Going for the Gold in a Used Chevy Silverado 1500

The name Silverado evokes the power and majesty of the Wild West, which is why it was the setting and title of a great Western from 1985. However, Chevy first used the name for a trim level on its full-size truck back in 1975, before making it the most popular model in its pickup truck lineup when it made its debut in 1999. Since then, the Silverado 1500 has gone through four generations of models, with the last two representing the most rugged, reliable, capable, and advanced models Chevy has ever produced. So if you are looking at a used Chevy Silverado 1500 dealer to find an excellent truck, then you have to consider the differences between the third vs fourth generation Silverado before you make your selection.

These are the two most recent models and will be the most plentiful on the used truck market. At Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford, we carry a wide inventory of models from all the different years of the third and fourth generations of the Silverado 1500, with a broad variety of trims, engine options, and other choices. Come by today and let our friendly staff show you why your next truck should be a used Chevy Silverado 1500.

Origins of the Third and Fourth Generations

The first Chevy Silverado 1500 trucks hit the road in 1999. It quickly became one of the most popular trucks on the road primarily due to its versatility, capability, and performance. Nevertheless, Chevy knew it needed to keep updating the Silverado 1500 with the latest innovations and improvements. In 2014, Chevy came out with the third generation of the Silverado 1500, which would remain until 2019 with the debut of the fourth generation of this pickup truck.

As you would probably expect, each year brought incremental changes to things like engine performance and size of the Chevy Infotainment system touchscreen. The major leaps were made when a new model generation debuted, like in 2019. However, some things remained the same across the line between the two generations, namely the choice of drivetrains and cab designs.

Chevy gives drivers the choice of either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive on their Silverado 1500. Getting a rear-wheel drive will boost the towing and payload capacities of your truck, while four-wheel drive gives you added traction, a plus if you have to contend with inclement weather or like go off-roading.

One other thing that drivers have a choice of is the cab style on this used Chevy truck. This goes for both the third and fourth-generation trucks. Choosing a Regular Cab will give you one row of seats and two doors, ideal for folks who want to use their truck primarily for commercial purposes. A Double Cab has two rows of seats with two full-size doors and two half-size doors. The Crew Cab is the largest design, with four full-size doors and two rows of seats, offering more legroom than in the Double Cab. These tend to be more expensive than Regular Cab and Double Cab models but are perfect if you want to use Silverado 1500 as a family vehicle at least part of the time.

Let’s take a closer look at the differences between the two generations so you will have a better idea of which model you prefer.

Powertrain Options

The third generation Chevy Silverado 1500 offers drivers a choice of three different engines: a 4.3-liter V6, a 5.3-liter V8, and a 6.2-liter V8. All three run on gasoline and come with either a 6-speed or 8-speed automatic transmission.

The fourth generation Chevy Silverado 1500 offers six different engines: a 4.3-liter EcoTec3 V6, two versions of a 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8, a 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8, and a 2.7-liter Turbo. Chevy also began offering the 3.0-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel drivetrain on the 2020 models of this truck. Each of these engines comes paired with either a 6-speed, 8-speed, or 10-speed automatic transmission.

Right off the bat, you can see that the fourth generation Silverado 1500 is the only one available with a smaller turbo engine and a turbo-diesel. Therefore, if you want either of these engines on your truck, then you will need to find a used fourth-generation Silverado 1500. In addition, Chevy carried over the three EcoTec3 engines from the third generation to the fourth. However, the fourth generation offers the 5.3-liter V8 with either active fuel management or dynamic fuel management. Also, you can get a 10-speed transmission on some of the fourth-generation engines, something that is not available on the third-generation Silverado 1500. This will give you a little more responsiveness with the truck’s transmission.

Towing and Hauling

If you are going to buy your used Silverado 1500 for work, then you are going to want to know that it can carry big loads and tow heavy trailers. Even if you plan to buy your used Chevy pickup for purely personal use, you still may have the need to tow a boat, ATV, or camper. The good news is that both the third and fourth-generation models of the Chevy Silverado 1500 can get the job done. However, the fourth generation is slightly better when it comes to towing and hauling.

The top towing capacity on the fourth generation of the Chevy Silverado 1500 is 13,400 pounds. This is slightly more than the 12,500 pounds of maximum towing on the third-generation 2017 and 2018 models of the Silverado 1500 and significantly higher than the 10,500 maximum towing capacity on all other third-generation models.

The same holds true for payload capacity. The fourth generation of the Silverado 1500 can carry up to 2,250 pounds of cargo, almost 300 pounds more than the third-generation model, which tops out at 1,980 pounds of cargo capacity. So, clearly, if you have to move heavy loads, you will be better served in a fourth-generation Silverado 1500. Just make sure to always check the ratings for the specific truck you are looking at so you know you are getting one with the best capability.

Fuel Economy

With fuel prices rising nationwide, getting good mileage out of your truck is more important than ever. When it comes to fuel economy on the Chevy Silverado 1500, nothing can compete with a fourth-generation model with the optional turbo-diesel engine. This will give you an astounding maximum of 23 miles per gallon in city driving and 33 miles per gallon on the highway if you get one with rear-wheel drive. If you don’t want a used Silverado 1500 with a turbo-diesel, then your best bet for superior fuel economy is to buy one from the fourth generation with the 2.7-liter Turbo engine. This will get you an estimated 20 miles per gallon in the city and 23 miles per gallon on the highway on rear-wheel drive models.

If you just compare the three comparable engines between the third and fourth generations, you will see something quite interesting. Both the third and fourth-generation Chevy Silverado 1500 with the 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 and the 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 get pretty much the same gas mileage. That is roughly 16 miles per gallon in the city and 22 miles per gallon on the highway for four-wheel drive models with the 5.3-liter engine, and 16 miles per gallon in the city and 21 miles per gallon on the highway for ones with the 6.2-liter V8.

However, the third generation Silverado 1500 with the 4.3-liter EcoTec3 V6 is actually a more fuel-efficient truck than the fourth generation model with the same engine. The third-generation truck with rear-wheel drive gets 18 miles per gallon in the city and 24 miles per gallon on the highway, while the fourth-generation model will give you an estimated 16 miles per gallon in city driving and 21 miles per gallon on the highway. So, if your main concern is fuel economy, then you should consider buying a third-generation Silverado 1500 unless you plan on getting a fourth-generation truck with either the turbo gas or turbo-diesel engine.

There Are No Bad Decisions Here

Whether you buy a used third or fourth-generation Chevy Silverado 1500, you are going to get a truck that is built to get the job done. If you want your truck to be able to tow the maximum amount of weight, then you might be better served with a used fourth-generation Silverado 1500. On the other hand, if you want to save a little more money, especially at the gas pump, then your best bet might be a used third-generation Silverado 1500. Either way, you should contact us or stop into Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford for your next used Chevy Silverado 1500.