet, the LP700-4 Roadster variation also hits 0-60 miles per hour in 2.9 seconds. It’s the same as the 2020 Corvette, but the price point is so much higher.
The new Corvette is a mid-engine sports car; a development that’s been talked about for years and has finally been implemented. With the available Performance Exhaust or Z51 Performance Package, this ‘Vette generates 495 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. Its top speed is 194 miles per hour (without the Z51 Performance Package). Truly, there’s been a disruption in the sports car market.
Other Vehicles
Other new vehicles include the 2020 Chevy Blazer and the all-new 2021 Chevy Trailblazer (available in early 2020). With these two vehicles, the Chevy SUV lineup amount reaches lucky number seven. As the car lineup shrinks, the SUV lineup grows. As the popularity of SUVs continues to soar, auto trends reflect consumer desire. There’s something unique about crossover vehicles, whether it’s the higher ground clearance, availability of different drive modes, or just having more space — the people have spoken, and Chevy has responded.
The Blazer is new in 2020, with a standard 3.6L V6 engine (on RS and Premier models). It’s a capable midsize SUV with seating for up to five passengers. Other available engine options include the 2.0L Turbo and EcoTec 2.5L. All-wheel drive is available on all Blazer 3.6L and 2.0L models.
The Trailblazer is the newest addition to the Chevy SUV lineup. It’s a small SUV that offers a variety of options, including different drive modes (Normal, All-Wheel Drive or Snow on FWD, and Sport) and a standard two-tone roof on ACTIV and RS trims. Speaking of trims, there will be at least five available — L, LS, LT, ACTIV, and RS. The ACTIV, as the name seems to imply, looks like it’s ready to hit the trail as it includes sport terrain tires and roof rails.
