Chevrolet Offers Cash Back on 2008 Impala, Avalanche

It’s a new month, and new April incentives are gradually rolling out. GM’s the first to post, and thus far the deals are slightly underwhelming.

Chevy is offering $1,500 cash back on its Impala sedan, a perennial best-seller despite its otherwise bland personality. The carmaker is also giving back $2,000 on the 2008 Avalanche, which Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays lauded in his review when the truck first hit the scene. Both cars also have 36-month, 2.9% financing offers.

Chevy is continuing its usual high-dollar truck incentives in April, offering between $1,500 and $3,250 cash back on its various Silverado trucks. Incentives expire April 30.

Honda Still on Top in U.S., Says Consumer Reports

For the second year in a row, Consumer Reports has named Honda the automaker selling the best vehicles in the U.S., based on factors ranging from reliability to vehicle comfort.

Toyota and Subaru ranked second and third, followed by BMW, Mazda, Nissan and Volkswagen. No domestic nameplate appeared on the list.

Truck Outlook Gloomy, Tied to Housing Market

Pickup trucks are the lifeblood of the auto industry, contributing an estimated $5,000 to $15,000 to automakers’ coffers for each one sold.

But trucks are in need of a transfusion, and the outlook isn't very bright this year or next.

People staying put in their home — fearful of moving up in a dismal market — might have money to spend on a new car. But those who build homes can't afford to buy new trucks when there are no homes being built. 

General Motors has a 150-day supply of unsold Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups in stock, more than twice the normal 60-day supply. Dodge has a 120-day supply of unsold Rams, while Ford is at 91 days of F-Series pickups.

Full-Size Trucks Get Full-Size Discounts

Trucks like the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra often hover near the top of Cars.com's Top 10 incentives list, thanks to reasonable prices and large cash-back bonuses. This month, though, the Silverado and Sierra are joined by a host of other trucks offering thousands of dollars in customer cash back.

Toyota is offering region-specific discounts on its popular Tundra model, and we've seen as much as $4,000 cash back on the 2007 Tundra and $1,500 on its 2008 brethren. (Search for Toyota's offers in your area here by entering your zip code under "Find Local Specials.") Nissan has joined the party, too, with up to $4,500 back — plus a $500 holiday bonus available until Dec. 3 — on the 2008 Titan. Mitsubishi's offering $4,500 cash back on the 2007 Raider; Dodge is offering $4,500 on the 2008 Ram; Ford is giving up to $2,500 on the 2007 Ranger, up to $4,500 on the 2007 F-150 and $2,000 on the 2008 F-150 and, well, you get the picture. If you're in the market for a truck, now is the time to seize that long-awaited discount. Who says you never get anything for Christmas?

Check out Cars.com's full list of incentives here.

Recall Alert: Chevy Equinox, Pontiac Torrent, Others

GM is recalling 69,000 vehicles for various issues. The biggest chunk of the recall involves 57,100 2007-model-year Chevy Equinox and Pontiac Torrent SUVs. The recall is safety-related, but not a defect, per se. The company will install additional safety foam in models not equipped with side airbags or sunroofs. The change will help lessen the chance of head injuries in a crash.

GM is also recalling 20,514 2001-model-year Saturn L-Series cars over a timing chain in the engine that could separate when the engine is running.

Rounding out the recall announcement are 11,974 2001-model-year Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks equipped with 8.1-liter V-8 engines. A faulty sensor can cause the engine in these trucks to stall.

GM Recalls Pickups, SUVs (Detroit Free Press)

2007 L.A. Auto Show: 2009 Chevy Silverado Hybrid

• Competes with: Traditional pickups
• Looks like: Nearly identical to a standard Silverado
• Drivetrain: 2-Mode Hybrid system with 6.0-liter V-8 engine and electric motor
• Hits dealerships: Late 2008

It’s Los Angeles, and that means it’s California, and that means it’s time to bring out hybrids. Hybrids of all sizes. GM starts things off with the first full-size pickup truck to feature a full two-mode hybrid system. The 2009 Chevy Silverado Hybrid’s powertrain is similar to the recently introduced Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, but Chevy hasn’t said how much horsepower it has.

Instead we learn that the Silverado Hybrid will tow 6,100 pounds while getting 40% better mileage in city driving and 25% better mileage combined than the previous Silverado. If you use 2008 EPA numbers, that would go from 14 mpg in the city to 18 or 19 mpg in the city. The standard V-8 Silverado can tow 6,600 pounds.

The Silverado Hybrid will come in Crew Cab only, but in both two- and four-wheel drive, when it arrives in late 2008. More photos below.

Related
More from the 2007 L.A. Auto Show
More Hybrid News
More Chevrolet News 

Cars.com Reviews the 2007 Chevy Silverado 2500HD

Mike Hanley delivers his review of Chevrolet's latest heavy-duty truck. The Silverado 2500HD can help those out there with a boat, horse trailer, RV or whatever else weighs 13,000 pounds. Towing is probably the most common reason for buying a heavy-duty truck like this, but Mike also takes the 2500HD on as a daily driver. How is it piloting a 20-foot-long truck? Check out the review to find out.

2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Expert Review (Cars.com)

GM to Build Light-Duty V-8 Diesel

Last year, Ford kicked off the light-duty diesel scramble when it said it would build a diesel F-150 in the not-too-distant future. Now GM has joined the fray, with plans to shoehorn a 4.5-liter diesel V-8 under the hoods of the Hummer H2 and light-duty 1500 versions of the GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado. Expect them to arrive around 2010.

With space constraints dictated by its current lineup of pushrod gasoline engines, GM had to fit a square peg into a round hole, so to speak. The Duramax turbo-diesel sports a few space-saving tricks — among them exhaust portals that exit into the center of the "V," not to the outside, as normally happens. The General says the engine will produce more than 310 hp and 520 pounds-feet of torque. Compare that to the chestiest gas V-8 in the Sierra 1500, which makes 400 hp and 415 pounds-feet of torque. Towing capacity will likely increase measurably over the Silverado and Sierra’s 10,500-pound maximum.

With decreased carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, GM expects the Duramax to meet stringent emissions standards in all 50 states. Fuel efficiency should be up 25 percent versus a comparable gasoline engine, GM powertrain spokesman Tom Read said. We couldn't find a gasoline V-8 in GM's truck lineup that makes anywhere near 520 pounds-feet of torque, though, so we can't predict any mpg.

Source: GM 

Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra Get Incentives

Don’t get overly excited, but General Motors is offering minimal incentives on certain trim levels of the all-new 2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra “in response to competitive incentive offerings in the marketplace.” That’s a GM spokesman basically saying: If the Toyota Tundra has incentives, we’ll match ‘em.

Starting Friday and running through July 9, there will be between $1,250 and $1,500 cash back or 0% financing for 36 months on the two trucks. Reduced-rate financing for 60 months will also be offered. We’re not sure if the deal will actually change anyone’s mind about buying either a GM truck or a Toyota truck, but at least it will make the GM buyer feel like they’re not losing out to their Tundra-driving neighbors.

General Motors Sweetens Truck Deals With Cash Back or Zero-Percent Financing (Detroit News)

Cars.com Faceoff: Toyota Tundra, Chevy Silverado, Ford F-150

One of the biggest launches this month is the all-new Toyota Tundra full-size pickup. Toyota hopes it can compete with the two big boys on the truck block, the Ford F-150 and the also all-new Chevrolet Silverado. Mike Hanley, David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder tested all three in their four-door trims, and the final winner wasn’t easy to decide.

Cars.comparison: Full-Size Trucks

Best-Selling Cars of 2006

A few readers recently asked when someone would release the list of last-year’s best-selling cars. The answer, it seems, is now. MSN Autos tracked down the top 10 best-sellers of 2006 using data from Automotive News, and there are few surprises. The Ford F-150 still tops the list, and the Chevy Silverado comes in second despite a 6.7% downturn in overall truck sales last year. The full list including total sales is below.

KBB Picks Best Redesigned Vehicle for 2007

Our friends over at Kelley Blue Book have racked their brains to choose what they consider the best redesigned vehicle for 2007. The search included any car, truck or SUV significantly redesigned as a 2007 model. And the winner is — if you couldn’t figure it out from the picture — the all-new 2007 Chevy Silverado.

Why? “The 2007 Silverado solidified its case for Best Redesigned Vehicle with its notably improved steering, braking, ride comfort, handling and power delivery,” said Jack R. Nerad, editorial director for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com.

Past winners include the 2006 Honda Civic, 2005 Ford Mustang and 2004 Ford F-150. Keep reading for the full list of this year’s contenders to see the Silverado’s tough competition.

AutoWeek Gets Around Chevy Silverado Embargo

Before a new car model comes out, the automaker usually plans an event for journalists to test everything out so they can meet their deadlines. The company asks the journalists to hold off on publishing until a certain date, usually around the time the car goes on sale. Recently, GM invited journalists to one of these events for the new Chevy Silverado. You may have heard about the new truck — or seen it in one of the countless ads with John Mellencamp during the World Series. The new Silverado is now on sale at many dealers nationwide.

So what’s the problem? 

GM doesn’t want anyone running a review until Nov. 27. The folks at AutoWeek came up with an inventive solution: They went to their local Chevy dealer and test drove two new Silverados. While the linked story below is long on history and short on driving impressions, the writer seemed to really enjoy the trucks. We’re surprised Chevy is trying to hold back what will most likely be a slew of very positive reviews.

[World Exclusive First Drive, AutoWeek]