2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Rivals in a fiercely competitive segment simply do what they do better, beating the Chevy Silverado’s can-do-anything nature with a more purposeful attitude, which in turn highlights every niggle that one can have with the Chevy truck. With the introduction of electrified pickup trucks, it would be interesting to see where Chevy takes the Silverado brand, and whether it will continue to compete the way it used to against the likes of the Ford F-150, RAM 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500. 

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is available in so many different configurations that it would be nearly impossible to find the same config out on the streets if you put any bit of personalization into buying the pickup. A total of eight trims serve as a layout for what kind of features can be had, and the level of customization allows you to mix and match features from different trims to your own liking. 

Which trim should you buy?

As we mentioned above, the trims aren’t exactly the best way to look at the different features that can be had in your 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. If you are looking for quick delivery, you could pick one of the preset trims and get one at your nearest dealership as soon as possible, and for that, we wouldn’t recommend any other than the High country trim as it is loaded to the brim with features. Have a look at the trailer package and safety package when you’re out to buy one.

The 2021 Chevy Silverado gets a total of five gasoline engine options, ranging from a 2.7L turbocharged inline-4 to a hefty 6.2L V8 with dynamic fuel management. The dynamic fuel management is not a marketing gimmick and actually lets you extract some good mpg figures from the V8. However, our primary focus lies upon the 4.3L V6, which offers a good blend between efficiency and towing/payload capacities. 

On paper, the 2021 Silverado falls behind with its V6 engine which it shares with the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The Ford and RAM engines produce more power, but fall behind when it comes to torque, suggesting better drivability in the Chevy and GMC trucks. This is later proven in the quicker 0 to 60 and quarter mile timings of the Silverado when compared to the slightly more powerful F-150. The 2021 RAM 1500 is the quickest truck off the lot and has no limiter on its top speed. 

How does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado Regular Cab handle?

Taut and precise steering is one of the reasons why the Chevrolet Silverado can be incredibly fun to drive. Nevertheless, the same steering setup is vague around the center and is lightened using the variable-effort hydraulic power steering. The handling can get a little messy at times when a wheel has been lifted off the road, but the electronic brake distribution ensures braking ability is kept intact.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 isn't as refined as the competition though, and this shows in its punishing ride quality. Bumps almost always find themselves a way into the cabin, and sharper ones feel like you decided to hit them bare, without a seat and suspension under you. The sharp ride quality is a result of poor weight management from the suspension, and the adaptive dampers are the only way to improve upon that, although the dampers cause minor discomfort on cleanly paved roads. 

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Braking Performance

It is bad enough that cars can do sub 5 seconds 0 to 60 runs on the regular, and it’s worse that there are SUVs capable of the same. However, we believe it is quite easily the worst when a behemoth truck can do 0 to 60 runs in less than 7 seconds, as those hurtling masses are bound to injure someone upon impact. Therefore the brakes on pickup trucks must be strong enough to allow for car-like braking too. The 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 Regular Cab uses 13.6” brake rotors at the back, and 13.5” brake rotors up ahead.

All the trucks make use of disc brakes on all four wheels for optimum braking performance whenever necessary. The awkward combination of smaller brakes at the front in the GMC and Chevy trucks seems to work for them, as the Silverado 1500 demonstrates the solid braking ability. As the heaviest on the list, it is only natural that the RAM 1500 gets the largest brakes in the segment, at 14.9” and 14.8” for the front and rear wheels respectively.

The V8 engines in powerhouse trucks such as the Silverado are tuned to offer the best they can when it comes to performance. Towing, hauling cargo, and making quick work of the roads are three very hard tasks that these trucks seem to have been doing for as long as we can remember. The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado returns a commendable but average 16 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highways, resulting in a combined average of 18 miles per gallon.

The huge fuel tank in the RAM 1500 deserves all kinds of attention and praise, especially because it combines with a surprisingly fuel-efficient engine to allow for the longest range on a full tank in the whole segment. However, it is not the most economical engine. That title goes to the Ford F-150 Regular Cab, which can run 25 miles per gallon on the highways, and 19 miles per gallon in the city, leading to a best-in-class combined 22 mpg.

For those of you who like the old-school interior layout of cars, where everything wasn’t drilled with technology and fluidic surfaces, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 should be a breath of old but fresh air. It follows an archaic dashboard layout with more physical functions than touch. Uniform, simple styling makes it easy to get used to the interiors of the 2021 Silverado, but the cabin design is beginning to show its age. Having constantly seen the same interior for the past few years, we believe it is time for a change.

The Regular Cab variant trucks come with different types of seating arrangements, with an option between a 3-person bench seat or bucket seats in the Chevy and GMC trucks. The Ford comes standard with bucket seats. The 2021 Silverado shares the same interior dimensions as the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500, both of which offer best-in-class legroom and headroom, making them the best pickup trucks for taller personnel. 

The Ford F-150 offers excellent shoulder room, but the flatbed doesn’t seem to be as commodious in the Ford and RAM when compared to the Chevy and GMC trucks. Standout interior features in the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab:

• Heated seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Dual-zone climate control
• Optional ventilated seats
• Leather, synthetic, or cloth seats

How intuitive is the infotainment in the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab?

The infotainment in the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is far from obsolete but offers the bare minimum in connectivity features. When compared to the likes of Ford, Chevy and GMC are way behind in terms of infotainment refinement, with Ford offering best-in-class connectivity for quite some time now. A 7” touchscreen in the dashboard handles user inputs and comes with the basics including:

• AUX input
• Bluetooth Connectivity
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Telematics

The 2021 Silverado uses LEDs and other modern elements to complement its bold styling. This maintains its imposing looks while keeping it up to date with the latest from rivals such as Ford, GMC, and RAM. Chevy has plans to revise the look of the Silverado for the next model year, as the exterior design is also beginning to get slightly old with time. 

The largest dimensions certainly belong to the GMC and Chevy twins, with a significantly longer wheelbase as compared to the F-150 and RAM 1500. The Ford truck is only 2 inches shorter than the Chevrolet Silverado though while boasting better ground clearance, which is matched by the RAM truck. The lower ground clearance of the 2021 Silverado Regular Cab can be improved upon with the Z71 off-road package. Highlights of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab exterior:

• Multi-flex tailgate
• LED DRLs
• Heated outer rearview mirrors
• 17” alloys

According to the Chevy website, ‘safety is their strong suit’. However, the 2021 iteration of the Silverado has received some criticism for its poor safety standards. These safety standards are reactive to the competition, and the 2021 Silverado isn’t all that unsafe for occupants, offering plenty of safety features and driver assistance programs that include:

• Emergency Braking Assist
• Hitch guidance
• Lane-departure warning 
• Lane-keeping assist
• Forward-Collision Warning
• Blind-Spot Monitoring
• 6 airbags
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab vs 2021 Ford F-150 Regular Cab

The Chevy and Ford trucks are the bestselling of the four in contention. Both have different approaches towards their design that allow them to cater to different demands from those looking for a pickup truck. The 2021 Ford F-150 is incredibly tech-savvy and puts electronics to good use at making tough tasks like trailering, and even normal driving much easier than they should be. Chevy uses sturdy mechanisms to achieve the same, but cannot match the refinement in the Ford F-150.

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab vs 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 Regular Cab

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra may look different, but it is impossible to miss all the similarities between them that let you know of the lack of difference between the two. Both are plagued with the same drawbacks of a lack of development, like the unnecessarily harsh ride quality, not to mention obnoxious interiors. Nevertheless, the GMC truck is an even more ancient-looking version of the Silverado, and anyone with respect for technology would pick the Chevy if not the Ford.

2021 Chevrolet SIlverado 1500 Regular Cab vs 2021 RAM 1500 Regular Cab

Chevrolet, GMC, and Ford seem to be stuck in a rut of trying to outdo one another, especially on paper. RAM lies on the other side of the competition, putting up viable alternatives to the likes of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado without matching them on paper, as you can see in the seemingly lackluster flatbed volume, among other figures. 

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is without a doubt one of the most capable trucks on the market and offers the best flatbed storage you can get with a regular cab layout. However, the competition also offers capable trucks that could offer features to your liking, and if the segment-best towing and payload capacities aren’t necessary for you, you should check out the other trucks in order to get a more financially viable option.