'10 Chevy Silverado offers a bumpy ride

Small pickups are fun to drive and get reasonably good fuel economy. But when there's serious hauling to be done, their relatively small cargo boxes can fill up quickly.

For a full-size job only a full-size truck will do. And while rising gasoline prices have made these trucks more expensive to operate - and seriously dented their sales - the choices for shoppers these days are good, better and best. Which is which will depend largely on personal tastes, your regard (or lack thereof) for the nearest dealer handling that brand and, of course, the price after discounts.

The newest are the Dodge Ram, redesigned for '09 and unique for its coil-spring rear suspension, and Ford's F-150, long America's favorite and also given a major upgrade for '09. The Chevy Silverado on which we focus today was new for the 2007 model year. All the big pickups have earned Consumer Reports' "recommended" designation - except for the Toyota Tundra, which has lost it temporarily because of Toyota's sticking accelerator and other recalls.

The GM, Ford and Dodge pickups are available in a bewildering variety of engines, cab sizes, bed lengths, duty ratings, two- and four-wheel drive, suspensions and equipment levels. The test Chevy was an extended-cab model, a good compromise between the regular two- or three-person cab and the huge "crew style," with four conventional forward hinged doors. But loading the extended cab in a crowded parking lot can be frustrating because the front doors must open before the smaller, rear-hinged, rear doors can open.

Be advised also, if this will be your first big pickup, that these are large vehicles that do not handle or stop as well as most cars and that, when empty, their rear ends can be skittish. The test Chevy's steering was very overboosted and sloppy - a trait that, to a greater or lesser extent, is endemic to large pickups and SUVs. Beware also of off-road suspensions like my tester's; while they improve handling, they deliver a ride that can be jouncy - tiring on a long trip.

The tester's 315-hp., 5.3-liter V-8 delivered power that was only adequate. Consider upgrading to the 6.2-liter, 403-hp. V-8, but note that it prefers premium fuel. The government estimates the tester at 15 miles per gallon in city driving, 21 on the highway, but I averaged just 15.5 mpg over six days that included a lot of highway driving. That's despite the engine's ability to shut down four cylinders when they're not needed and despite the extra-cost six-speed automatic transmission (that, annoyingly, insists on shifting into top gear when it shouldn't).

Silverados begin at $21,845 with freight. The Silverado gets a top, five-star federal rating for frontal crash protection. It's rated "good" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for frontal crash protection and "acceptable" for side impacts.

2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4WD EXT Cab LT

Engine: 5.3-liter V-8, 315 hp.

Fuel: Regular

Transmission: Six-speed automatic, rear- or 4-wheel drive.

Safety: Six air bags; front disc, rear drum brakes with anti-lock and stability control; tire pressure monitoring, fog lamps, daytime running lamps.

Place of assembly: Roanoke, Ind.

Cargo box: 6.5-feet long

EPA fuel economy estimates: 15 mpg, city; 21 highway

Price as driven: $37,775 with freight

Bottom line: Strong entry in a race of champions.