New and improved for 2007, the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck is garnering high praise. It's earned. The truck is capable and comfortable, good for a day on the job and a night on the town.

Photo by Chevrolet (ENLARGE)

Chevrolet Silverado

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ABOUT THE CHEVROLET SILVERADO:

Body style: Regular, extended cab and crew cab pickup truck

Price: 17,860-$38,090; sticker price of crew cab LT2 tester was $37,684

Drive: Rear wheel

Seating: Two in front, three in back

Engine: Tester had 5.3-liter V-8

Transmission: Four-speed automatic

Miles per gallon of fuel: 16 city/22 highway

WHAT'S SPECIAL: The truck has the guts for hard work -- six V-8 engines are available, the biggest being a 6-liter aluminum block V-8 rated at 367 horsepower. The active fuel management system squeezes out a few extra miles per gallon by shutting down four cylinders when full power isn't needed.

WHAT WE LIKE: The workingman (or woman) spends a lot of time in his (or her) truck. With the Silverado LT2 package, it's a comfortable place to spend time, thanks to power-adjustable leather seats. The ride is smooth and quiet -- especially for a truck.

WHAT ISN'T THERE: State-of-the-art transmission. While other trucks offer a six-speed automatic, the Silverado offers just a four-speed. Shifts are smooth, however, so you might not be deprived of anything other than bragging rights.

YOU OUGHTA KNOW: There is plenty of storage available in the Silverado cab. The large center console is big enough to hide a laptop computer -- important if the truck serves as a rolling office. There are two glove compartments in the dash. The upper secondary compartment, however, is too shallow to store much more than pens, pencils and tobacco products. There are three 12-volt plugs in the front seat.

EXTRAS: The list of options for the Silverado is as long as the cargo bed: leather seating, electric sunroof, CD/DVD player with navigation system. One worth special consideration: the $715 safety package that buys you head curtain side air bags and rear parking assist. An optional cargo management system with rails built into the cargo box is designed to hold a sliding toolbox, overhead utility rack or bicycle rack.

AND ANOTHER THING: The sound system allows for 36 radio presets, great for managing the multitude of options provided by XM Satellite radio. A small thing, but nice.