The 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 knows how to get the job done. That remains true whether the job in question is hauling your crew, hauling a load, or towing your boat. The Silverado has been one of America’s best trucks from its inception, and the fourth generation is the most technically advanced and capable one yet. A legendary Chevy small block V8 continues to power the new Silverado and is joined by a selection of other specialized options for plenty of power options. The frame has been revised and strengthened, while the interior is the most luxurious and amenity-filled in the Silverado’s history. Each part of the 2021 Silverado 1500 helps make it one of the best full-size pickups on the market.
Powertrain
One of the best parts of the Silverado lineup is the wide array of engines available to choose from. Each one can help tailor a truck to one’s specific needs, whether that be work or play. These vary from the 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that punches above its weight, all the way up to the 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8. None of the engines are underpowered, including the least expensive options.
The least expensive option is the 4.3-liter naturally aspirated V6, an engine that has given reliable service to GM for decades. In this incarnation, it has been dramatically upgraded and modernized when compared to the old 4300 Vortecs from decades past, now equipped with modern technologies like variable valve timing, direct injection, and all-aluminum construction. Combined, these features create an engine that produces 285 horsepower and a full 305 lb-ft of torque, all while being much lighter than previous versions.
The small-block V8s in the Silverado’s engine lineup are now available with Dynamic Fuel Management, which can effectively shut down half the engine’s cylinders when they aren’t needed and flash them back on again almost instantly when that power is once again required. These legendary V8s have always been paragons of power, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness, and compared to other V8s, they were never terrible when it came to efficiency either. With this new technology, however, they can compete with four-cylinder engines in terms of economy and efficiency. Dynamic Fuel Management is available on both the 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter V8 engines.
Also available is the smooth and stout 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel. This inline-six generates 460 lb-ft of torque and does so while providing up to an EPA-rated 33 miles per gallon efficiency. While a torquey diesel engine is to be expected, the 2.7-liter inline-four is likely to surprise many who simply see the small displacement figure. Stuffed with both boost and technology, the 2.7-liter produces more horsepower than the 3.0-liter diesel and more torque than the first generation Silverado’s Vortec 5300 V8 did.
Chassis
The Silverado’s chassis is a tried-and-true body on frame design, but with modern load path simulations and materials. This all means a more rigid and sturdy frame than before, which not only improves durability but handling and load-carrying ability as well. The body-on-frame layout is also quite often cheaper to repair, especially in terms of trucks. This is because the body is modular and not load-bearing. So if one of the rear quarter panels is damaged in an accident, it can simply be replaced outright or quickly taken off the vehicle and repaired by itself, requiring far less labor than a unibody vehicle’s quarter panel.
In terms of suspension and steering systems, the new Silverado remains a great example of evolutionary rather than revolutionary engineering. Taking known and reliable technologies and continuing to upgrade them to stay at the leading edge. The Silverado uses rack and pinion steering with electric power assist and an independent coil-over front suspension with twin-tube shocks. At the rear, you’ll find a good old-fashioned solid axle with leaf springs, an incorruptible method for reliably hauling heavy loads. These aren’t your grandfather’s leaf springs, though. These are variable-rate, two-stage multi-leaf springs that include composite second-stage springs on LT models. On Z71 package trucks, the rear is fitted with Rancho shocks.
Few things describe the 2021 Silverado better than composite leaf springs paired with splayed twin-tube shock absorbers. It does things the old-fashioned way, but only because that’s often the most dependable way there is, especially when augmented with new technology. This new Silverado is the perfect companion for any truck driver.
Interior and Cargo
On the inside, the Silverado is more unabashedly modern. The list of available features is impressive. It includes a fighter aircraft-like Heads Up Display, as well as a Bose premium sound system and an 8-inch color touchscreen with Chevrolet’s latest infotainment system. A 10-way power driver seat with power lumbar adjustment is available, as well as a 4G LTE wi-fi hotspot. Wireless charging, a power sunroof, and heated and ventilated seats are also available. Standard features vary depending on the trim but rest assured that everything you need will be included in the configuration and trim that suits your needs, and anything you want will be available to add.
Another area the Silverado excels in is passenger space and comfort. All cab configurations feature at least 43 inches of headroom and 44.5 inches of legroom for the front row. The back row in the crew cab and double cab is not far behind. Cargo-carrying ability is where the Silverado really shines. Even with the smallest engine on offer, the Silverado is rated to tow up to 7,900 pounds, and it can do much more with the higher displacement engines. In fact, a fully equipped Silverado 1500 with the 6.2-liter V8 engine can tow a maximum of 13,300 pounds.
Most configurations of the Silverado can also carry well over 2000 pounds of payload, with the max at 2,280 pounds. Even though the Silverado’s primary means of carrying cargo is its pickup bed, the crew cab’s interior space is impressive, more than many cars. So, there is plenty of room for you and your passengers and plenty of power to haul all of your cargo in the bed or on a trailer.
Comparison
In a vacuum, the Silverado is remarkable, but when put to the test against other trucks in the market, it shows just how remarkable it is. For example, the Silverado can carry more than 500 pounds more payload than the Ridgeline in many configurations, showing how sturdy the construction of the solid Chevy pickup is. The Silverado 1500 offers several times as many engine offerings as the Nissan Titan, including some that provide noticeably more power and torque and others that are significantly more economical. Finally, despite having at least as many features and better engines in general, the Silverado 1500 has a lower base price than the Ram 1500.
The Chevy Silverado 1500 Works for You
When it comes to getting the job done, the Silverado is the complete package. Power, dependability, high payload, prodigious towing capability, and no small amount of style. The powertrain options are numerous and easy to tailor to one’s specific needs, while the pricing of all Silverado models yields a value proposition other manufacturers will find hard to beat. The chassis of the Silverado is a potent mix of traditional methods intertwined with super modern manufacturing techniques and materials, while its interior can be as spartan or plush as the buyer desires. If you want a truck that will work for you both on the job and on the road, then you need a 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500.
