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2021 Silverado 1500 trim level differences

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.

Which 2021 Silverado 1500 trim 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.

Compare 2021 Silverado 1500 trims side-by-side

Comparing average pricing near
Shirley, NY
Vehicle
Silverado 1500 Work Truck
Silverado 1500 Custom
Silverado 1500 LT
Silverado 1500 RST
Silverado 1500 Custom Trail Boss
Silverado 1500 LTZ
Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss
Silverado 1500 High Country
Vehicle
Work Truck
4.3L 6cyl 6A
See all Silverado 1500 Work Truck for sale
1 for sale near you
Custom
4.3L 6cyl 6A
See all Silverado 1500 Custom for sale
3 for sale near you
RST
2.7L 4cyl Turbo 8A
See all Silverado 1500 RST for sale
3 for sale near you
Custom Trail Boss
4.3L 6cyl 6A
See all Silverado 1500 Custom Trail Boss for sale
1 for sale near you
LTZ
5.3L 8cyl 8A
See all Silverado 1500 LTZ for sale
LT Trail Boss
5.3L 8cyl 10A
See all Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss for sale
1 for sale near you
High Country
5.3L 8cyl 8A
See all Silverado 1500 High Country for sale
1 for sale near you
Hide similarities
Section Title

Features

Features

Features

Features

Features

Features

Features

Features

Bluetooth
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Navigation
Not Available
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Satellite radio
Not Available
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Keyless Ignition
Not Available
Not Available
standard
standard
Not Available
standard
standard
standard
Cruise control
optional
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Adaptive cruise control
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
optional
Not Available
optional
Parking assistance
optional
Not Available
optional
optional
Not Available
standard
optional
standard
Upholstery
vinyl
cloth
cloth
cloth
cloth
leather
cloth
leather
Heated seats
Not Available
Not Available
standard
standard
Not Available
standard
standard
standard
Cooled/Ventilated seats
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
standard
Folding rear seats
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Sunroof
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
optional
Not Available
optional
optional
optional
Section Title

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Country of final assembly
Mexico/United States
Mexico/United States
Mexico/United States
Mexico/United States
Mexico/United States
Mexico/United States
Mexico/United States
Mexico/United States
Drivetrain
rear wheel drive
rear wheel drive
rear wheel drive
rear wheel drive
four wheel drive
rear wheel drive
four wheel drive
rear wheel drive
Engine power
285 hp @ 5,300 rpm
285 hp @ 5,300 rpm
310 hp @ 5,600 rpm
310 hp @ 5,600 rpm
285 hp @ 5,300 rpm
355 hp @ 5,600 rpm
355 hp @ 5,600 rpm
355 hp @ 5,600 rpm
Engine torque
305 lb-ft @ 3,900 rpm
305 lb-ft @ 3,900 rpm
348 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm
348 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm
305 lb-ft @ 3,900 rpm
383 lb-ft @ 4,100 rpm
383 lb-ft @ 4,100 rpm
383 lb-ft @ 4,100 rpm
Engine displacement
4.3 l
4.3 l
2.7 l
2.7 l
4.3 l
5.3 l
5.3 l
5.3 l
Engine configuration
v6
v6
inline 4
inline 4
v6
v8
v8
v8
Transmission
6-speed shiftable automatic
6-speed shiftable automatic
8-speed shiftable automatic
8-speed shiftable automatic
6-speed shiftable automatic
8-speed shiftable automatic
10-speed shiftable automatic
8-speed shiftable automatic
Tire size
255/70R17
275/60R20
255/70R17
265/65R18
275/65R18
275/60R20
275/65R18
275/60R20
Wheel size
17 X 8.0-in
20 X 9.0-in
17 X 8.0-in
18 X 8.5-in
18 X 8.5-in
20 X 9.0-in
18 X 8.5-in
20 X 9.0-in
Wheel type
painted steel wheels
painted alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
polished alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
Run flat tires
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Section Title

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

City/Hwy/Combined MPG
16 / 21 / 17 MPG
16 / 21 / 17 MPG
20 / 23 / 21 MPG
20 / 23 / 21 MPG
14 / 18 / 16 MPG
17 / 23 / 19 MPG
16 / 21 / 18 MPG
17 / 23 / 19 MPG
City/Hwy/Combined MPGe
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Fuel Capacity
24.0 gal.
24.0 gal.
24.0 gal.
24.0 gal.
24.0 gal.
24.0 gal.
24.0 gal.
24.0 gal.
Driving Range (city/hwy)
384 / 504 miles
384 / 504 miles
480 / 552 miles
480 / 552 miles
336 / 432 miles
408 / 552 miles
384 / 504 miles
408 / 552 miles
Fuel Type
flex-fuel (unleaded/e85)
flex-fuel (unleaded/e85)
regular unleaded
regular unleaded
flex-fuel (unleaded/e85)
regular unleaded
regular unleaded
regular unleaded
Section Title

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Turning circle
46.3 ft.
46.9 ft.
46.3 ft.
46.3 ft.
46.3 ft.
46.9 ft.
46.3 ft.
46.9 ft.
Curb weight
4,702 lb.
4,702 lb.
4,702 lb.
4,702 lb.
5,100 lb.
4,702 lb.
5,190 lb.
4,800 lb.
Ground Clearance
7.9 in.
7.9 in.
7.9 in.
7.9 in.
10.9 in.
7.9 in.
10.9 in.
7.9 in.
Overall Width with Mirrors
Overall Width without Mirrors
81.2 in.
81.2 in.
81.2 in.
81.2 in.
81.2 in.
81.2 in.
81.2 in.
81.2 in.
Height
75.5 in.
75.5 in.
75.5 in.
75.5 in.
78.4 in.
75.5 in.
78.4 in.
75.5 in.
Length
231.7 in.
231.7 in.
231.7 in.
231.7 in.
231.7 in.
231.7 in.
231.7 in.
231.7 in.
Bed Length
5'10”
5'10”
5'10”
5'10”
5'10”
5'10”
5'10”
5'10”
Wheelbase
147.4 in.
147.4 in.
147.4 in.
147.4 in.
147.5 in.
147.4 in.
147.5 in.
147.4 in.
Seating Capacity
Cargo Space
Cargo Space, Rear Seat Down or Removed
Front Head Room
43.0 in.
43.0 in.
43.0 in.
43.0 in.
43.0 in.
43.0 in.
43.0 in.
43.0 in.
Front Leg Room
44.5 in.
44.5 in.
44.5 in.
44.5 in.
44.5 in.
44.5 in.
44.5 in.
44.5 in.
Front Shoulder Room
66.0 in.
66.0 in.
66.0 in.
66.0 in.
66.0 in.
66.0 in.
66.0 in.
66.0 in.
Rear Head Room
40.1 in.
40.1 in.
40.1 in.
40.1 in.
40.1 in.
40.1 in.
40.1 in.
40.1 in.
Rear Leg Room
43.4 in.
43.4 in.
43.4 in.
43.4 in.
43.4 in.
43.4 in.
43.4 in.
43.4 in.
Rear Shoulder Room
65.2 in.
65.2 in.
65.2 in.
65.2 in.
65.2 in.
65.2 in.
65.2 in.
65.2 in.
Section Title

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

True Cost to Own®
$47,999
$49,023
$49,538
$49,103
$54,024
$53,612
$55,524
$58,923
Average Cost Per Mile
$0.64
$0.65
$0.66
$0.65
$0.72
$0.71
$0.74
$0.79
Depreciation
$11,911
$12,409
$14,811
$13,985
$14,200
$16,234
$16,016
$20,525
Financing
$4,850
$5,332
$5,749
$6,054
$6,530
$6,616
$7,207
$7,253
Taxes & Fees
$2,327
$2,530
$2,706
$2,835
$3,050
$3,071
$3,338
$3,343
Fuel
$15,032
$15,032
$12,169
$12,169
$15,985
$13,448
$14,197
$13,448
Insurance
$4,683
$4,524
$4,726
$4,683
$4,879
$4,805
$5,145
$4,916
Maintenance
$6,677
$6,677
$6,578
$6,578
$6,656
$6,919
$6,897
$6,919
Repairs
$2,519
$2,519
$2,799
$2,799
$2,724
$2,519
$2,724
$2,519
Section Title

Colors

Colors

Colors

Colors

Colors

Colors

Colors

Colors

Interior
Jet Black, cloth
Jet Black, vinyl
Jet Black, cloth
Gideon/Very Dark Atmosphere, cloth
Jet Black, cloth
Jet Black, leather
Gideon/Very Dark Atmosphere, leather
Gideon/Very Dark Atmosphere, cloth
Jet Black, cloth
Jet Black, leather
Gideon/Very Dark Atmosphere, leather
Jet Black, cloth
Jet Black, leather
Gideon/Very Dark Atmosphere, leather
Gideon/Very Dark Atmosphere, cloth
Jet Black, cloth
Jet Black, leather
Gideon/Very Dark Atmosphere, leather
Jet Black/Umber, leather
Jet Black, leather
Exterior
Summit White
Oxford Brown Metallic
Satin Steel Metallic
Silver Ice Metallic
Red Hot
Northsky Blue Metallic
Black
Shadow Gray Metallic
Summit White
Oxford Brown Metallic
Satin Steel Metallic
Silver Ice Metallic
Red Hot
Northsky Blue Metallic
Cherry Red Tintcoat
Black
Shadow Gray Metallic
Summit White
Oxford Brown Metallic
Satin Steel Metallic
Iridescent Pearl Tricoat
Silver Ice Metallic
Red Hot
Northsky Blue Metallic
Cherry Red Tintcoat
Mosaic Black Metallic
Black
Shadow Gray Metallic
Summit White
Oxford Brown Metallic
Satin Steel Metallic
Iridescent Pearl Tricoat
Silver Ice Metallic
Red Hot
Northsky Blue Metallic
Cherry Red Tintcoat
Mosaic Black Metallic
Black
Shadow Gray Metallic
Summit White
Oxford Brown Metallic
Satin Steel Metallic
Silver Ice Metallic
Red Hot
Northsky Blue Metallic
Cherry Red Tintcoat
Black
Shadow Gray Metallic
Summit White
Oxford Brown Metallic
Satin Steel Metallic
Iridescent Pearl Tricoat
Silver Ice Metallic
Red Hot
Northsky Blue Metallic
Cherry Red Tintcoat
Mosaic Black Metallic
Black
Shadow Gray Metallic
Summit White
Oxford Brown Metallic
Satin Steel Metallic
Iridescent Pearl Tricoat
Silver Ice Metallic
Red Hot
Northsky Blue Metallic
Cherry Red Tintcoat
Black
Shadow Gray Metallic
Oxford Brown Metallic
Satin Steel Metallic
Iridescent Pearl Tricoat
Red Hot
Northsky Blue Metallic
Cherry Red Tintcoat
Mosaic Black Metallic
Black