Are you looking to have some fun? As you know, few things in this world can replicate the joy of driving a brand new pickup truck. While we understand the feeling of wishing to own every new pickup truck, we also know that this isn’t feasible for over 99% of drivers. Today, we have the 2021 Chevy Silverado vs 2021 Ford F-150, and only one of these vehicles deserves your time, but it’s not immediately clear which one, and that’s where we come in.
We’re here to give you the details on how each of these vehicles performs and even give you some tips on features to look out for in the latest models. Whether you’re upgrading a lease or you’re interested in replacing an older vehicle that you’ve had for a while, the new Silverado and F-150 will suit you well. However, which one of these two trucks is the best of the best? Let’s take a closer look and find out once and for all – or at least until the next round of updates these two top trucks receive.
Let’s start with the base price for each vehicle. This year’s Silverado starts at a base price of $29,300, and you can fit your Silverado with one of eight trim configurations. Ultimately, the Silverado offers plenty of customization, and the Silverado has a wide range of performance options. Interestingly, we’ve rarely seen a starting price so similar to its competitor, with the base model F-150 carrying an MSRP of $29,290, which is enough for us to call the prices nigh identical. The F-150 is available in seven different trims, which gives it a similar amount of customization as the Silverado 1500. With these similarities out of the way, let’s discuss some differences.
Performance Review
We’re pleased to see such a variety in powertrain options for the Silverado and F-150, and this is where we start to see a blend of similarities and differences. Both vehicles can be fitted with a diesel engine, so if that’s more your thing, both vehicles can offer you that. For those who are more interested in general performance, we’ve got some interesting news for you as well.
There’s a similar amount of horsepower in each base engine, for starters, but the larger 4.3L V6 inside the Silverado will inevitably create more torque than the 3.3L V6 inside the base F-150. While there is 285 hp for the Silverado and 290 hp for the F-150, torque tells a different story, with Chevy’s base offering supplying 305 lb-ft of torque against Ford’s 265 lb-ft of torque. Ford does manage to squeeze extra towing capacity out of this smaller engine with 8,200 lbs against 7,900 lbs, but this 300 lb difference is unlikely to make a world of difference.
At their best, both vehicles perform admirably, but both vehicles have different ways of achieving this. With the Silverado, a 6.2L V8 is responsible for achieving 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, and this also helps the vehicle tow up to 13,300 lbs. The best V8 on the F-150 doesn’t quite achieve the same level of performance, with the 5.0L supplying 400 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. However, this doesn’t deter the F-150 as it does tow more than the Silverado thanks to an optional EcoBoost 3.5L V6, but the difference isn’t considerable. Both vehicles are generally fun to drive, and you’ll be surprised by just how powerful it feels on the road.
Fun Tech Features
Who says that technology can’t be fun? One of the most exciting parts about the release of a new vehicle is to witness how far a manufacturer will go simply in the name of entertainment, convenience, or, more commonly, both. There are some interesting differences between these two trucks, and some of these differences are seen in each truck’s bed. The F-150 allows for an onboard power generator that allows you to bring power to the worksite for power tools and anything else while omitting the need to bring along a generator that will eat into your payload. This isn’t an option on the Silverado, but Chevy has a trick up its sleeve that you won’t find on the 2021 F-150, and that’s a multifunction tailgate.
There’s been an indication that Ford might be adding a multifunction tailgate to the next F-150, although that hasn’t been confirmed, and it would make sense as it’s a highly popular feature among pickup truck drivers nowadays. A multifunction tailgate replaces your old regular tailgate that only folds down and completely changes how we access the bed of our trucks by allowing it to be opened in a multitude of ways. The multifunction tailgate on the Silverado can be customized to supply a load stop, a proper work surface for the job site, and much more. In many ways, this feature is equally as important as an onboard power generator because it enhances the convenience factor that each truck can bring to the workplace.
Another source of entertainment that has been a part of the driving experience for decades is a sound system. Of course, this is one area that has always seen tremendous improvement over the years, and a vehicle’s sound system from the 1980s won’t sound like one from the 1990s and so forth. Nowadays, listening to music while driving is more immersive than ever, thanks to a crisp audio signal complemented by powerful subwoofers to give your vehicle a thumping bass. The Silverado and F-150 both offer premium sound systems, the latter of which has a system provided by Bang & Olufsen, while the Silverado features Bose speakers.
An Important Choice Awaits
Throughout this comparison, the choice between a 2021 Silverado and an F-150 is not an easy one; that much has been made clear. However, when it comes down to day-to-day usage, we find that the Silverado 1500 will suit most drivers better. This is especially the case if you plan to utilize your truck for any workflow whatsoever since the flexibility of the multifunction tailgate on the Silverado can’t be replicated on a truck with a standard tailgate.
What does this mean for the F-150? The truth is, there are plenty of reasons as to why you’d want to spring for an F-150, especially if you’re looking for something specialized, like the Raptor or Hybrid. However, the story changes when the realization hits that the Silverado offers much of what the F-150 offers, and in places where it falters, such as the lack of an onboard generator, this can easily be rectified with an external power generator.
This then leaves us with our final recommendation, and that’s the 2021 Silverado. This was a close call, and we’re interested in what the future holds for both of these vehicles, especially since Chevy’s pickup is scheduled for a major update next year, and we’re in for a real treat when these two meet again in the future. Things are sure to get even more interesting when the promised all-electric versions of these two trucks hit the roads over the next few years.
