Refreshing or Revolting: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado - MotorTrend Magazine

The truck we’ve been anticipating for the better part of a year is finally here: Behold the new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado full-size pickup. Due to the slow drip leak of spy photos from both freelance shooters, as well as GM itself, the final shape and style is not a huge surprise, but we now can confirm some features that were previously speculation. For the first set of 2014 Silverado details, don’t miss our First Look here.

While it’s safe to say the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado shares a strong family resemblance with its predecessor, with the significant changes, it’s not likely to be confused with its forebear. First off is the unmistakably bold front grille. Chevrolet showed us a sneak peek of it a few months ago, so we knew the 2014 Silverado would be getting projector-beam headlamps. The prominent, chrome-trimmed bisected grille with the large central Chevrolet bowtie definitely gives the new Silverado road presence, and along with the chrome lower front bumper on the LTZ model, will be an imposing sight in drivers’ rearview mirrors. At least for the top-trim LTZ model, the trim designation is highlighted by a badge in the lower-left of the grille.

Although we’ve never really considered the previous-generation Silverado to be “soft” looking, compared to the chiseled lines of the 2014, it looks like a wallflower. This is most apparent in the boxy, angular front and rear fender flares on the 2014, as well as a prominent horizontal sheetmetal crease running between the wheel wells on the side of the bed and doors. This styling detail takes the place of the painted plastic accent bumper on the 2013 models.

Around back, the differences are not as striking. Although the taillights and tailgate are new, they’re much more evolutionary and subtle than the front or side styling. However, like the side doors, the top of the tailgate gets an integrated sheetmetal lip, rather than the tacked-on plastic piece of last year’s model, giving it a more macho, purposeful look. Speaking of purpose, the 2014 models have integrated bumper step cutouts, to aid access to the cargo box. This isn’t the first time we’ve ever seen this feature, as Nissan had it on the 2005 Xterra SUV. But it’s the first time we remember seeing it as a factory option on a full-size truck. Finally, following in the footsteps of Ram’s Quad Cab, the extended-cab versions of the 2014 Silverado abandon the rear-hinged, “suicide-door” design for a conventional front-hinge, rear-latch side door

The interior of the 2014 Silverado manages to look simultaneously tougher and more sophisticated. A crisp, configurable color TFT display in the middle of the gauge cluster ditches the previous model’s 8-bit monochrome readout. The dashboard and center stack feature bold silver painted accent pieces around the audio and climate controls, as well as the outer HVAC vents and the steering wheel. The buttons and controls are large and clearly-marked, presumably for easy operation when wearing work gloves.

Get a closer look at the 2014 Silverado and tell us: Do you find it refreshing or revolting compared to its predecessor? Take a look in the gallery below and tell us what you think.

Last week, the 2013 Toyota RAV4 crossover generated mixed responses. Remington Rand found the new RAV4′s design refreshing, “especially the interior. I love that stitched leather-look material across the dash.”

Whatnow wasn’t so positive after seeing the Toyota in person at the 2012 Los Angeles auto show, describing it simply as “boring.”

2014 Chevrolet Silverado images are on the left while previous-generation Chevrolet Silverado photos are on the right.