LOOKS

Most recently going through a major redesign in 2019, the 2021 Silverado remains a truck whose big and bold design, in particular its front grille, will garner attention.

Be aware that this is a very large vehicle, so be careful where you take it. Narrow streets with cars parked on the sides may be a tight squeeze, and you’re not going to fit in the ATM line if there’s any barriers on the sides. 

Ground clearance goes up to 10.9 inches, which is promising for off-road scenarios. The Silverado did very well for me on snowy roads. A unique multi-function tailgate is also offered.

For those who need to haul materials, Silverado bed size offerings are also expansive, ranging from 69.6 inches to 98.4 inches long depending on the model you choose.

The interior of the Silverado crew cab that I tested was very roomy in both the front and the rear, and could sit up to 6 people comfortably (3 in each row). Materials used on the interior were decent, but for a truck priced at nearly $50K the quality could have been a bit higher. My vehicle did not have heated seats, but that feature is offered on some models.

There are also strong storage options, including a double glove compartment and a massive storage bin up front that can be lifted to reveal the sixth seating spot. The rear seats feature a 60/40 folding bench seat.

Other exterior highlights include a cornerstep rear bumper to increase access to the bed, optional side rails to help you step in and out of the truck (good for shorter adults and kids), 18-inch high gloss black painted aluminum wheels, cargo bed tie-downs, LED cargo area lighting (a nice feature), and a power lock and release tailgate.

HOW’S THE RIDE?

A truck must be powerful to meet modern demands, and the Silverado has that covered and then some. A handful of engine offerings are available on the Silverado, catering to all price points and needs, but the truck I tested featured the top-of-the-line option.

The 6.2-liter, V8 engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and boasts of  420 horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque.

Other options include a 5.3-liter V8, 4.3-liter V6, 2.7-liter four-cylinder and a 3.0-ilter turbo-diesel.

My test vehicle featured four-wheel drive, but some options come with rear-wheel drive. Easy-to-use controls in the vehicle allow you to switch from high to low settings.

Towing is another high point of the Silverado, with maximum ability of pulling 13,300 pounds, good news for anyone who carries a boat or other large object behind their truck on a regular basis.

In terms of the quality of the ride in the Silverado, it’s a large truck so it won’t be smooth at all times. But you can be confident that no matter what kind of road you come across, the Silverado will hold its own, and that’s good peace of mind to have. And it’s rather quiet inside most of the time.

Features adding to the drive quality and capability of the Silverado include an automatic locking rear differential, Autotrac 2-speed transfer case, Stabilitrak with trailer sway control and hill start assist, a trailering package with hitch guidance, and a brake pad wear indicator.

The Z71 Off-road package features monotube shocks, skid plates, hill descent control, and a heavy-duty air filter.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

I had an overall positive experience with the technology in the Silverado. The infotainment system (and its 7-inch color touchscreen) works well, both by voice and touch. Navigation is via OnStar and quite reliable. It’s also easy to connect your phone via Bluetooth for streaming music and calls.

Other tech features include Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability for phone mirroring, 4G LTE Wi-Fi availability, satellite radio, multiple USB ports, remote keyless entry and remote start, and a rear seat reminder so you don’t forget anyone or anything in the back.

Other features include a rear vision camera for parking situations (very helpful with a large vehicle like this), Teen Driver Mode (which lets you monitor habits of young drivers and teach them safe driving habits), and a Tire Pressure Monitoring system with Tire Fill Alert.

The Silverado’s optional Safety Confidence Package includes: Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking and Front Pedestrian Braking.

Another cool feature offered is a camera display in the rearview mirror, offering an unobstructed view of what is behind you even when you are towing.

Government safety ratings are strong on the Silverado: 5 stars on side crash; and 4 stars ratings for overall, frontal crash and rollover.

MPG
The official fuel mileage numbers on the Silverado I tested were 15 city/19 highway/17 combined. Other models will have higher numbers (the turbo-diesel features up to 23 city/33 highway mpg, for example).

The reality though is you may not reach the listed numbers. In my time driving the Silverado, I managed 12 mpg, several miles lower than the advertised amount.

The good news is that the fuel tank is up to 28 gallons, so you’ll be able to go a while between fill-ups.

PRICE

The SIlverado I tested was priced just under $50K; base price for the Silverado starts just under $30K. The most high-end, fully decked-out Silverado offerings can run you $70K or more.

So as you can see, as with all big trucks, there are a boatload of options catered to all price ranges and customer needs. With trucks so important to the bottom line, these brands have to reach a variety of customers, and Chevy certainly does so.

In terms of warranties, the Silverado comes with a 3-year/36K bumper-to-bumper limited warranty, a 5-year/60K powertrain limited warranty, plus roadside assistance and courtesy transportation

BOTTOM LINE

The 2021 Silverado is a solid truck offering from a trusted brand in the space. It’s not as newly redesigned as some of the competition, but should maintain loyalty due to its power, towing prowess, and off-road capability. The battle for truck supremacy features some great options right now, including the 2021 Silverado, so it will be interesting to watch how the sales charts turn up at the end of the year.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.