1998 Chevrolet C1500 Pickup Reviews & Ratings

Facing the driver is an instrument panel that's easy to use and convenient. Ventilation is handled well, instruments are easy to read, and all controls are within reach and work logically. There are plenty of places for odds and ends and the clever cupholder doesn't get in the way of any controls.

Behind the driver is a bench seat that takes three, but they'll be happier if the trip doesn't cross too many state lines. The rear seat flips up, leaving a nice, flat floor for stowing an ice chest or tool box. Not all extended cab pickups offer the convenience of flat floors in the rear, and stowing a tool box in one with curvy floors is a real hassle.

The third door increases versatility and enhances access to the rear for tossing in things or giving access to passengers or pooches. It can't be opened unless the regular door on that side is opened first, a logical safety feature. The third door is one of those features of modern life that has caught on in a big way, like the fourth door on minivans, and now we can't imagine getting a full-size extended cab pickup without it.

You're going to be in for a disappointment if you expect a truck to ride like a car. Then again, you'll be in for a bigger disappointment if you try to tow a 7000-pound trailer or haul hay bales with a car. Our Chevy Silverado was no luxury sedan, but its ride quality was perfectly acceptable. We drove it around Southern California where concrete freeways with regular pavement mismatches are particularly onerous. At certain speeds the truck got out of synch with this type of pavement making it feel like we were in a jiggle machine. Slowing down or speeding up usually cured the problem. It's a problem that all pickups have when empty. Throw some weight in back and the ride smoothes right out.

Few places are better than the front seat of a big pickup for long interstate treks. The big Chevy is roomy, comfortable and powerful, offering plenty of room to stretch out. You sit high over the traffic and watch the world go by through those big windows. It's not a bad way to travel.

Handling is a term with different meanings for sports cars, compact sedans and trucks. Good steering feel and rock-solid directional stability are what you want in a truck, and the Chevy Silverado exhibits these in spades. Point it where you want and it stays headed there. A long wheelbase means nimbleness and maneuverability in a crowded parking lot are not strong suits for a pickup truck. But out on the highway the big Chevy rides straight and true.