The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado is one of the best-selling trucks in the U.S. and competes head-to-head with rivals like the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, Toyota Tundra, and Nissan Titan. In some ways, the Silverado has the competition well and truly covered, thanks to its advanced trailering features (including a see-through trailer cam), wide range of powertrains, and a list of available option packages that reads longer than Al Capone’s rap sheet. The Tundra and Titan, for example, offer only one choice of engine, compared to the five available in the Silverado.
Pitted against more well-rounded competitors like the F-150 and Ram 1500, the Silverado definitely has a tougher job ahead of it. This Chevy’s eight main trim levels stretch from the workhorse WT model to the off-road-oriented Trail Boss models, and upward to the luxurious High Country that comes standard with nearly every comfort and tech feature you can add to a Chevy truck.
We’re going to take a closer look at four representative trims to understand what each has to offer, and how the Silverado can be customized to suit the wildly different needs and demands of every type of truck buyer.
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 WT (starting at $28,900)
The standard Silverado 1500 WT starts at less than $30,000 and is the model most likely to be chosen by fleet buyers or anyone looking for a low-cost, no-frills pickup. The WT is the only Silverado with the 2-door, 3-passenger Regular Cab available. This comes with the longest cargo bed, measuring in at 8-feet-2-inches in length. You can also get the 6-foot-7-inch standard cargo bed or 5-foot-7-inch short bed – though only with the Double Cab or Crew Cab (more on these in a moment).
In its basic format, the Silverado WT is one of the few new vehicles that include automotive throwbacks like manual wind-up windows and manual door locks. The entry-level powertrain is a 4.3-liter V6 that delivers 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque. A Silverado WT buyer can upgrade to a 310-horsepower 2.7-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder or 335-horsepower 5.3-liter V8.
Four-wheel drive is optional across the entire range. Truck buyers who routinely travel with more than one passenger should upgrade to the Double Cab or, better still, the Crew Cab. The latter of the two offers the most space for adults seated in the second row.
While this is technically the stock Silverado, standard equipment includes leatherette seating surfaces (animal lovers, take note: it’s fake), 7-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two USB ports, rearview camera, and Teen Driver safety system.
Let’s break down the numbers and factor that even the most Scrooge-like truck buyer will add a couple of option packages. The monthly payment for a Silverado WT 4X4 priced at $33,000, based on a purchase deal that includes 3% financing over 60 months and no money down, comes out to $566. Find a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 WT for sale
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 WT includes:
- Available Work Truck Value Package — this includes power windows, power door locks, EZ Lift power lock and release tailgate, rear window defogger, trailer hitch with 7- and 4-pin connectors, cruise control, and remote keyless entry.
- Work Truck Safety Package — includes front and rear park assist, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, and lane change alert.
- Rear-wheel drive is standard, 4-wheel drive is optional.
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto — standard with the WT’s 7-inch touch screen. For truck buyers who prefer navigation and music via their smartphone, this helps avoid needing to upgrade to a pricier infotainment system.
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT ($44,395)
The Silverado 1500 LT seems like a big jump in price from the standard WT trim, though it’s worth mentioning that sandwiched between the two is the Silverado Custom. Starting around $40,000 (before adding options or destination charge) the standard Custom model is available only with the 2.7-liter turbo-4. We think the LT’s choice of three engines provides greater flexibility to truck shoppers.
Standard features include a larger 8-in touch screen, locking rear differential, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and heated steering wheel. Like the Custom, the LT comes standard with the 310-horsepower turbo-4 and rear-wheel drive, with 4-wheel drive optional. There is also the option to pick the 277-hp 6-cylinder turbodiesel, which offers great towing power and fuel mileage, or a 355-hp 5.3-liter V8.
This is a nicely balanced work truck, one that doesn’t break the bank but still comes with lots of comfort-oriented extras (who doesn’t love a heated steering wheel?). Using our same pricing formula of 3% financing for 60 months with no money down, a Silverado LT at $45,000 will cost you about $772 per month. Find a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT for sale
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT includes:
- Choice of three engines, including a 2.7-liter turbo-4, 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline-6, or 5.3-liter V8.
- Silverado LT buyers can pick the Double Cab or Crew Cab. The Crew Cab is the better choice when it comes to second-row space.
- Available Safety Package adds blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic alert. This is well worth the price.
- Max Trailering Package includes features like a 3.42 axle ratio, revised shocks and upgraded rear suspension, automatic locking rear differential, trailer brake controller, and enhanced radiator cooling.
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Custom Trail Boss ($42,995)
The Silverado Trail Boss is available on either the Custom or LT trim levels. So, consider this a trim within a trim, so to speak. What does the Trail Boss bring to the party? As the name suggests, a major point of the Trail Boss is having the equipment necessary for serious levels of off-road driving. Four-wheel drive is standard, and the Custom Trail Boss comes with a locking rear differential, 2-speed transfer case, underbody skid plates, hill descent control, and 2-in lift of the suspension.
The main difference between the Custom Trail Boss and LT Trail Boss is that the Custom comes with a 4.3-liter V6 as standard, with a choice of optional 5.3-liter or 6.2-liter V8. The LT Trail Boss comes standard with the smaller of the two V8s, and the 6.2-liter is optional. No matter which engine you pick in the LT Trail Boss, they both come paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
These are smart choices for truck buyers who really intend on venturing onto some rough and gnarly terrain. Keep in mind, the Custom Trail Boss has a choice of two cabin sizes and two bed lengths. The LT Trail Boss is a Crew Cab-only proposition, though it does offer the standard or short cargo bed. Starting around $53,000, when properly equipped the LT Trail Boss can tow up to 9,300 pounds.
Factor in destination fees and other charges and a Silverado LT Trail Boss with a sticker price of $55,000 will cost $944 per month. That’s using the same 3% finance rate and 60-month purchase agreement. Find a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Custom Trail Boss for sale
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Custom and LT Trail Boss include:
- Standard 4.3-liter V6 and 6-speed automatic in Custom Trail Boss.
- Standard 5.3-liter V8 and optional 6.2-liter V8 in LT Trail Boss. Includes a 10-speed automatic transmission.
- LT Trail Boss is only available in Crew Cab format.
- Four-wheel drive and upgraded suspension come standard on both the Custom Trail Boss and LT Trail Boss.
- 8-in touch screen for the infotainment system. While rivals from Ford and Ram have bigger screens, the system in the Chevy is easy to use and has clear menus. It’s not as eye-grabbing for its sheer acreage, but this is a handy and intuitive infotainment setup.
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country ($55,495)
At the top of the heap, the High Country is the fanciest and most fully loaded of all Silverado trucks. That being said, compared to upmarket rivals like the Ford F-150 Platinum and Ram 1500 Limited, the Silverado High Country looks and feels more like blue jeans than a five-piece suit. That’s not to say the Silverado doesn’t have an attractive interior, or that its three available engines don’t stack up to the competition.
Thanks to a maximum towing capacity of 11,900 pounds, you’re going to need a bigger boat if you plan on going beyond the limits of this Chevy truck. The turbo-diesel 6-cylinder is offered, along with the 5.3-liter or 6.2-liter V8, both coupled to a 10-speed automatic. True, the cabin design isn’t going to wow anyone with cutting-edge looks or design. But it gets the job done, and the Crew Cab has lots of space for adults in the second row.
The High Country comes with a Bose audio system, navigation, wireless device charging, and digital gauge cluster in front of the driver. It’s a nice environment in which to get a hard day’s work done. Except, when stepping into similarly-optioned F-150 or Ram 1500, a High Country owner might come down with a sudden case of fancy-truck-interior envy.
If a High Country buyer adds a couple of option packages, the price of this lofty pickup is likely to hover around $60,000. With our 3% finance and 60-month payment formula, this equates to a potential monthly cost of $1,030. Find a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country for sale
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country includes:
- Leather seating and Crew Cab layout. The seats in the front and back of the High Country are supportive and comfortable enough for the longest road trip.
- Wireless device charging, a welcome relief for truck owners tired of looking for a charging cord.
- A premium Bose audio system gives this rugged truck a clear (and loud!) soundtrack for every type of task.
- Available Technology Package includes a head-up display, surround-view camera, bed view camera, and rear camera mirror. This helps you place this full-size truck with confidence even in tight confines.
