ChevroletThe first generation models of the Chevrolet Silverado launched back in August 1998, starting out as light-duty pickup trucks before becoming full-size behemoths with immense towing capacity, turbocharged engines, and quality handling. Since this fateful launch, the Chevrolet Silverado has evolved in some big ways over time. The fourth generation appeared in 2017 and modernized the Chevy Silverado with a well-equipped infotainment system, heated seats, and a premium Bose audio system. The reasonable starting price and a wide array of trims to choose from — WT (Work Truck), Custom, LT, RST (Rally Sport Truck), LTZ, Custom Trail Boss, LT Trail Boss, High Country, and perhaps the best-looking Chevy Silverado trim, the ZR2 — mean that anyone in the market for a pickup truck will love what the Silverado brings to the table.In fact, this pickup truck is so feature-rich that most people aren't even aware of the numerous features Chevrolet has packed into this vehicle. The convenience factor gained from using this vehicle is enhanced considerably once you have a clear idea of what your Silverado is capable of. Some of them are clever pieces of engineering solutions designed to make your life easier, while others are software-driven and rely on the vehicle's impressive technology.Read more: 5 Mini Gadgets With USB-C That Are Pretty UsefulA variety of clever modesChevroletOne thing you should know about your Chevrolet Silverado is the wealth of modes that can be accessed via its infotainment system. Take Valet mode — people worried about handing over their keys to someone can activate this mode to lock critical elements, like the infotainment screen and the center console, via a passcode.AdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, what if you're not giving your keys to a valet, but to your teen who has just started learning to drive? Controlling a pickup trick is no easy feat, which is why Teen Driver mode is so useful. It reminds them to wear their seatbelt at all times, prevents any low fuel warnings from being dismissed, and implements optimal driver assistance settings that can't be changed to guarantee a heightened level of safety on the road. As a neat final touch, this mode also generates a driver report card to see relevant information, like distance driven, maximum speed, total number of speeding warnings, any reckless use of the accelerator pedal, and the number of times the truck's safety systems were triggered. Oh, and don't worry about your tech-savvy teen finding a workaround to get out of this mode — a PIN ensures that your child won't be able to turn this mode off.There's also the 4-Auto mode, which is very convenient on erratic, sloped roads. Depending on the terrain condition, your Silverado will automatically switch between two-wheel and four-wheel drive when this mode is active. It's a great way to deal with adverse driving conditions without having to manually switch the wheel drive all the time.Defrost your rear and side windowsChevroletRear window defrosters aren't all that uncommon in the United States, especially since people need drivable, safe cars in regions where temperatures can reach sub-zero. The Chevy Silverado is no exception, making it so you can clear up the rear window and reverse your car safely by using said defroster. However, where this car goes the extra mile is with the additional defrosters for the side windows.This makes the Chevy Silverado one of the most dependable large pickup trucks you can buy if you live in frosty regions like the Northeast, Alaska, North Dakota, or Wyoming. Safety and visibility won't be an issue in this car as long as you have some patience and wait for these defrosters to do their magic before you take the vehicle out on the road. Speaking of cold weather, the heated front seats and steering wheel help you and a lucky passenger enjoy some much-needed respite from the cold in this advanced, state-of-the-art pickup truck.The rearview mirror dims automaticallyChevroletHigh beams are the bane of any driver's existence, but these bright lights can evolve from a visual inconvenience to a dangerous distraction on precarious, narrow roads, especially when driving in hilly regions and mountains. If someone with high beams is driving toward you, then our best advice would be to drive slowly until the vehicle in question has passed. While this may be a harder option for tailgating cars with bright lights, the Silverado's rearview mirror has a unique perk that mitigates some of the damage caused by these high beams.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe car comes equipped with an auto-dimming rearview mirror that senses any lights that are unreasonably bright and automatically dims the mirror's brightness to make it easier to look at. This way, you won't have to worry about your safety being compromised by these reckless high beams. It's a small but very useful benefit, and any driver who prioritizes safety will love this muted inclusion.Change your exit lighting's durationChevroletPeople who want to minimize the chances of their Silverado's battery dying out if the lights are left on for too long — which shouldn't be a huge issue, given the reasonable reserve capacities of the Group 48 (H6) or Group 94R batteries (H7) that are usually installed in this pickup truck — can utilize several practices to curb this problem. Regular maintenance, not letting your car sit idle for too long, and turning off the in-car electronics are all great ways to avoid a discharged battery. Something as simple as leaving your car lights on can also have a major impact on its battery.This is why people will love how they can change the behavior of the exit lighting for their Silverado. Depending on the setting you choose, the lights can turn off instantly once you park your pickup truck. That being said, some people prefer a bit of brightness as they exit their car, especially in dim-lit parking environments. They can customize the exit lighting's duration so that it turns off anywhere between 30 seconds and two minutes after the Silverado has been parked, giving them ample time to gather their bearings and leave before the lights turn off.Advanced trailer towing managementChevroletThe Chevy Silverado is a pickup truck through and through, integrating a bunch of useful tech to ensure that towing trailers is as easy as it comes. The Advanced Trailering System is a huge help in this regard. It lets you store specific trailer profiles, including details of their length and weight. The trailer's brake gain settings can be altered accordingly so that driving around with a hitched trailer isn't clumsy, as the over- or under-tuned braking systems make your on-road experience a nightmare. If these automated settings aren't working for you, the integrated trailer brake controller lets you adjust this braking power on the go from the cabin to make braking feel smoother.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Advanced Trailering System can also be used to set up pre-departure checklists, check if your trailer's lights are working, get regular maintenance reminders, and even monitor both tire pressure and temperature for compatible trailers. Further hammering in the Silverado's focus on towing safety is the integrated trailer camera system, including a wide rear camera view that isn't too obstructed, both Bed View and Hitch View to monitor your trailer, and HD Surround Vision that gives you a bird's-eye view of the relative surroundings. As a final touch, you can also set up trailer theft alerts on the Chevy In-Vehicle Trailering App. Your Silverado starts blaring a loud alarm and sends a notification to your phone in the event that your trailer is unhooked while the Silverado is parked.Link key fobs to specific driver profilesChevroletAny car that allows for multiple driver profiles is a boon for a household with multiple drivers, and the Silverado is no exception. Each user can set up a driver profile that saves some of their most-used settings, such as their desired cooling or heating intensity, favorite radio stations, and most-frequented destinations. Instead of having to fiddle around with the infotainment system every single time a new member of the family drives the car, separate driver profiles can be set up to save some time.The best part is that a driver profile can be assigned to a specific key fob. This way, the Silverado automatically switches over to the designated profile whenever a person opens the car using the specific key fob. Even Teen Driver profiles can be assigned to a separate key fob, although keep in mind that the Silverado will default to a regular driver profile if two key fobs — one assigned to a Teen Driver profile and the other to a normal one — are in close vicinity.Secret multi-flex tailgate functionsChevroletThe multi-flex tailgate is one of the biggest perks of the Chevy Silverado, boasting so many features — both in-your-face and subtle — that most owners may not even be aware of the power they wield with this flexible system. Primary Gate Mode embodies the functionality of a regular pickup truck and is perfect for loading and unloading cargo. Both Easy Access Mode and Full-Width Step Mode let you quickly grab easy-to-access items placed in the cargo space or enter and exit the truck bed easily. For people paranoid about whether their stuff is secure in the back or not, the Inner Load Stop and Primary Load Stop modes provide an additional layer of safety while also helping you arrange items in a more organized manner. Finally, if you want to enjoy the perks of a standing workstation on the go, the Inner Gate Work Surface Mode transforms the back of your truck into a convenient desk-like setup.AdvertisementAdvertisementFinally, if you don't want to manually lower and raise the tailgate over and over again when handling your cargo, why not let your Silverado do this work for you? Just press the tailgate button on your key fob twice in quick succession to remotely operate your tailgate, making it easier than ever to haul stuff with this state-of-the-art pickup truck.A built-in Wi-Fi hotspotChevroletMobile data can be a bit unreliable — not to mention expensive — if that's the only way you can connect to the internet on the move. Sure, you can carry a dongle around, but that becomes a separate hassle to deal with. Instead of relying on these external solutions, your Chevy Silverado makes this easier with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot that keeps you connected to the internet as long as you're in or near this pickup truck.Keep in mind that this hotspot only works with an OnStar subscription and data plan, so make sure you set that up before going on a road trip for the ages. A modem is integrated into the vehicle itself, and any relevant Wi-Fi settings can be accessed by tapping on the Wi-Fi icon on the infotainment screen. From here, you'll be able to see the Wi-Fi's default password, which you can change to something secure.Hidden compartmentsChevroletThe Chevy Silverado has ample storage space — as one would expect from a good pickup truck — but most people don't want to keep everything under the sun totally exposed at the back. What about wallets, passports, phones, important paperwork, and expensive gadgets? Well, the Chevy Silverado provides a hidden compartment at the back where you can place these items. This storage space is present under the seat, and the rear seatbacks also sport hidden storage compartments that can be accessed by opening the cushions hiding this space. Unfortunately, it seems that the latter will become a thing of the past in the 2027 Chevy Silverado models, which is a shame.AdvertisementAdvertisementOh, and as a neat bonus, people who are driving the Chevy Silverado without anyone sitting in the front can fold down the front seat, turning it into a convenient armrest. It's a minor perk, but one that anyone will appreciate if they're behind the vehicle for an inordinate amount of hours and want to rest their arms for a bit.Active fuel managementChevroletThe Chevy Silverado comes with one of four possible engines — and no, you don't have to make the effort to steer clear of any Silverado engines this time around. The TurboMax engine is the standard for simpler trims, higher tiers come equipped with either the 5.3-liter or the 6.2-liter EcoTec 3 V8, and a diesel-powered Duramax 3-liter Turbo engine rounds out the pack. Regardless of the engine you choose, Chevrolet has integrated an Active Fuel Management (AFM) system that's pretty resourceful.Instead of making your engine work at full tilt all the time, the Silverado detects total engine load and tweaks its operation accordingly. Take the EcoTec 3 V8 engines, for example — when the Silverado is driving in regular conditions and not towing a major load, this engine deactivates some of its eight cylinders for efficient engine use and fuel management. The moment the load on your car increases, all the cylinders will start working for maximum performance. This magic is achieved courtesy of the advanced sensors used by the AFM system, helping drivers enjoy a smooth, efficient driving experience.Want the latest in tech and auto trends? 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