Chevrolet Silverado 1500 wins Best Large Dual-Cab Ute under $150K

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A few short years ago, full-size American trucks in right-hand drive form were the domain of smaller, local companies willing to take the risk on a costly conversion. Then Ram Trucks Australia changed the game with a comprehensive remanufacturing program as well as a dealer and service network. And now, the segment is significant enough to justify its own DCOTY award. 

At the time of testing, Ram had just called time on the V8 Hemi engine with a new six-cylinder replacement to come, Chevrolet offers Silverado in two 1500 variants, Ford has entered the market with its legendary F-150, and Toyota Australia has made the Tundra available to local buyers, albeit with a higher starting price, above the cap for this award. 

This category is all about capability – touring and towing specifically – with comfort and practicality as important as outright ability. Put simply, nothing tows a heavy trailer as safely and effortlessly as a full-size truck, and buyers on the rural fringe love the long-range capability of this segment. 

With the Ram 1500 in the midst of a model change, the two key combatants in this segment are the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-150, along with the slightly left-field newcomer, the Ineos Quartermaster. It's worth noting that Tundra pushes beyond the $150,000 cut-off and therefore wasn't eligible for this year's award.

MORE: See the finalists for Best Large Dual-Cab Ute under $150,000
MORE: See all the winners – visit the Drive Car of the Year 2025 hub

Winner: Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Drive’s pick: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium from $130,500 plus on-road costs

The Silverado wins this category thanks to its distinct two-model range (LTZ or ZR2) with both on-road and off-road focus, incredible cabin comfort and space, and effortless long-range touring capability thanks to the relatively efficient V8 petrol engine. 

The appeal of the trucks in this segment is easy to understand once you spend time with them in their natural environment. Yes they are big and probably too cumbersome for the inner city, but that's not the point of them either. If you need to tow, tour, or carry large items around regularly, nothing does it as easily as the Chevrolet Silverado. 

The engine, and in fact the drivetrain as a whole, is exceptionally smooth and powerful, with the 6.2L petrol V8 mated to an excellent ten-speed automatic transmission. Claimed fuel use is 12.9L/100km and we saw that or lower on the highway, with mid-13s to 14s around town in traffic. Ride quality, thanks in part to the long wheelbase, is excellent on any road surface, and the cabin space means even long-distance touring is comfortable for five adults. 

On that subject, there's an incredible amount of space and flexibility inside the cabin, such that even large four-wheel-drives like Patrol and LandCruiser are put to shame. It's not just about seating space either, with Silverado offering flexibility in the second row to store items you want out of the tray, as well as useful storage everywhere you look. 

MORE: Read the latest Chevrolet Silverado news

Chevrolet's integration of technology, the reliability of it, and the ease of the user experience are also superior to the other combatants in this segment. On test, smartphone connectivity has proven to be rock solid, and driver tech is easy to understand as well. The controls – both in terms of layout and inclusion – are sensibly placed, and easy to access. That's thanks in part to the amount of space on offer, but space alone only tells part of the story. 

Put simply, the capability, comfort and quality of the Silverado is as good as it gets if you need a vehicle of this size. The ability of the V8 engine, the ease with which it can tackle any task, and general drivability, ensure you'll enjoy every experience behind the wheel, and understand why this segment has been the backbone of the American countryside for so many years. And, while styling is in the eye of the beholder, we reckon the Silverado is the best looking truck in the segment, too. 

It's not all roses and sunlight though, we'd like to see a longer warranty for starters. Three years or 100,000km was acceptable not that long ago, but we'd argue that five years/unlimited kilometres is the new industry standard in Australia. And, the physical size is something for many of you to take into consideration. The Silverado is too big for tight city streets and narrow lanes on choked suburban roads, so if you live in the city, ensure you take that into consideration. 

FIND YOUR NEXT CAR: Search Chevrolet 1500s for sale

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