Ace of Base: 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 W/T

These twelve calendar months of 2018 could be called the Year of the Truck, given the number of new models we’ve seen from major players. Even those that aren’t majorly reworked have gotten some measure of refreshment either in the form of a newly rated top engine (Ford) or snazzy color-keyed trim (Toyota).

We visited the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Work Truck much earlier this year but, at the time, there were few details in terms of powertrain or price. Those areas have since been addressed by The General, leading me to the question: does the least-expensive Chevy full-size retain its spot on our Ace of Base list?

The 2018 W/T stickered at a reasonable $28,700 before the rafts of cash on its long and square hood. For the new 2019 model, the price jumps by $1,095. Still under thirty grand, then. I’m sure there will be legions of folks in the comments who’ll rail against a 30k base truck and call it an affront to America and every blue collar worker in the country, all the while waxing about the 1986 Chevy pickup that was offered without a headliner for less than the price of a cup of coffee or some other ridiculous claim.

Those days are gone and, I’m glad to say, so are the saddle fuel tanks and scary handling and terrible fuel economy and … shall I go on? Today’s trucks, even the base ones, are miles beyond their agricultural forebears and are priced accordingly. A purchase price of $10,000 in 1986 would be roughly equivalent to $23,000 today. I’d like to think the extra safety, economy, and technology in a 2019 pickup is worth the extra cash.

I digress. To repeat our history lesson, Chevy has stuck the Work Truck (W/T) trim on its most poverty-spec pickups for ages, with most of them destined for a lifetime of hard and difficult work only to be mercilessly sacrificed to The Crusher or The Back Forty once they were used up. In the ‘90s, you’ll recall from our previous instalment, Mike Schmidt taught us the value of GM’s work truck-grade plastic grille:

Chevy has also confirmed the base engine for the W/T. It’ll be the venerable 4.3-liter V6, imbued with cylinder deactivation and a six-speed automatic. Barring an unexpected bump in output for 2019, horsepower sits at 285 ponies.

What we have been told is that the Work Truck will be the only model available as a regular cab long bed, so get used to seeing that billboard grille on worksites and in the Home Depot parking lot. Rough-n-ready 17-inch steel wheels will look the part, while the interior will be available in either skin-searing vinyl or cloth seats. It’ll have a 7-inch color touch screen, likely with a backup camera. Air conditioning is standard, too, but power windows are extra.

Now that we know its sticker price of $29,795, the 2019 Chevy Silverado W/T can officially go up on the Ace of Base board. All that’s left now is to drive one.

[Image: General Motors]

Not every base model has aced it. The ones which have? They help make the automotive landscape a lot better. Any others you can think of, B&B? Let us know in the comments. Naturally, feel free to eviscerate our selection.

The model above is shown in American dollars with American options and trim, absent of destination charges and available rebates. As always, your dealer may sell for less.