Little of the Silverado's propulsive juggling act is apparent. When the engine shuts down at a traffic light, only the soft whir of the battery's cooling fan lingers. There's a gentle shake when the engine stirs to life, and electrical whine is occasionally detectable, but otherwise this is the futuristic smooth, silent motoring we've been promised.
The hybrid Silverado is available only as a crew cab with a six-foot bed and either two- or four-wheel drive. Options are very few but include premium trim (with leather seats and navigation) and a power sunroof. Although this hybrid costs about $3500 more than a similar conventional Silverado, our friendly federal government gives back $2200 of that in tax credit. Assuming $2 per gallon and a net mileage gain of 5 mpg, payback is yours in about 40,000 miles.
The Specs
ON SALE: Now
PRICE: $38,995
ENGINE: 6.0L V-8, 332 hp, 367 lb-ft
MOTORS: 2 x 80-hp AC
DRIVE: Rear- or 4-wheel