The 2021 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab comes in 2 trim levels with a standard 142-inch long bed configuration. The two trim levels are named Work Truck and LT. The base trim Work Truck is basically bare bones and comes equipped with basic features and nothing exciting to ponder upon. It is equipped with the 6.6L V8 gas engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. However, the LT trim adds more sophistication by including more features and tech tweaks. It gets an LCD monitor, heated mirrors, Satellite Radio, remote keyless entry, and many more. While the base Work Truck trim is offered at a starting price of $35,300, the LT trim takes it to more than $42,200 for the 4WD variant. 

Which trim should you buy?

Both the trims serve the purpose they are made for. While the Work Truck focuses more on work and utility, the LT trim adds a bit towards comfort and luxury. Thus, buying the LT trim would be more sensible as it would give a pleasant space to drive and live in without compromising performance. The LT trim is offered at quite a balanced budget and would be a viable choice if your budget is expandable. 

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab is equipped with a standard 6.6L V8 engine that churns out 401 hp and 464 lb.-ft. torque. The engine is mated with a 6-Speed Automatic transmission unit that powers the rear wheels. The entire powertrain with improved chassis helps the vehicle tow around 17,370 lbs. The refreshed and well-tuned powertrain and the underpinnings make the Chevy Silverado more capable than its previous MY and compete strongly against the rivals.

One shall also opt for the more capable Duramax V8 Turbo Diesel engine that produces 445 horses and a mighty 910 lb-ft torque. The torquey motor easily hauls 18,500 lbs. Trucks aren’t bought for 0-60 MPH accelerations, however, speaking of that sort, the engine won’t let you accelerate smoothly. Neither does the gas nor the Duramax Diesel would satisfy you with quick acceleration. The gas V8 lets the pickup sprint to 60 mph in not more than 7.1 seconds.

The RAM 2500 offers the best-in-class power figure, while Chevy and GMC get a class-leading torque figure. Though the acceleration figures aren’t too good, the Silverado gets the fastest 0-60 acceleration timings. All these massive trucks can haul over 15,000 pounds of load with ease. We know that these machines are not aimed at straight-line runs, but they are still very much powerful and do perform very well.

How well does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab handle?

The 2021 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab, with its immensely capable redesigned underpinnings, gives impressive ride and handling features. With a torquey engine under the hood, the vehicle runs smoothly in heavy traffic as well as on country roads. The efficient powertrain hauls a good amount of load, and the advanced trailering system would let you do tasks hassle-free.

The transmission unit is quite responsive and shifts quickly. However, the steering lacks good feedback, which is yet to be improved by the manufacturer. The capable braking system with trail-assist system gives you decent handling characteristics overall. Handling is as expected, dull and unengaging. The Silverado 2500HD is not intended to be an enthusiastic machine, but it delivers what is expected from it efficiently. 

Braking Performance

For a heavy-duty pickup, braking is an important factor to be considered above acceleration. Good brakes are a priority factor that ensures safety. The 2021 Silverado 2500HD gets big and capable brakes. The well-weighted brakes also give good feedback. It has the capability to stop the heavy vehicle along with the entire loading efficiently and safely. The heavier curb weight is properly managed by the brakes. The system together halts the heavy vehicle from 60 MPH within 134 feet, which is good enough when considering the curb weight.

The 2021 Ford F-250 gets the biggest brakes in the segment, while it is the slowest stopping one here. However, the Silverado and the Sierra offer the best braking distance, followed by the RAM 2500. The Chevy shines brightly in the braking department and excels as the winner here along with its sibling the GMC Sierra 2500HD. 

Heavy-duty pickup trucks are not bought for high MPG figures, neither do the buyers bother much about the efficiency as these vehicles are meant to haul heavy cargo around. The highly capable motor of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab producing higher torque gives lesser efficiency figures. EPA generally does not rate these trucks for their MPG figures. Unofficial reports say that the previous year's model of the Silverado 2500HD delivers 12 MPG combined for the gas engine and 15 MPG for the Duramax diesel. The Silverado gets the class-leading 36-gallon fuel tank, which would be promising when it comes to the range figures. 

The efficiency figures of any of them aren’t available. Being heavy-duty trucks, the combined efficiency is expected to be around 13 mpg for all of these machines, and none of them would excel very much in the efficiency segment. However, with the biggest gallon tank capacity, we expect the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra to have better overall range on a full tank fuel fill, while the Ford is found to be marginally better on the highway. 

The interior of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab is well-laid and neat. However, the material within feels cheaper and low quality for the price. The things inside are intuitive, minimalistic, and neat in looks. The dashboard is ergonomic and easy to sort out. The controls are easy to reach for the driver. The base trim itself gets a 4-way power-adjustable driver seat as standard. The cabin is plentifully spacious and airy. Moreover, the Regular Cab seats 3 people comfortably without any congestion. 

The roofline is high above, which makes it possible even for the tallest fellows to fit their heads in and have some further headroom. The tall roofline also ensures good visibility from the cabin. Obviously, it aids easy entry and exit from the cabin too. The Silverado gets two-bed size choices, one is 6.8 feet long and the other is 8.2 feet. You get the long box as standard with the Regular Cab, which offers 83.5 cubic feet of cargo space. You also get enough space within the cabin to hold your stuff like a glove box, cup holders, and door pockets to keep your stuff.

The Silverado is the most spacious in the seating department along with the GMC Sierra. Being Regular Cabs, all pickup trucks in question can seat 3 people as standard. The GM twins come equipped with a longer bed which puts their cargo capacity at the top of the lot. But they come with an outdated-looking interior compared to the others. The RAM 2500 comes with the lowest cargo capacity in the competition. Standout interior features inside the 2021 Chevy Silverado 2500HD include:

• 4-way power-adjustable driver seat
• 40/20/40 split-bench seats
• Covered armrest storage
• 6-gauge instrument cluster
• Power windows with express up/down
• Single-zone air conditioning

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab gets a centrally-placed 7-inch touchscreen display mounted within the dashboard in the base trim which could be upgraded to a slightly larger 8-inch unit in the LT trim. The AC vents are placed on either side of the infotainment screen. The screen shall be controlled via physical buttons and knobs around the console.

The system is loaded with modern connectivity features including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity as standard. The LT trim also gets a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and Chevrolet Connect Access. A 2 speaker audio system is paired with the infotainment system, which couldn’t be upgraded as this one is the Regular Cab version. Standout infotainment features include:

• 7-inch touchscreen display
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Bluetooth Connectivity
• 2-speaker sound system
• Two USB Ports
• Chevrolet Connected Access
• Available 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot
• SiriusXM – All Access Package with a 3-month trial subscription

The exterior looks of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab are too close to the predecessors. It looks sharp and stylish enough. The aggressive front design and the massive grille make it desirably attractive. The big and bold Chevy badging on the black horizontal bar gives a lift for the face. Halogen headlamps are an option on both WT and LT trims. 17” wheels are standard on the truck, which can be upgraded to 18” or 20” on higher trim.

The truck is hefty and enormous. It has a long and wide body with tall stature. The truck gets a massive ground clearance of 10.19 inches, which is the best in the class. The body is made tough and robust, which is well reflected in its looks. The bigger dimensions surely impose troubles on maneuverability, but that is common for any such heavy-duty truck.

The Ford F-250 SuperDuty is the lightest in the segment, followed by RAM 2500. The Chevy and GMC are the heaviest, longest, and tallest with the class-leading ground clearance. Ford is shorter in length but enjoys a large wheelbase. Based on looks, none of them has an edge over the other as all of them follow the same boring design language. Standout exterior features of the Silverado 2500HD are the following:

• 17” machined aluminum wheels
• Corner Step (rear bumper)
• Chrome front grille bar with brand badging
• Headlamps, optional halogen
• Halogen DRLs
• Power-adjustable heated outside mirrors with integrated turn indicators

Heavy-duty trucks are not rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. So, the crash test ratings from either aren’t available for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab. However, the redesigned body makes the truck a safe place to be in. The sturdy and rigid body has the capability to withstand any serious crashes on the roads. The new chassis and structural elements make it safer than it was for the previous years. The safety features offered by the Chevy Silverado aren’t too impressive. You get the standard StabiliTrak Stability Control System with Proactive Roll Avoidance and traction control, electronic trailer sway control, and hill start assist. You’ll also get a rear vision camera. Standout safety features include:

• StabiliTrak Stability Control System
• HD Rear Vision Camera
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
• Forward Collision Alert
• Trailer Hitch Guidance
• Advanced Trail-Assist system

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab vs 2021 Ford F-250 SuperDuty Regular Cab

The 2021 Silverado 2500HD is a more capable and easy choice over the Ford F-250. The Chevy offers a more torquey powertrain, spacious interiors, and better dimensions than the Ford. However, the Ford F-250 masters the towing capacity over the Silverado. After all, considering all the aspects, it would be wise to choose the Silverado over the F-250 SuperDuty.

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab vs 2021 GMC Sierra 2500HD Regular Cab

Built and sold by the same parent company, both these are equally capable and preferable. However, the GMC Sierra is built more appealing with striking exteriors and complementing interiors. The Silverado 2500HD is more work-focussed and would suit any buyer easily. The manufacturer wisely keeps Silverado for those buyers who prefer a tough work truck and Sierra for those who demand comfort and sophistication along with work.

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab vs 2021 RAM 2500 Regular Cab

The RAM 2500 is an aggressive, striking, and stylish truck with high towing capacity. However, the Silverado 2500HD is a step ahead with better amenities and tech tweaks. It offers more modern features like the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Here the choice lies in the hands of the buyers. If you prefer looks and towing, then RAM would be your choice, while if you need some tech inside and a spacious cabin to move forth, then the Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab is for you.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab is one of the best releases that Chevy has had in the truck segment. With immense capability, athletic engine, and powertrain, it outshines its rivals easily. The 2021 model now gets a better interior, more advanced infotainment features, and power. The Duramax Diesel V8 has been a true blessing to many buyers. Doubtlessly, the 2021 Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab is one of the best choices one has in the segment.