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Chevrolet Silverado, the revamped pickup that is General Motor’s best-selling vehicle in the United States, arrived at my door in its most humble form: the basic work truck.

How basic was it?

Even air-conditioning was optional. The windows rolled up by hand. There was no cruise control. The short cab had a single bench seat that seated just three across.

This was a pick-em-up truck at its essence. No frills, no nonsense, no fancy leather interior for the gentry, just a short-bed work truck for the guy who needs a truck for work.

Yet, the all-new 2007 Silverado was still pretty special, showing off the superior ride and handling that have earned it cheers and accolades from every reviewer who has tested it out. Plus a slew of awards, including the important 2007 North American Truck of the Year.

The drivability was good enough to be a capable commuting vehicle for someone who wants a pickup on the weekend for hauling toys or projects. Most Silverado buyers will pass on the small-cab in favor of extended- and crew-cab models.

The short pickup was actually fun to drive, in a ranch-hand sort of way, with a decent suspension and responsive steering.

Although pickup sales have been off, affected greatly by the downturn in homebuilding, there’s still a full-size-truck war going on among the major manufacturers: Ford, who’s trying to retain top sales honors for its F-150; Toyota, who came out with a bigger, better Tundra this year; Dodge, whose Ram continues as an enduring favorite; and Nissan, whose Titan has made some inroads.

Silverado, along with its GMC Sierra sibling, has a few warts, though none too serious. All in all, an impressive update of the basic Chevy pickup.

PERFORMANCE: The 4.8-liter V-8, the least powerful of six V-8s offered for Silverado, provided plenty of pull for the nearly 4,500-pound regular-cab pickup, the lightest of the Silverados. A 195-horsepower V-6 is also available for the economy-minded. The engine felt notably smooth and relaxed in city and highway chores, especially for a high-torque truck engine. Fuel mileage was not great, though still superior for this class. The four-speed automatic gets the job done, though a five-speed would improve mileage and drivability.

DRIVABILITY: Silverado drives smaller than it is. Which means that despite its full size, the pickup feels relatively nimble and responsive. The steering has a good, solid feel and the ride is stable and uneventful. With a wider stance and improved chassis, Silverado cruises nicely on the highway and feels secure in turns. Brakes are front disc, rear drum, with standard antilock. The test truck had no side-impact airbags, which are optional.

STYLING: The front-end styling is much improved, with a more refined appearance. From the side, the wide flares and lifted rear make the truck look chunky and awkward.

INTERIOR: Despite the work truck’s basic layout and minimal features, it was pleasant and accommodating. One major clinker was the nasty hard-plastic center console that folded down on the bench seat. It was useless as an armrest. The dashboard and interior materials have been upgraded, with gauges and controls that are nicely straightforward. This truck had few extra features, but the only thing I missed was cruise control.

BOTTOM LINE: The regular-cab work truck is a bargain at the under $18,000 base price, although such options as air-conditioning and an audio system are really necessities. Prices for high-end crew-cab models rise above $30,000.

PRICING

Base price: $17,860. Price as tested: $21,095.

OPTIONS

* Air-conditioning, $870. * Audio system with CD, power door locks, remote entry, $695. * Chrome grille surround, chrome steel wheels, LS badging, $495. * Cargo management system, $175. * 3.73-ratio rear axle, $100. * Shipping, $900.

Chevrolet Silverado

Vehicle type: Three-passenger, two-door pickup, rear-wheel drive. Engine: 4.8-liter V-8, 295 horsepower at 5,600 rpm, 305 pound-feet torque at 4,800 rpm. Transmission: Four-speed automatic. Wheelbase: 119 inches. Overall length: 205.6 inches. Curb weight: 4,448 pounds. Towing capacity: 5,200 pounds EPA rating: 16 city, 20 highway.

Highs: Overall drivability, engine power, modest price. Lows: Awkward center console, chunky styling, bare bones.