Silverado takes Motor Trend Truck of the Year

Redesigned Chevrolet takes top spot in an all-Detroit field.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The redesigned 2007 Chevrolet Silverado has been chosen as Truck of the Year by Motor Trend Magazine.

"The Silverado impressed us most of all because it is a great reworking of an iconic American vehicle," said Motor Trend editor-in-chief Angus McKenzie.

The Silverado was one of five trucks eligible to be selected for the Motor Trend award.

Of those, four were General Motors vehicles based on the same engineering platform as the Silverado. The other three were the Chevrolet Avalanche SUV/truck, the Cadillac Escalade EXT SUV/truck and the GMC Sierra truck. Ford Motor Co.'s Ford Explorer Sport Trac SUV/truck was also a contender.

The magazine cited a number of specific improvements in the new Silverado. Among them are a 5.3-liter V-8 engine that shuts down 4 cylinders to save fuel during highway cruising and an optional interior that offers "near luxury" levels of comfort and amenities.

"The use of upscale materials and thoughtful design details means the new Silverado now beats some SUVs in terms of fit and finish," the magazine said.

Motor Trend previously named the Toyota Camry as its Car of the Year and the DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz GL-class as SUV of the Year.

The Silverado is also a finalist, along with the Ford Edge and Mazda CX7 crossover SUVs, for the North American Truck of the Year Award which is decided by a jury of 49 automotive journalists from different publications. DaimlerChrysler's redesigned Jeep Wrangler, which was omitted from the voting ballot by mistake, may be added as a fourth finalist after a re-vote is completed.

That award will be presented during media preview days at the Detroit Auto Show in early January.

Photos and details: Chevrolet Silverado