2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 review

2021 Chevy Silverado Review: 

The 2021 Chevy Silverado arrived with a couple of small but meaningful updates. Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ are now available, meaning you don't need to plug in your phone to display it on the Silverado's screen. Some trailer-towing camera tech was also upgraded and, on some 2021 models, a configurable tailgate option was added. Otherwise, the Silverado remains unchanged: It's a capable pickup with lots of engine options, including a diesel, and a variety of cabs. There are other pickups rated higher by Edmunds, but the Silverado is a perfectly fine pickup that can often be had for a lot less than the competition. 

• Technology

• Comfort

• Cargo and storage

• Ease of use

• Driving

What tech does the 2021 Chevy Silverado have?

Connectivity

Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ are both standard features and worked well in Edmunds' testing. A wireless charging pad is also a standard feature, and you can plug in to one of two USB ports up front or to another two behind the center console. You can also connect to the infotainment system via Bluetooth®. 

Infotainment

The Silverado comes with a seven-inch touchscreen that works well but may seem small in comparison to the touchscreens in other modern vehicles. There's an upgrade to an eight-inch available, but starting in 2022, a 13.4-inch touchscreen becomes available. It scored very well in Edmunds' testing. 

Driver-Assist Tech

There's a lot of useful driver-assist tech available on the Silverado, but Chevy reserves a lot of it for higher trims. You get forward collision warning, a backup camera, and lane departure warning standard, but everything else requires upgrading to a higher trim. Thankfully, the regular adaptive cruise control worked quite well at maintaining a set distance from the car in front of you in Edmunds' testing. 

How comfortable is the 2021 Chevy Silverado? 

Front Seating

You are likely to find there to be plenty of room in the front seat of the Silverado, even if you're very tall. The seats are also not confining, making them compatible with all sorts of body shapes and sizes. That's the good news. The bad news is that the seats aren't particularly plush, which can make them uncomfortable if you plan on spending a long time in them. 

Rear Seating

In the crew cab that Edmunds tested, there was plenty of legroom, headroom, and shoulder room in the back of the Silverado. You could comfortably seat three adults shoulder to shoulder in the back row and all enjoy lots of legroom. But much like the seats up front, the back row is a bit flat and firm. That can make sitting back there a drag if you're on a long road trip. 

Ride Quality and Interior Noise

This is a sore spot for the Silverado. The ride is relatively smooth on the highway, but Edmunds' testing found that the truck doesn't handle large bumps well. This kind of rough ride used to be the case for all full-size pickups, but in recent years competitors have improved ride quality to handle these big bumps better than Chevy has. There was a little more wind noise than Edmunds' editors expected, but it's not terrible. 

Does the 2021 Chevy Silverado have good storage?

Cargo 

There are three different bed sizes available on the Silverado: 8-foot, 6.5-foot (standard), and a 5-foot-8-inch short bed. There is a rear lock box available on the Silverado, which is a great place to store tools or other items you want secured but not inside the truck. The rear seat folds down in a 60/40 split and creates a large, flat surface that's great for stowing luggage and other items you want to keep dry and secured. Of course, you're then sacrificing passenger capacity. 

Storage

The Silverado does just OK here. The center console has useful dividers inside it, but it's on the small side given how much space is available in the front of the cabin. The cupholders aren't all that accommodating and are better for 12-ounce soda cans than for large water bottles or coffee thermoses. 

How easy is the 2021 Chevy Silverado to use?

Entry, Exit, and Car Seats

This is a full-size truck, so getting in and out of it can be challenging for smaller passengers. The available grab bars are helpful, but you might want to look for a truck with a step if you'll regularly be hauling around kids. While there's tons of seat space in the back for installing a car seat, it can be a chore getting it up in there in the first place because the door openings aren't quite as wide as Edmunds has seen on other trucks.

Interior Layout and Visibility

A high seating position and big windshield should combine for great outward visibility, but that's not the case with the Silverado. The hood is tall and broad, blocking your view. And then there are the thick forward pillars that cut into your vision to the left and right. The camera view is helpful, but Edmunds' editors didn't find the camera system as useful as the tech on the Ford or Toyota because of its poor resolution. 

What’s the 2021 Chevy Silverado like to drive?

Driving

There are five available engine options with the Silverado: a turbocharged four-cylinder, a six-cylinder, a turbocharged six-cylinder diesel, a 5.3-liter V8, and a 6.2-liter V8. In Edmunds' testing, the larger V8 performed very well, as did the diesel. Even the four-cylinder engine will supply enough power for most drivers. The brakes also did well in Edmunds' testing, stopping predictably and quickly. Handling is so-so. The steering can feel light, which means you've got to turn the wheel more than you might expect to get the truck to go where you want it. 

Towing

When properly equipped, you can tow up to 9,500 pounds with the standard four-cylinder engine. That is a lot! The diesel gets you the most towing power (13,300 pounds), which is going to be overkill for the majority of truck drivers.

Fuel Economy/Electric Efficiency

It's a big truck. The fuel economy is not good, though you might be surprised if you haven't looked at a modern truck in a long time. The diesel engine does improve fuel economy, though not so dramatically that it's the obvious pick. 

EPA Fuel Economy Estimates