| Test Driver Ratings & Comments |
|---|
| Acceleration comments | With traction/stability control off, anything more than 1,500-rpm lights up those 20-inch tires. I love the broad torque of this V8. Also, it doesn't seem to run out of horsepower in the upper revs, either. It feels as if it could keep pulling beyond the 5,500-rpm shift point. Shifts are quick and clean. FYI: you can get an extra 500 rpm out of the engine in manual-shift mode before the 6,000-rpm rev limiter kicks in. We tried to utilize this, but timing an electronically requested upshift proved too difficult, and with a 6.5-sec run to 60 mph, why bother? |
| Braking rating | Good |
| Braking comments | The brake pedal is neither too soft (as GM trucks once showcased), nor too firm. There's actually enough feel and pedal travel to modulate pressure and effectiveness prior to a full-ABS request. There was some fading feel by the fourth stop where the pedal travel grew closer to the floor. |
| Handling rating | Good |
| Handling comments | With StabiliTrak off, the pickup exhibits pretty remarkable balance right up to the point where front wheel hop and understeer begin. In the slalom, we felt the steering was a tad light, but still accurate and effective. The overall steering ratio is a little slow, too, but I never managed to "beat" the power steering pump when I needed to countersteer. The truck's attitude remained remarkably flat through the transitions. FYI: OnStar called me after the first slalom run, saying they had detected a collision and, after ensuring them there was none, instructed me on the collision notification reset procedure. I think I've finally decoded the notification trigger: countersteering (i.e. car is pointed in one direction and the steering in the other). |
| Safety |
|---|
| Front airbags | Standard |
| Side airbags | Not available |
| Head airbags | Standard front and rear |
| Antilock brakes | 4-wheel ABS |
| Electronic brake enhancements | Electronic brakeforce distribution |
| Traction control | Not available |
| Stability control | Standard |
| Rollover protection | Standard |
| Tire-pressure monitoring system | tire pressure monitoring |
| Emergency assistance system | Optional (1 year free) |
| NHTSA crash test, driver | 5 stars |
| NHTSA crash test, passenger | 5 stars |
| NHTSA crash test, side front | Not tested |
| NHTSA crash test, side rear | Not tested |
| NHTSA rollover resistance | 4 stars |
