It's standard Chevy truck stuff inside, plus white-face gauges and SS badging. This year's new flat-faced steering wheel is much nicer than the old dished four-spoker.
Inside Story
The Silverado SS cabin has all the essentials for an agreeable driving experience: stylish black-on-white gauges (an apparent prerequisite for entry into the sport-truck class; the Ram and the departing Ford Harley have them, too), comfortable leather-trimmed seats, and such conveniences as standard dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, an AM/FM stereo with cassette and CD player, and power windows and locks. With the extended cab, there's also a second row of seats, accessible through small rear-opening doors. Back-seat legroom is exceedingly tight, though, so the only passengers you put back there had better be named "luggage."
For all its abundant equipment, the SS' cockpit seems clunky and dated. The instrument cluster, the central control stack, the glovebox--all the pieces look like rectangular slabs fitted together without much regard for eye-pleasing transitions. Apart from the contrasting white-face gauges, there's a dark, monochromatic somberness that prevails throughout the cabin, too.
The Dodge's dash is more plasticky than the SS', but everything is easy to reach and read. We'd spend a few more bucks for sportier leather seats, but the cloth sure grips well.
The Ram's cockpit is far airier and sleeker. There's an elegant sweep to the dash, the central control stack is deftly integrated into the instrument binnacle, and the panel's edges are smoothly rounded and rolled together. Light-colored materials, offset by contrasting inserts, add interest to the design. In general, it's a look that says "tidy" and "modern."
The Ram doesn't start out as well-equipped as the SS, but the standard-equipment list isn't skimpy. On board are air-conditioning, power windows and locks, cruise control, and an AM/FM stereo with CD player. Our test vehicle also included such extras as a power eight-way cloth bench seat, keyless entry, a seven-speaker Infinity audio system, power-adjustable pedals, and a handsome leather-wrapped steering wheel.