The styling of the 2007 Chevrolet Silverado Classic has an edgy angularity that the new Silverado has abandoned in favor of a smoother, more aerodynamicaly integrated appearance. The mid-size Colorado pickup still shares the Classic's bold design cues; but otherwise Chevy Trucks (Tahoe, Suburban, Avalanche, Silverado) have all moved on to the new look.

One of Silverado Classic's most distinctive features are the way its headlights angle down at the top, like the determined eyebrows of a Marine drill sergeant. A large band runs across the middle of the grille punctuated in the middle by a big, gold Chevy bow tie. All of this seemed smoothly integrated into the front end, at least until we saw how much more smoothly the new Silverado was put together. The Classic's flared engine hood and squared-off wheel openings continue its aggressive theme down the sides of the truck. In the rear are bulging taillamps that maintain the Chevrolet family look yet uniquely identify the Silverado Classic.

Silverado Classic's large door openings make getting in and out easier, and the door handles are big and easy to grab. Extended cabs come standard with four doors, though the rear doors open in the reverse direction and not as wide as we would like. Optional puddle lamps mounted beneath the big side mirrors light the ground along the sides of the truck, handy in the city as much as in the woods. Mirrors with redundant turn signal indicators are also available, warning drivers alongside or in your blind spot that you are moving over. Heavy-duty models have running lights on the roof, tailgate, and leading and trailing edges of their bulging rear fenders. They add visibility for improved safety. Plus they look neat.

Silverado Classic's bed features built-in tie-down brackets near the four corners. Indentations stamped into the inner bed walls can hold boards to form bulkhead dividers or a second floor for two-tier loading. The Silverado's load floor is 31.6 inches above the ground on 2WD models, and 33.7 inches with 4WD. That's relatively low, and low is good when loading heavy cargo. Standard-box beds are 78.7 inches long; long boxes are 97.6 inches long. Both are 64.8 inches wide at the floor. The Crew Cab's short box is 69.2 inches long and 60.2 inches wide at the floor. All three measure 50 inches wide between the wheel housings.