2017 Chevy Silverado 1500 Z71 in Brookhaven, Mississippi
One of the biggest revelations coming out of this year’s L.A. Auto Show is how fabulous the pick-up truck is. I learned this firsthand around Labor Day Weekend when I drove the 2017 Silverado 1500 Z71 from Atlanta to see family in Brookhaven, Mississippi. Before I hit the road, however, I familiarized myself with the Silverado.
I can’t lie. At first, it was intimidating. The Silverado is a whole lot of vehicle. Even if you like driving SUVs, most don’t come close to the Silverado. The Silverado is long. It’s wide. It’s bulky. Again, it’s a whole lot of truck. So I sort of hit the Atlanta streets to test it out first.
Biscuits at Holler & Dash
I hit Holler & Dash, a venture from Cracker Barrel billed as “a Southern style biscuit house” targeting millennials, in Atlanta’s hip West Midtown area. Valeting was fun. Getting there was slightly tight but the Silverado maneuvers well. It was Holler & Dash’s grand opening so I enjoyed far too many mini versions of such tasty biscuits as the uber popular Kickback Chicken, made of fried chicken, goat cheese, green onion and sweet pepper jelly that, of course, packs a kick. Then I jetted off to the BMI Awards where I got some performances from Rick Ross and a tribute to Patti LaBelle and saw Future accept a few awards.
By the weekend, it was time for the real trip, a six-hour drive to the Sip. Joining me were my two brothers who are very grown men and our female cousin. We all packed light and were able to actually put our bags in the cabin. Interestingly there was quite a bit of room under the backseat for bags. All the seats, front and back, were comfortable. And there was even WiFi for my techie brother.
Rolling six hours on I-20 was surprisingly smooth. We truly did glide over the highway. On the open road, the Silverado didn’t feel bulky at all. It was actually an eye-opening revelation. I felt as comfortable behind its leather-wrapped wheel as I do most vehicles. At 20 miles on the highway, gas mileage wasn’t so bad. The safety features were stellar and I am a big fan of automatic high and low beams or, more technically correct, intellibeam headlamps. Sound system was solid too. As we rolled into the night, my three passengers got in good sleep. I stayed wide awake and entertained.
When we arrived at my family’s estate (several of my aunts and cousins live on a few acres of land), the Silverado was a huge hit. I noticed more than a few on the road but had no idea how incredibly popular it was. At the cookout at my aunt’s house later that evening, the guests, male and female, gathered around the Silverado and marveled over the latest model. A few of my cousins and their guests even owned older Silverados. Yes I have seen those commercials but I absolutely know now that the Silverado is a star.
Chevy Silverado in Brookhaven, Mississippi
Heading back to Atlanta the next day or so, after getting in my road sleep, we got a new passenger. My mom had come down from Chicago and my brothers arranged for her to roll back with us and spend time in Atlanta. Lo and behold, we had enough space for us all. No one was cramped, which was a pleasant surprise. Rolling back was as smoothly uneventful as getting there. Gas mileage remained solid. We arrived in good time and I was able to get rest and get in some errands before it was time to give the Silverado back.
The souped-up all black, inside and out, 2017 Silverado 1500 Z71 4WD LTZ Crew I drove tallies in at $55,600 with all the bell and whistles. And I must say, it’s worth it. I already knew that the Silverado was great for heavy-duty hauling but I never factored on it being a fab leisure vehicle as well. If you are in the market for a truck, the Silverado is definitely an impressive look.