I'd buy it chrome-free. The chrome wheels and gas cap, the chrome rails on the cargo bed and the chrome-edged running boards were pretty. But they made little sense in the dust and mud and along the rocky paths where I drove the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Z71, a four-wheel-drive pickup...

The bottom line: Forget the chrome. This is a hard-nosed work truck that comes with all sorts of useful stuff on the inside, including the OnStar emergency communication and navigation system, laptop hookups and other infotainment connectivity. It's also one of the best-driving trucks on the market.