HOW THE 5700 PERFORMED ON THE ROAD

Stable. Solid. Sexy. Three words that describe how the Western Star 5700 looks and feels on the highway. I had the opportunity to take it on a two-hour drive in the Nevada desert and I loved every minute of it. I drove the red truck pictured, and the blue truck followed. Seeing that blue truck in my mirrors was a bit of a distraction, since it held my gaze for that extra second.

I think the first drivers to find themselves driving a Western Star 5700 will be attracting a lot of attention. The truck has an attractive face and great lines, yet it’s also aerodynamic. How aerodynamic? Well, the EPA says it qualifies to fit within the same bin as the industry’s fuel-efficiency leaders under its greenhouse gas program parameters.

The truck I drove had an all-Detroit powertrain, featuring the DD13 engine and DT12 automated manual transmission. This is a great duo, which provides smooth shifting and a driver-friendly interface. There’ll be no Cummins available on this truck and no Eaton automated transmissions, though its manual will continue to be offered. That’s a gutsy move by Western Star but they’re confident that demand for this new truck will be strong enough that even Cummins loyalists will accept the all-Detroit powertrain

For a more detailed overview of how the Western Star 5700 performed on the highway, you can read my full review here.