Posted by Rod Wood - Plan to car shop this spring? Check out a surprise recommendation from Consumer Reports.

Each year, thousands of car shoppers heed the advice from Consumer Reports magazine. In its 2008 auto issue, you may be happy to know that for the first time in three years, an American vehicle has made the magazine's list of Top Picks: The Chevrolet Silverado for Top Pick Pickup.

Testers at the magazine's Connecticut test facility tell us the Silverado has a very comfortable ride, is very quiet and has great towing capacity.

To become a Consumer Reports Top Pick, a vehicle must have at least average reliability and it also has to meet Consumer Reports' new tougher safety standards.

If it has been crash-tested, it needs to have done well. And this year, for the first time, top pick vehicles must have stability control.

News of Chevrolet Silverado's success must be encouraging to General Motors as the automaker struggles to survive against stiff competition from foreign automakers.