2021 Silverado: A Guide to Performance

Are you tired of manufacturers cutting corners on their vehicles, and in many cases, eliminating the end-users choices during the buying process? With the 2021 Silverado, you won’t encounter this issue with an available six possible powertrain configurations, and you can find this vehicle at DePaula Chevrolet, your local Albany Chevy dealer. Whether you’re looking for a V6, a V8, a turbocharged engine, or a turbo diesel engine, you won’t be disappointed with the 2021 Silverado. Although the Silverado 1500 doesn’t harness the same grunt as its bigger sibling counterpart, the Silverado HD, it is one of the best full-size pickup trucks that you can purchase this year. Before we talk about the performance side of things, let’s talk pricing and trim availability first.

The 2021 Silverado is available in a wide range of configurations, which continues the trend we’re seeing of embracing customer choice. There are a striking eight available trim levels for the Silverado 1500, which is simply incredible compared to many other vehicles out there. The base model is the WT, and this has a starting price of $29,300.*

Many of the Silverado 1500 trims are specifically tailored for different purposes. For example, the LT Trail Boss and Custom Trail Boss are excellent for off-roading. The High Country trim is at the top of the list, and this includes a few extra packages of features, a power-adjustable tailgate, and large and menacing-looking 22-inch wheels. For reference, the WT trim comes with 17-inch wheels to give you an idea of the upgrade that you’d be getting here. With that out of the way, let’s talk about the wide range of performance that you should expect to see.

The Fuel-Efficient Bunch

Something that you should consider when you’re purchasing a pickup truck is fuel efficiency. Sometimes, this is unavoidable, and if a manufacturer only includes one or two powertrain options, then it becomes a case of “deal with it.” Chevy isn’t like most manufacturers out there, and as we mentioned prior, there are six available powertrain options for the 2021 Silverado.

First, we’ll discuss the three engines that will give you the best fuel efficiency, starting with the base engine, which is a 4.3L EcoTec3 V6 that pairs with a 6-speed automatic transmission. You’ll get 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque, with a maximum towing capacity of 7,900 lbs. This is at the weaker end of the spectrum, as you can imagine, but it gets EPA-estimated ratings of 16 MPG city and 21 MPG highway. This engine will get you places and will give you ample power, but it’s highly recommended to spring for one of the next five options.

The first of these is a turbocharged 2.7L 4-cylinder, and like other turbocharged engines out there, you get a perfect blend of performance and efficiency. Although the 2.7L 4-cylinder may sound like a downgrade to the aforementioned V6, I can assure you it’s not with 310 hp and 348 lb-ft of torque. Additionally, the transmission should suit you better as it’s an 8-speed automatic this time around. Not only is the towing capability greater with a maximum capacity of 9,600 lbs, but it’s also more fuel-efficient than the V6 with EPA-estimated ratings of 20 MPG city and 23 MPG highway. This is the second most fuel-efficient engine of the bunch, but unsurprisingly, it’s the turbo-diesel 3.0L I-6 that takes that crown.

Paired with an even better 10-speed automatic transmission, the turbo-diesel 3.0L I-6 produces 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. While it may have the lowest amount of horsepower out of the available engines, it matches the most powerful offering in regards to torque output. The towing capacity of this engine sits at 9,500 lbs, so it’s on the lower end of things, but it shines with EPA-estimated ratings of 23 MPG city and 33 MPG highway. For any pickup truck, this is simply exceptional.

The Big Performers

The last three powertrain configurations on the list are essentially the best that you can get with your Silverado 1500. Two V8 engines are available; however, one of them can be fitted with either active or dynamic fuel management. The AFM 5.3L V8 pairs to a 6-speed automatic transmission and will produce 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. We do start to see a significant improvement in towing performance with this V8 as it can tow a maximum of 10,900 lbs, which is nearly 38% more than the base engine. Fuel efficiency does slightly falter here compared to the other engines with only 15 MPG city and 21 MPG highway, but there’s an answer to this problem.

As I alluded to earlier, the 5.3L V8 is available with Dynamic Fuel Management, and when you opt for this, the specs will remain the same 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, but you can pair this to either an 8-speed or 10-speed automatic transmission instead. With fuel ratings of 17 MPG city and 23 MPG highway, the difference between it and the same V8 utilizing Active Fuel Management makes it abundantly clear that dynamic is the one you want to go with. It doesn’t stop there, as this V8 with Dynamic Fuel Management can tow 11,500 lbs, which is approximately 5.5% more than the Active Fuel Management option.

Lastly, the engine that will give your Silverado 1500 the most towing capability is the 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 that pairs with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This engine has it all from horsepower and torque output, a smooth and satisfying transmission, and the best towing capabilities that the model can offer. This engine produces 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, and its EPA-estimated ratings match the base V6 with 16 MPG city and 21 MPG highway, yet only comes in 4WD. If you utilize this engine, the Silverado 1500 will then have a maximum towing capacity of 13,300 lbs. To put this into a brighter light, this is a 68% improvement over the base engine and is, therefore, the engine that you should get if towing is going to be an absolute priority to your daily traversal with the Silverado 1500.

A Fan Favorite

The 2021 Silverado 1500 does everything it needs to do to not only be a reliable and perfectly capable pickup truck, but it holds its own in a market that has its fair share of competitors. Honestly, the answer here is yes; you should buy a Silverado 1500 if you feel that a towing range between 7,900 lbs and 13,300 lbs is enough to handle your daily or occasional towing tasks. If you know for certain that it doesn’t quite harness the power and towing capabilities that you’re seeking, then it’s not for you. However, if that amount of towing power just isn’t enough, don’t fear because you can just upgrade to a Chevy Silverado 2500 or 3500 HD and get even more capability with many of the same great features.

The Silverado 1500 is a wonderful pickup truck that deserves your time, attention, and money if you’re looking for a brand new truck this year. Grab yours today at DePaula Chevrolet. You can find us at 785 Central Ave in Albany, NY, across from the AutoZone store, about a mile down the road from the McDonalds.

*MSRP may change without notice. See dealer for complete details.