Chevy Silverado HD Tops J.D. Power “Best Large Heavy Duty Pickup” Study

As we are now ready for the coming of Spring and all of its potential outdoor activities, our prized customers right here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse most definitely have trucks on the mind! There are unique special editions, in-depth discussions about torque and horsepower, and models designed specifically for off-roading. We are in constant contact with many of you who have known the ins and outs of trucks for decades and having the most dependable truck out there on the road is probably one of the best attributes to take pride in there is.

This year, Chevy Silverado HD owners can now have absolute boasting rights to the fact that their truck was named “Best Large Heavy-Duty Pickup” in the 2020 J.D. Power Dependability Study. The premise of the survey honed in on a special metric regarding “problems per 100 vehicles”, or PP100. The 2017 Chevy Silverado HD was the subject, which showed up on the J.D. Power lot equipped with the new turbodiesel 6.6-Liter LSP V8. The study considered direct responses from 36,555 owners of 2017 model-year vehicles and how effectively they still performed after three years. The responses were gathered during the fall of 2019, and the winning vehicle lays the claim to the best in dependability and being free of maintenance hassles.

The Silverado HD even managed to beat its close relative, the 2017 GMC Sierra HD, in the study for the coveted honors of Best Large Heavy-Duty Pickup. GM as a whole nailed down five awards total in the study, with the Chevy Tahoe gaining props in the Best Large SUV category, the Buick Encore in the Small SUV category, the Buick Regal in the Midsize Car category, and the wildly popular Chevy Equinox in the Compact SUV category. J.D. Powers also claimed that this current year's dependability ratings, in general, were much higher than those in 2019, governed largely by very noticeable gains in reliability within the SUV and crossover genres.

The staff of Car and Driver also gave their very high level of approval for the striking appearance of Silverado HD, and during test drives of their own relished how it was wider, longer, taller, and bigger in just about every measurable way. They also highly favored the technology features and capabilities onboard the pickup, and the very convenient way in which the Tow/Haul is quickly activated by use of the new turn-dial. The frame of the Silverado is now more durable and stiff, and whether or not you are hauling a full load you will notice a higher quality of foundation than the outgoing model.

When you dig in and put the Silverado to the test of hard work, the retuned A-arms and torsion bar springs are on deck waiting to properly absorb every single rough inch of terrain you may encounter. Farmers and ranchers particularly are going to be served up massive ruts during spring, along with flooding and perhaps strewn boulders. When you are checking out which model you think is right for you, ask us about the higher trim levels of the Silverado: you can get extra goodies such as fully electric extendable and foldable tow mirrors, freshly redesigned rear spring packs, and a brand-new integrated brake controller! 

Chevy Traverse Ranked Among 7-Best Passenger Vehicles for 2020 by U.S. News

The sharp individuals on staff at GM Authority last week reported on a news scoop regarding our beloved Chevy Traverse: U.S. News and World Report has now listed the vehicle as one of the best seven-passenger vehicles for the 2020 year. The score given to the Traverse is 8.1/10, which is enough to situate the front-running three-row crossover among the best 7-plus passenger vehicles currently on the market. The comprehensive list is not just for three-row crossovers and SUVs: it also includes competition that has been incredibly well-received such as the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica.

A few of the deciding factors involved were the cushioned ride, seating for up to 8 passengers, a third row that can still accommodate adults and much more cargo capacity than most midsize SUVs. Everyone here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse fully recognizes the neck-and-neck competition factor in the room courtesy of the Kia Telluride, which the publication claimed was close on our heels! It too possesses a capable powertrain, competitive towing capacity, and even light off-roading capacity, and we specifically designed our prized Traverse to win the constant popularity battle.

The Traverse also beat out the Volkswagen Atlas and Honda Pilot in these rankings, as well as the Mazda CX-9. For the 2020 year, the crossover now has three new exterior colors, newly available wheel options, and a freshly updated infotainment system. The decision was also made to discontinue the turbocharged 2.0-L I-4 LTG engine from the lineup, which was standard in the Traverse RS, and replace it with the naturally aspirated 3.6-L LFY engine. As the experienced staff of Car and Driver points out, the Traverse stands out because of its very comfortable and roomy interior, and class-leading ride even over the roughest of surfaces.

HD backup and 360-degree cameras are also included in the new model, greatly aiding during any situation when the trailer needs to be hooked up. Make sure you check out all of the great benefits of the Premier Trim: here you step up to middle-row captain's chairs, a Bose 10-speaker audio system, wireless phone charging in the center console, and all of the driver-assistance technology you could ever ask for. The Interior Protection Package offers all-wheel-drive and extra-heavy rubber floor mats, and this is the vehicle that brandishes the most seamless automatic stop/start feature on the market. 

Poised and athletic while also capable, the Traverse feels a bit smaller once you accelerate rapidly, and the suspension is tuned for a perfect balance between handling and overall ride comfort. During real-world testing, the all-wheel-drive Traverse High Country with the V6 delivered 27 mpg, the best highway fuel consumption among key competitors. Drop all of the Traverse’s folding seats and it morphs into a cargo-hauling beast touting more space than any of its rivals: six suitcases fit behind the third row, and it offers the most first-row cubby storage in its class to boot!

2021 Chevy Equinox's Front-Running Chicago Auto Show Stance Featured in Motor Authority

Thursday at the Chicago Auto Show, the refreshed 2021 Equinox was shown to the public, and all of us here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse are excited to get a peek at the second-best-selling vehicle in our lineup! Motor Authority ran a cool feature on their blog about the crossover SUV this past week, and what to expect for the model that will most likely roll onto lots in the fall. The most obvious changes are seen in the brand-new front and rear fascias, highlighted by multiple versions of a new front grille.

The 2021 Equinox also sees the addition of the RS trim, and the safety equipment has been made available on more models. The new grille is larger and has a sportier and more aggressive stance than the old model, and it takes on a different look based on which you select. The RS grille is black with satin gray accents and features black bowtie logos throughout, black badging, black side rails, dark 19-inch wheels, black upholstery with red stitching, and a unique RS shift knob. You'll want to check out the top-end Premier model: it gets a black grille of its own with chrome accents and features new LED headlights and taillights, new 19-inch wheels, a high-gloss black finish on the center console, and French stitching in the cabin.

The current year's model is available in L, LS, LT, RS, and Premier trims. Buyers can choose between a 1.5-liter turbo-4 paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission or a 2.0-liter turbo-4 paired to a 9-speed automatic. An all-wheel drive is still an option, and Front-wheel drive continues as standard. One of the best things about the Equinox is how much safety equipment you receive as standard: Active lane control, forward-collision warnings with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, and intelligent high beams are all now standard, but Chevy also saw the addition of a following-distance indicator and lane-departure warning as standard equipment.

We also really enjoyed this feature from TopSpeed that deems the Equinox “cooler than ever”, and offers up some close-ups of elements like the taillights. Everyone has also liked the super-cool Logo Projecting Tailgate, and just how much real value has been packed into this smaller-size crossover. With accents taken from the Blazer and still a very practical design for the family who frequently commutes, it is no mystery at all why it is so popular: It is a display of just how great everything that can be rolled into a vehicle is while still keeping the price take as reasonable as can be!

MSN Autos Deems 2020 Chevy Blazer “Head-Turning, Well-Connected, and Sporty”

Introduced in 1969  as a full-size 2-door utility vehicle, the Blazer was on sale for 3 generations as a large off-road capable truck. There are many consumers out there that were longing for the glory and go-anywhere capability of the Blazer, and they were happy to hear that it had been reinvented with a modern design, ultra-comfortable ride, and the very latest in high-tech features. The troupe from MSN Autos test drove the Blazer Premier AWD, painted in midnight Blue Metallic and equipped with many standard features as well as the Driver Confidence II Package.

The testing crew had great appreciation for the fact that the design of this crossover is far from anything boxy, and that the sloping hood as well as downward-flowing roofline helps the Blazer appear sleek and aggressive. Up front, the Blazer wears narrow HID headlights with LED running lights that do a good job of setting it apart from so many other options seen on the road. The LED taillights in the rear sport a very unique pattern, and the integrated exhaust is another trait that results in a very clean and polished look.

Once inside, the Blazer's HD color touchscreen is well-integrated with very easy-to-use controls, and the group had no issues at all with the Android Auto integration. All of the climate controls are kept separate, and the MSN Auto crew agreed that the way everything was laid out was a great example of modern functionality in a finite space. There are USB and USB – C ports front and center, as well as a wireless cellphone charging pad and large amount of overall storage space. This particular crew drove to the Washington Coast on a cold, wet winter day, and appreciated the automatic heated seats and steering wheel for added comfort.

The 2020 Blazer cargo area has enough room for multiple suitcases as well as any other cargo needed for a few days on the road, and the onboard cargo management system has a cargo fence as well as tracks that allow you to place it anywhere. This feature is very handy when only loaded half full with cargo, and rear seats can be moved forward to make room for things like a good old fashioned football tailgate!

You can even open the tailgate by swiping a foot through the Chevy bowtie projection on the ground, and a centrally-located dial is where you select from 2 or 4-wheel drive. Ask us here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse during a test drive about AWD traction: this group said they took the blazer out on a Washington beach during winter conditions, and easily took 30 mph turns in the sand in very mushy washout. The new Blazer has a few styling cues taken from the Camaro, has gained many great reviews on test drives such as this, and is surely destined to be at the top of everyone’s Valentine’s wish list for 2020!