2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

It’s a solid 5, for being solidly average. 

The front and rear blocks are connected with long side panels and fenders that bulge above the wheel arches, which are the only rounded elements of the exterior design. Wheel sizes range from 17-inch steel wheels to 22-inchers in black, chrome, or a metallic finish. 

Inside is nothing remarkable, and that might be attractive compared to other truck interiors overwhelmed with massive touchscreens. The black on plastic chrome motif graces most Silverados, and a small touchscreen gets dwarfed by big vertical vents, large dials and buttons for audio and climate controls, and a two-tiered glovebox. Higher trims replace vinyl or cloth with contrasting leather and wood accents.

Does a pickup truck have a bed? Yes, the Silverado comes with rear-wheel drive but four-wheel drive costs $3,300 more with the 5.3-liter V-8.

How fast is the Chevy Silverado?

The smallest engine is the quickest in the Silverado lineup. The 2.7-liter turbo-4 makes 310 hp and 348 lb-ft with an 8-speed automatic transmission that helps get it to 60 mph in about seven seconds. Chevy buries the fact that it’s a 4-cylinder, but it doesn’t underperform. Torque comes on at low revs, providing plenty of off-the-line grunt and towing ability. Thanks to better than expected cooling, the towing capacity for the 2021 turbo-4 increased 2,500 pounds to up to 9,600 pounds and the max payload is 2,280 pounds. It’s available on WT, Custom, LT, and RST trims. 

The most efficient engine is a 3.0 turbodiesel-6 that makes 277 hp and 460 lb-ft at 1,500 rpm. Using a 10-speed automatic transmission, the turbodiesel in rear-wheel drive can tow up to 9,500 pounds for 2021 and get 33 mpg on the highway, though not at the same time. Chevy trimmed $1,500 off the diesel upcharge for 2021. It’s available on LT, RST, LTZ, and High Country trims. 

The base engine is a basic 4.3-liter V-6 with a 6-speed automatic transmission that has seen its day, especially in fleets. It makes 285 hp and 305 lb-ft, is as inefficient as the 6.2-liter V-8, and it tows up to 7,900 pounds. It’s available on WT and Custom models.

The 5.3-liter V-8 is the volume engine for the Silverado, accounting for 65% of annual sales, according to Chevy. It makes 355 hp and 383 lb-ft, and can tow up to 10,000 pounds. It’s available across the lineup and pairs with either a 6-speed, 8-speed, or 10-speed automatic transmission, though the 10-speed is only offered with four-wheel drive and has the same efficiency rating as the 8-speed.

At the top of the lineup and capable of towing 11,900 pounds is the 6.2-liter V-8 that makes 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. It only comes with the 10-speed automatic in four-wheel drive, and is available on RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, and High Country trims. 

The Silverado rides like a pickup truck, with plenty of unladen bounce from the rear thanks in part to a leaf spring suspension. The Ram 1500 rides softer like an SUV due to its coil spring rear suspension and front double-wishbone independent suspension.

The Silverado earns a 7 for its large bed, roomy crew cab, and overall utility. 

Regular cabs can seat three across, while extended and crew cab models can fit six, but it might turn the extended cab into a clown car. The front seats are comfy enough to accommodate a big and large frame but 4-way manual seats even on mid-grade LT trim limits the comfort quotient. 

An expanded crew cab improved the leg room for rear riders up to 43.4 inches, which is just one inch shy of front leg room. Flip up rear seats on most models make for good hidden storage.  

Bed sizes come in a 5-foot-8 short box, 6-foot-6 standard box, and 8-foot long bed. Regular cab comes with the long bed, extended cab with the standard box, and crew cabs with either the short or standard bed. 

Chevy claims best cargo volume and bed width, averaging about 10 cubic feet more than the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500. Cargo volume is 62.9/71.1/89.1 cubic feet by bed size, respectively. The bumper comes with a large integrated bed step, the bed has up to 12 fixed tie downs, and an available power folding tailgate keeps the up and down easy. New for 2021 is a 6-way configurable power tailgate taken from the GMC Sierra AT4 and made available across the Silverado lineup.

The 2021 Silverado rates at a 3 for the subpar crash-test ratings and expensive options. But at least those options are available this year, boosting it a point. 

The NHTSA’s four-star rating is surprising since the Ram 1500 and Ford F-150 earned five stars in certain configurations. The IIHS confirmed that rating with a “Marginal” score protecting front passengers in a head-on crash. The “Poor” standard headlight rating isn’t helping. 

Standard safety features also lag the competition. A Safety Package adds front and rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitors on the top High Country trim, but at least the base WT and Custom models can get a Safety Confidence Package with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. It’s a start for the Silverado, but not enough.

Standard features include a 7.0-inch touchscreen with smartphone compatibility and 17-inch wheels, but that’s on the base WT mainly sold to fleets. It gets much better from there. 

Which Chevy Silverado should I buy?

Our pick for best overall value would be the LT trim with chrome bumpers and accents, LED headlights, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, and an available wi-fi hotspot, but it comes standard with the 2.7-liter turbo-4 for about $42,000. That might not seem like enough torque for towing, but a 9,300-pound capacity with the crew cab and short bed should handle most needs. The 5.3-liter V-8 is also available for $1,400 more.  

If you can’t reconcile a turbo-4 on a full-size truck, or if you’ll be towing frequently, we’d opt up to the LTZ for about $51,000. It comes standard with the 5.3-liter V-8 with active fuel management and an available 10-speed automatic to further increase efficiency. It also comes with an external engine cooler, integrated trailer brake, an advanced trailering system, and two 120-volt outlets with one in the bed and the other in the cab. 

Creature comforts include 10-way power adjustable front seats that are heated and trimmed with leather, heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, 8.0-inch touchscreen, six USB ports, HD rearview camera with parking lines and hitch guidance, keyless entry and start, remote start, wireless smartphone compatibility, and more available safety features.  

How much is a fully loaded 2021 Chevy Silverado?

Head to the High Country for the highest price tag. In rear-wheel drive with a crew cab and standard bed, it starts at about $57,000 and adds to the LTZ a power-up and -down tailgate, LED headlights, 20-inch wheels with blackwall tires, trailering package, 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, seven-speaker Bose sound system, navigation, heated rear outboard seats trimmed in leather, cooled front seats, and a power rear window. 

Standard safety gear includes front and rear park assist, as well as blind-spot monitors with rear cross-traffic alerts. 

Upgrade to the most expensive 6.2-liter V-8 with 10-speed automatic in four-wheel drive, add a package or two, and it jumps to $70,000.

The more popular gas V-8s cede about 1 mpg highway to the competition, even when equipped with the 10-speed automatic transmission and a fuel management system that shuts down cylinders during highway cruising. 

We rate the Silverado 3 out of 10. 

The 5.3-liter V-8 in four-wheel drive with the 10-speed gets 16/22/19 mpg, which is 1 mpg better than with the 8-speed. 

The 2.7-liter turbo-4 gets 20/23/21 mpg with rear-wheel drive, and 19/22/20 mpg with four-wheel drive. It’s best for trucking around town. 

The 6.2-liter V-8 stays with the pack at 16/20/17 mpg with its standard 4WD and 10-speed automatic.