Modern pickups drive almost like luxury sedans, and experts at Jalopnik admitted to being troubled this week. They weren’t troubled in the least by the high quality of segment-leading trucks such as our 2022 Silverado, but at the fact that so many families are using pickups as sedans.
Today’s trucks can boast amazing technology and a very high level of sophistication, and there are now so many ways to make the job easier. One of the ways that had only been portrayed on fantasy TV for years was to construct a truck that could drive itself, and staff writer Kevin Williams was eager to take a 2022 Silverado High Country through the Appalachian Mountains on a towing mission. As he stepped inside to begin his journey, he noted that the dashboard and center console had been completely restyled, with a fitting blue-tinted leather coating on all the surfaces.
Open-pore wood and more selective use of metal accents make for a higher-end first impression, along with a 13.4-inch touchscreen with some of the best-allocated colors on the market. It uses Google’s new car-based operating system, which is Android-based and boasts Google Maps along with Google Assistant. The flow felt straightforward and purposeful, the interface easy to use, and with Google Maps integrated into the OS, it helps with Super Cruise’s operation.
Super Cruise was once available only on Cadillacs and allows for completely hands-free driving. Kevin’s route for this journey began in Columbus, Ohio, and ultimately saw him finish in Winchester, Virginia. This was 350 miles of towing that went through Pennsylvania and Maryland first, with a large portion of the journey not having any cell phone service.
Kevin had completed this very same route with the much smaller Chevy Bolt, and was surprised to feel that the application served him just right in a larger and more powerful vehicle. The Silverado’s 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque mated to a ten-speed automatic can easily accomplish tow jobs involving a double-wide, and his combined load was around 5,500 lbs.
The Silverado’s massive capability combined with Super Cruise allowed for the ultimate towing experience with ease, and he noted early in the drive that he felt odd sitting with his hands in his lap when Super Cruise initially took over. Automatic lane change isn’t possible during a hefty tow, but automatic lane keeping and radar cruise operate at 100%. Over the roughly 700-mile journey to Virginia and back, Kevin used Super Cruise at every single stretch of road it was available. It maintained lane position without a single issue through Wheeling, West Virginia, and all warnings that the system was preparing to shut off were given with plenty of advance.
The built-in LED light in the steering wheel will suddenly flash red, and the seat will vibrate to alert the driver. When Kevin arrived at his final destination, he was astounded at how alert he felt, after not having to squint, hyper-focus, and handle the wheel at every single curve. Finishing his review by touting this setup as a “techno powerhouse” with more than 10,000 lbs of towing capability, this was an ideal testament to just how good things get when the innovations of tomorrow are combined with the awesome features and brute force of today!
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