The Chevrolet Silverado has been a best-selling vehicle in the United States for many years. This may be because it’s a workhorse of a truck and those who buy one are often passionate about the brand forever after. If you’re here, you’re likely considering the purchase of a Silverado from the 2013 or 2014 model years. We’re going to look into the differences so you can determine which is more fitting for your needs.
Technology Comparison
As you would expect, the 2014 Silverado has more technological features than the 2013 one. If this is something that matters to you, there’s simply no contest. Silverado 2014 has direct-injection engines, forward collision warnings, lane departure warnings, safety alert seats, and more. You’ll also find smartphone pairing technology with a 4.2 or 8-inch color touchscreen, HD radio, voice recognition, and Pandora streaming radio to enjoy as you drive.
Fuel Economy
The 2014 Silverado has three engine choices including a 4.3-liter V6, 5.3-liter V8, and 6.2-liter V8. They all have Active Fuel Management cylinder-deactivation systems and direct fuel injection which is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. There is also optional four-wheel drive so you may run into that on occasion with a used truck.
As far as fuel economy goes, we’ll look at the most popular engine, which is the 5.3-liter V8. This engine offers up to 16 miles per gallon in town and 23 miles per gallon on the highway. When using the 4-wheel drive, the mileage on the highway drops down to 22 mpg.
We can compare this with the 2013 model where the range was lower at 15 to 21 miles per gallon, and it clearly shows that 2014 is the better bet, at least in this specific respect.
Safety Comparison
The 2013 Chevrolet Silverado, was reasonably safe, with a 4-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That being said, in tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which measures crash protection, the 2013 model only managed a marginal rating for roof crush strength. It did get an acceptable or good rating for the rear, side, and frontal impact assessments.
The 2014 Silverado has bumped up these numbers and comes out as the winner when considering safety. It received five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in front and side-impact, with a four-star rating for rollover resistance.
You’ll find more safety features with the newer model, as well. All but the base model come standard with MyLink Bluetooth connectivity. The LT, LTZ, and High Country models come standard with a driver’s side blind-spot mirror, also. Other new options include safety alert seats, lane departure warnings, and forward-collision warnings. Based on this, 2014 takes the cake when it comes to keeping you and your passengers safe.
Reliability Comparison
When it comes to reliability, GM has a long record of above-average performance. While most full-size trucks have a pretty standard average, you’ll find that General Motors products are a common occurrence on J.D. Power dependability studies, which bodes well for both model years.
Each of the trucks undergoes a 172-point inspection when it comes out of the manufacturing plant. The new vehicles also come with a free history report and 24-hour roadside assistance as long as the powertrain warranty is in place. While these things may not matter much to a used car driver, it shows the care that is put into these vehicles, which both are dependable and don’t have a ton of problems to worry about over time.
When you take in all of these aspects together, it’s pretty clear that the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado is better in nearly all respects. Silverado 2013 is no slouch, but it doesn’t have the same features and safety ratings available to make it the optimal choice. However, that doesn’t mean you should blindly choose the 2014 model. Some of these things will matter more to others than you and vice versa.
If the choice is between the two, think about the price as well as the feature set. Either of these trucks is likely to please and last for a good long time. So no answer is the wrong answer.
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