2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 Review

Name: 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Review
Brand: Chevrolet
Price: 24999 USD

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Custom Trail Boss Crew Cab Pickup Exterior

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Custom Crew Cab Pickup Exterior

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country Crew Cab Pickup Exterior

+561

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 represents the status quo for a full-size light-duty truck. Its acceleration and braking performance are pretty average, while comfort and interior appointments are nothing special — at least not special enough to attract new buyers who currently own competing trucks. The Silverado's draw will likely be at the upper trim levels, which benefit from tech upgrades such as adaptive cruise and automatic emergency braking, and there's also an industry-first power up/down tailgate.

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2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Review

byBrent Romans^{Senior Manager, Written Content
Brent Romans has worked in the automotive industry since 1996. He has written or edited thousands of expert car reviews and road-tested hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Brent is a senior manager of written content at Edmunds and previously contributed to publications such as Super Street and Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road. His personal car is a 2019 BMW M2 Competition, which he bought for its ideal combination of performance, style and practicality.}

Pros

Several available powertrains for various towing and hauling needs
Long cabin provides excellent rear legroom
Lots of in-bed tie-down points and massive bed capacity
Touchscreen display is attractive and easy to use

Cons

Interior design and cabin controls look dated
Most versions ride a little rougher than primary rivals
Quality of some cabin materials is subpar

What's new

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now available
New multi-configurable tailgate option (available early 2021)
Upgraded trailer-towing camera technology
Most trims include more standard equipment
Part of the fourth Silverado 1500 generation introduced for 2019

Overview

For the second year in a row, Chevrolet's full-size light-duty pickup truck gets a round of updates designed to add value and make it more appealing in comparison to primary rivals from Ford and Ram. Highlights include a new configurable tailgate (the Multi-Flex) that opens a variety of ways plus upgraded infotainment and trailer-towing technology. There's also an adaptive suspension option for the top trim level that should smooth out the ride quality.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Work Truck 2dr Regular Cab LB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$208/mo

$227/mo

Avg. Large Truck

Calculate my fuel costs

Chevy does give you a lot of choice for the 2021 Silverado 1500. It comes in regular-, extended- and crew-cab styles with a short, standard or long bed. Eight main trim levels are available, including the Trail Boss version that aims to capitalize on the lifted off-road truck trend. Four engines are available too, including a diesel-powered six-cylinder and Chevy's tried-and-true 5.3-liter V8.

Is the Silverado the truck for you? Maybe. The Ram 1500 bests it in our expert evaluation ratings, and Ford's new 2021 F-150 looks like it has the potential to raise the bar for the whole class. But check out our Silverado Expert Rating to learn more about this truck's pros and cons.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Average

7.2

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.5/10

How does the Silverado 1500 drive? We tested a Silverado crew cab (High Country trim) with the 5.3-liter V8, 4WD and eight-speed automatic. Acceleration and braking are average but totally sufficient for daily driving or towing. Our test truck covered 60 mph in 7 seconds from a standstill at our test track. An equivalent F-150 is a little quicker, but there's nothing wrong with the Silverado's power. Around town, the transmission shifts smoothly and makes the most of the engine's low-end torque.

The truck tracks straight on the highway, but the steering effort is a bit too light. Handling is secure, and body roll is held nicely in check as you drive around turns. But midcorner bumps can upset the Silverado pretty easily. Going off-road? A regular 4WD Silverado will do OK, but consider getting the Z71 off-road option package or the Trail Boss trim level to enhance its potential.

Comfort

7/10

How comfortable is the Silverado 1500? The Silverado's seating isn't quite as plush as the seats in the F-150 or Ram 1500, but there's enough padding and support to keep you comfortable on long drives. The ride is relatively smooth on the highway, and the truck ably absorbs most small impacts. But the truck can get bouncy when you drive on roads that have a lot of bumps and dips.

The climate system can easily heat and cool the cabin, but operating it can be a little tricky because a lot of the control buttons are small. We really like the optional ventilated and split-heated front seats (separate settings for the seatback and seat cushion), a GM-exclusive feature. Engine noise is nicely muted until you go hard on the throttle, at which point it gets a bit unpleasant.

Interior

7/10

How’s the interior? The Silverado crew cab has plenty of space for four or five adults, even tall ones. The back seat is absolutely massive and offers lots of legroom. Getting in and out is relatively easy, but the rear doors don't open as wide as we'd like. The power-adjustable seats have enough range of motion to accommodate almost any driver, and the tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel offers plenty of adjustment range.

There's a familiar look to the layout of the controls; it's the same basic design Chevy used in the previous-generation Silverado. They're easy to use but don't give off a particularly modern vibe. Another demerit relates to visibility — the tall and broad hood and thick windshield roof pillars impede your view ahead.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? The Silverado is available with a lot of high-tech features. But the key word is "available." Systems such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assist can only be had from the LTZ trim and up.

Considering the Silverado's size and weight, the adaptive cruise system follows the vehicle ahead at an unusually close distance in the shortest setting. The surround-view parking camera system is helpful, though the display could stand to be sharper. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. We were able to connect phones quickly and easily access music.

As for the High Country trim's power up/down tailgate, most of our test team thought it little more than a novelty.

Towing and Storage

8/10

How are the towing and storage? We tested a 5.3-liter V8-powered, short-bed 4WD crew-cab truck that had the standard 3.23 axle gearing. This configuration provided an impressive 9,600-pound tow rating. The payload capacity for this truck was a similarly strong 2,060 pounds. As for the bed itself, it's a bit longer, deeper and wider than its rivals, and it has more tie-downs.

The Silverado's boxy center console contains multiple pockets, but we'd expect more space given that this truck has a column-mounted gear shifter. For family duty, the crew cab's back seat has two sets of lower car seat anchors and three top tethers, so child safety seats will fit in any of the three positions. But loading the seats, not to mention the kiddos, might be difficult due to the truck's ride height.

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The Silverado High Country we tested had the 5.3-liter V8 mated to a 10-speed automatic and 4WD, which earns an EPA-estimated 19 mpg in combined city/highway driving. We found that number to be reasonably achievable in the real world. The best fuel economy for the Silverado comes from the available diesel-fueled six-cylinder.

Value

6.5/10

Is the Silverado 1500 a good value? The Silverado isn't outrageously expensive, but it is priced higher than its key rivals without offering any advantage in features, style or interior quality. The buttons and dashboard plastics are similar to those in the previous-gen truck: sturdy but somewhat cheap-looking. Chevy's warranty coverage is average, though you do get the first scheduled maintenance for free.

Wildcard

7/10

Full-size trucks such as the Silverado aren't necessarily fun to drive. But with its commanding view of the road, lots of towing power and a brutish front-end styling, the Silverado can put a smile on your face. However, the interior looks dated and borrows many pieces and design cues from the previous generation. It may or may not be a personality you want.

Which Silverado 1500 does Edmunds recommend?

Chevrolet builds a 2021 Silverado for nearly any purpose, but the LT and LT Trail Boss trims are where style, value, equipment and capability intersect. You can get the LT trim with extended-cab and crew-cab styles, four of the Silverado's most appealing engines, and with a choice between cloth and leather seats. A Safety package adds parking sensors and a blind-spot monitor system with rear cross-traffic alert.

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 models

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is a full-size pickup available in eight trim levels: Work Truck (WT), Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ and High Country. Like most full-size trucks, the Silverado is offered in varying cab and bed configurations including two-door regular cab, four-door extended cab (Double Cab), and four-door crew cab with full-size rear doors and generous rear-seat room.

Depending on cab selection, the three available bed sizes are an 8-foot-long bed, a 6.5-foot bed and a shorter 5-foot-8-inch bed. Chevrolet also offers five available engines for the Silverado 1500:

4.3-liter V6 engine (285 horsepower, 305 lb-ft of torque) with a six-speed automatic transmission
Turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine (310 hp, 348 lb-ft) with an eight-speed automatic transmission
5.3-liter V8 engine (355 hp, 383 lb-ft) with an eight-speed automatic transmission
6.2-liter V8 engine (420 hp, 460 lb-ft) with a 10-speed automatic transmission
Turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine (277 hp, 460 lb-ft) with a 10-speed automatic transmission

We've noted which engines come standard on the particular trims but note that you can commonly get a different engine as an option. Rear-wheel drive is typically standard, with four-wheel drive being an option. Other Silverado feature highlights include:

WT
The basic Silverado Work Truck has:

V6 engine
17-inch steel wheels
Locking tailgate
Vinyl seat upholstery
Rubber floor covering
Air conditioning
Power windows and door locks
7-inch touchscreen
Bluetooth
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
Six-speaker audio system

Custom
Custom trim improves the Silverado's appearance and upgrades you to the extended- or crew-cab configuration. It includes:

Body-colored trim
20-inch aluminum wheels
Remote engine start
LED cargo bed lighting
Power-locking and power-release tailgate with assisted lift
Power and heated mirrors
Floor carpeting
Cloth seat upholstery
Satellite radio capability
Wi-Fi capability
Trailering package
Hitch guidance lines for backup camera

Custom Trail Boss
The Trail Boss treatment equips the Custom with the look and capability of an off-road truck by adding:

Four-wheel drive
Z71 off-road suspension package
18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires
Automatic locking rear differential

LT
The Silverado LT builds on the Custom trim with:

Turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine
Chrome exterior trim
17-inch alloy wheels
LED headlights
Dual-zone automatic climate control
10-way power-adjustable driver's seat
Heated front seats
Heated tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
8-inch touchscreen

RST
The RST trim adds a sport-truck appearance to the Silverado LT, as well as these features:

Body-colored exterior trim
18-inch aluminum wheels
LED foglights

Chevy also offers the All Star Edition (possibly named the Texas Edition, depending on where you live) package for the LT and RST that adds a few more standard features.

LT Trail Boss
This version of the Trail Boss builds on the Custom variant with LT trim plus:

5.3-liter V8 engine
Auxiliary transmission oil cooler
Heavy-duty battery
Bucket front seats with a center console

LTZ
More upscale than other Silverados, the LTZ builds on LT trim with:

5.3-liter V8 engine
20-inch alloy wheels
Power tailgate
Power-sliding rear window
Bucket front seats with center console
10-way power-adjustable front passenger seat
Leather upholstery
Ventilated front seats
Heated rear seats
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Advanced Trailering System (trailer maintenance reminder and other trailer monitoring features)
Trailer brake controller (allows adjustment of a trailer's brakes from the cab)
Front and rear parking sensors
Higher-definition backup camera
Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)

High Country
For maximum luxury, the Silverado High Country offers:

Spray-in bedliner
Digital driver information display
Navigation system
Seven-speaker Bose audio system
Wireless phone charging
Lane departure warning

Chevrolet increased standard equipment levels for most 2021 Silverado trim levels. Many features offered on upper trim levels are available on the lower ones as packages or stand-alone options. Numerous trailer monitoring systems that allow for trailer tire-pressure sensors or trailer rearview-camera connections are also available.

An optional Safety package (available on LT, RST, LT Trail Boss) adds front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Safety package II (LTZ and High Country only) includes everything in the standard Safety package equipment plus:

Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Silverado and the car in front)
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane keeping assist (steers the Silverado back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)

The Technology package (LTZ and High Country only) adds a head-up display, a rear camera mirror, a 360-degree parking camera, a bed-view camera and provisions for two trailer cameras.

Also Consider

Build Your 2024 Silverado 1500

At a Glance:

10 Colors
1 Trim
5 Packages
$36,800starting MSRP

Build & Price Chevrolet.com

*The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price excludes destination freight charge, tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Click here to see all Chevrolet vehicles' destination freight charges. Dealer sets the final price.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3.5/5Above Average

#5 out of 19 among Fullsize Trucks

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 from 2008-2022.}

$630/yr

vs. $752/yr
for Average Fullsize Truck

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.69x/yr

vs. 0.98x/yr
for Average Fullsize Truck

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

19.1%

vs. 19.9%
for Average Fullsize Truck

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

5 (47%)

4 (8%)

3 (1%)

2 (13%)

1 (31%)

3.3

62 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Catastrophic ENGINE FAILURE 2021 Trail Boss Chevro

Waiveringloyalist, 08/28/2021

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.6 ft. SB (5.3L 8cyl 10A)

2 TRUCKS - 90,000 TOTAL MILES - 1 FAILED ENGINE - 1 FAILED TRANSMISSION. After my 2017 GMC Sierra dropped its poorly engineered, and now discontinued 8 speed transmission at 74,000 easy hwy miles, my 2021 Silverado 1500 Trail Boss LT now has a catastrophic engine failure with only 16,000 miles. GM is breaking my heart. I have always been a GM loyalist. Both my grandfathers spent … their entire careers working for GM. Nothing else has ever been allowed in the driveway. Seriously. Today, I am sadly rethinking that position. Let me detail my latest experience (still underway): - Repeated engine lights kick "service exhaust warning". - Take into the dealership who gives it back to me saying they followed the GM bulletin and could not service the vehicle because they could not get the issue to duplicate within 50 miles. - More engine lights. Make another appointment at dealership - Two days before appointment the lifters on one side of engine ail. Vehicle is undriveable. Service emergency brake light comes on. Service traction control comes on. Service ABS brakes comes on. - GM reported faulty parts on the engine's lifters, but will only fix the side that has already failed. They told me if it had failed with less miles on it then they would of replaced both sides. Remember I brought it in once already and they gave it back to me - "nothing wrong". Today it only has 16k miles on it. - So... I call GM. 3 Days to get my case advanced to a case manager - Shrazondalyn (who is very nice but neutered in her ability to help me) - I request a replacement engine or both sides of the engine's lifters replaced. 7 more days waiting on a response.... no call. - Call Shrazondalyn back who informs me my request for a new engine or full lifter replacement bas been denied. - My case is still open today waiting on a second "escalation" request which I've already been informed will take 2 to 4 more business days to get a response, and will likely result in the same denial of a proper repair, and that I will not be able to speak with the actual staff member making the decision. So where does that leave me... It leaves me with a brand new truck whose other lifters are likely to fail and leave me stranded on the road. It leaves me with a potentially damaged cam that will fail in another 10 - 15,000 miles and again leave me on the side of the road. It leaves me in a position where I am forced to sell the truck, or pay myself to fix it properly. The dealership quoted me $3500 to replace the other side of the engine's lifters. I am broken. Last year I forked out $4400 to replace a transmission, and now after patronizing GM and purchasing what I thought would be a reliable 2021 Silverado Trail Boss, I am left with the option of another huge vehicle expense or a forced sale of my truck. I am terribly disappointed in not only my personal experience, but discouraged by the the response of a company I have chosen to support my entire adult life. I currently own three GM vehicles, but if they don't get this one right, I am afraid it will be my last three. UPDATE: I sold it and bought a Tundra with the old and reliable 5.7

Be Cautious!!!!

Shawn, 05/03/2021

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.8 ft. SB (5.3L 8cyl 10A)

The problems started with just 300 miles with A/C issues. I have had my Trail Boss 5.3l since December 2nd, and it has been in the shop 7 times. It has been in for A/C issues 5 times, purge valve once, and then a lifter failure which damaged 2 injectors and bent 2 push rods. Needless to say with just 6700 miles on it, I got rid of it. GM has no answers for the A/C issues and there are …

Bad lifters

Mell, 05/26/2021

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Work Truck 4dr Crew Cab 6.6 ft. SB (4.3L 6cyl 6A)

Have a new 2021 Silverado and engine stared with a ticking sound then went to a knocking sound then every light on the dash came on Check engine traction control brakes transmission everything so we brought it to the dealer they said it was a bad lifter her car is been there for five weeks now I know there’s more issues with the car than that lifter the sound of the engine was so bad

Check engine problems do not buy

Darnell , 04/17/2021

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT 4dr Crew Cab 6.6 ft. SB (2.7L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

I have a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado and I have been to the dealership 3 time with issues with my check engine light coming on with less then 3000 miles on the truck. Each time I go it’s the same code. They tell me we could not find any issues so we just reset the light. I am sick of this truck I will be going back to the dealership in the morning due to the fact my check engine light is …

See all 62 reviews of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500

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2021 Silverado 1500 Highlights

Type:

Crew Cab

Trim:

Work Truck

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$35,600
Engine Type	Flex-fuel (ffv)
Combined MPG	17 MPG
Cost to Drive	$208/month
Seating	6 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Max Towing Capacity	9,700 lbs.
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Silverado 1500 models:

Forward Collision Alert: Warns the driver of an imminent front collision and can apply the brakes at low speeds.
Safety Alert Seat: Buzzes the driver's seat when driving assistance systems determine the driver needs to pay closer attention.
Teen Driver: Records how younger members of the household drive the vehicle and provides a report card to parents upon their return home.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
PassengerNot Rated
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover19.1%

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2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 Review

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Towing and Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Silverado 1500 does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Catastrophic ENGINE FAILURE 2021 Trail Boss Chevro

Be Cautious!!!!

Bad lifters

Check engine problems do not buy

2021 Silverado 1500 Highlights

Safety

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