Chevrolet Silverado earns top marks in Consumer Reports test

2014 Chevrolet Silverado (Chevrolet)

And Silverado takes the gold.

Consumer Reports has ranked the new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 highest among pickup trucks sold in the United States.

But it was a close call.

The V8 Silverado beat the reigning North American Truck of the Year, the Ram 1500, by a score of 81 to 78 on Consumer Reports’ scale.

The Silverado won with a combination of greater utility, better handling and higher fuel economy, while the Ram impressed on power and comfort.

Both trucks outrank the most recent Ford F-150s tested by Consumer Reports, but an all-new F-150 is expected to be introduced next year.