Repair-It

At the track, the 2017 Silverado 2500HD 4×4 is surprisingly fasts for a 7,800-pound little big rig, thanks to road test editor Chris Walton’s cheater method. The method consists of putting the four-wheel-drive system in 4HI, standing on both pedals, releasing the brake, and then at 30-ish mph switching back to 2HI for the rest of the pass. The result is a 0–60-mph run in 6.5 seconds and a quarter mile time of 15.0 seconds at 91.8 mph.

Outside the test track the Silverado 2500HD is a treat to drive, chiefly thanks to the monstrous diesel V-8 under the hood. There’s a saying in the automotive world that Americans buy horsepower but drive torque, and I suspect even the most cynical Prius driver would be impressed with the Duramax’s effortless power and torque band; it’s almost electriclike in the way it delivers torque instantly on throttle. There’s simply always power available, and unlike some diesels the Silverado’s V-8 never seems out of breath. It’s unflappable. The Silverado’s transmission is good, too. It shifts quickly and smartly, and it doesn’t hesitate to change down a gear if need be.