2014 Chevrolet Silverado High Country 4WD Crew

The most luxurious version of Chevrolet's large pickup, the Silverado High Country shares its high-end kit with the Sierra Denali line from GMC. Powered by an Ecotec3 6.2-liter V8 with direct-injection and cylinder-deactivation technology, the Silverado High Country aims to score best-in-class fuel efficiency and performance. Its EPA rating of 17 MPG combined may not seem impressive, but in the class of full-sized pickups, it stands out. Consider that, according to the official figures, the 420-horsepower Silverado returns the same overall gas mileage as a 261-horsepower Nissan Frontier we recently tested. Factor in the 6.2-liter's ability to send this nearly 3-ton truck down a quarter mile in a hair over 14 seconds, and it starts to seem like an impressive technical achievement indeed.

While it's no longer surprising to see a fast pickup truck (the Ford Lightning and Ram SRT/10 are both over a decade old by now) it is still remarkable to see the Silverado's level of combined performance and efficiency. Here, for perspective, is a massive truck that offers both acceleration and gas mileage on a par with those of a third-generation Camaro. Equally impressive are the Silverado High Country's luxury amenities and interior furniture. Seat comfort, materials quality and feature availability all match luxury-sedan standards, which is befitting, considering the Silverado High Country's equally high MSRP.