Used 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 for Sale near Iowa

How much does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 cost?

Prices have softened 8.93% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 15,582 listings available, which suggests you should have a healthy range of trucks to compare.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 earns a 4.6/5 user rating and a 5.5/10 expert rating. The model scores 7/10 across Performance and Form and function.

Owners consistently praise the comfortable ride, spacious interior, strong performance, and smooth shifting from the 10-speed transmission. The Silverado also gets credit for its power, especially with the diesel engine options, and for being easy to live with day to day.

The trade-offs are clear: the interior quality draws criticism, and the sound system leaves some owners wanting more. From an ownership standpoint, it fits you best if you want a configurable full-size truck for work, daily driving, or both, rather than a cabin-first luxury pickup.

Good and great deals account for 33.6% of listings, so there is still room to shop selectively.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliable?

Owners rate it 4.6/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

Owners’ feedback points to a truck that feels dependable in everyday use, with praise for the comfortable ride, strong performance, and smooth-shifting transmission. The diesel engine options also come up as a strength, which reinforces the sense that the Silverado can be counted on for serious truck duty.

The expert review also describes it as fundamentally sound, which supports the idea that it has the basics covered even if some details fall short. For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is that quality and refinement concerns may show up more clearly as the truck ages.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 76.2% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a history report on every truck you consider, even if the listing looks clean at first glance. Prioritize a careful inspection of the cabin, since interior quality is a recurring complaint, and pay close attention to how the truck drives over rough pavement. If you plan to use it like a truck, focus on the condition of the powertrain, suspension, and any towing-related equipment.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Silverado comes in three cab styles, three bed lengths, and eight trim levels, and the cabin quality varies enough that lower trims can feel especially basic. The LTZ test truck sat one rung below the top of the lineup and showed how equipment can climb quickly with packages and options.
• Powertrain: You get six different engines paired with six-, eight-, and 10-speed automatic transmissions. The available Duramax turbodiesel is the standout for efficiency and smooth acceleration, while the 6.2-liter V8 is the choice for maximum towing.
• Safety package: Chevrolet offers forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert, with adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and a Safety Alert Seat available as upgrades. Stop-and-go capability and lane-centering assistance are not available.
• Infotainment: The Silverado uses 7-inch and 8-inch screens, with the high-definition 8-inch display offering quick response and modern graphics. Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are standard, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available on the 8-inch system.
• Fuel efficiency: The available Duramax turbodiesel returned 22.6 mpg in combined driving in testing and was rated at 24 mpg combined by EPA figures mentioned in the review.

Which 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 trim should I buy?

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is offered in 8 trim levels: WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, and High Country.

Here's the short version:

• WT: This is the work-focused starting point, and it makes sense if you want the Silverado’s core capability without paying for extras.
• Custom: A step up if you want a little more everyday appeal while staying near the value end of the lineup.
• Custom Trail Boss: Choose this if you want a more rugged setup and the off-road-oriented character implied by the Trail Boss name.
• LT: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it balances equipment, usability, and broader appeal.
• RST: A good fit if you want a more style-forward truck with a more polished look.
• LT Trail Boss: Pick this if you want the Trail Boss formula with more equipment than the lower off-road-oriented trims.
• LTZ: This is the upscale sweet spot if you want more comfort and technology, and it is the trim used for the test truck.
• High Country: This is the top-end choice if you want the most premium presentation in the lineup.

Chevrolet also offers a Safety Package with added driver-assistance features, but some advanced functions still are not available.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, so you can shop with some leverage if you stay patient.

• Deal availability: 33.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 15,582 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.93% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 76.2% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $30,353, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500's resale value?

The current average of $30,353 sits slightly below last year's $33,331.

That decline suggests the market has become a little more buyer-friendly, which can make it harder for a future seller to command top dollar immediately. Even so, the Silverado’s broad appeal, strong owner satisfaction, and large shopper pool help support demand.

If you keep the truck in clean condition and avoid accident history, you should be in a better position when it comes time to sell. Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.6/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 safe?

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 earns a Marginal rating from IIHS for front passenger protection in a small-overlap frontal crash, and a four-star overall rating from NHTSA with four-star frontal-impact results for the driver and front passenger.

It earns a 3/10 safety score from our experts.

Chevrolet offers forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert for every Silverado as either standard or optional equipment. The truck also offers a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, automatic collision notification through a paid subscription to connected services, and Teen Driver safety technology as standard.

Upgrades include adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and a Safety Alert Seat. The main caveat is that the Silverado’s crash-test results are weaker than you’d want in a modern full-size pickup, and stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance are not available.

Should I buy a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 33.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 76.2% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.93% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.6/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It offers a broad mix of powertrains, body styles, and easy-to-use technology.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $27,863, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $30,353 average.
• It adds a new turbodiesel, broader powertrain availability, and more convenience features.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $33,601, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $30,353 average.
• It brings a new interior starting with LT and adds the Silverado ZR2 off-road performance model.

The bottom line: The 2021 is the right pick if you want a well-rounded Silverado at a softer price than the 2022. If you are more price-sensitive, the 2020 can make sense, while the 2022 is the better choice if you want the newer cabin and added appeal.

How does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 compare to the 2021 Ford F-150?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500:

• Pros: Multiple powertrain options, Multiple body styles, Easy-to-use technology.
• Cons: Interior materials feel cheap, Poor fuel economy.

2021 Ford F-150:

• Pros: Multiple body styles, Multiple powertrain options, Impressive technology.
• Cons: Underwhelming base engine, Interior materials feel cheap, Advanced safety features are not standard.

Our experts score the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.5/10 and the 2021 Ford F-150 7.8/10. The Silverado’s strengths are its broad configuration range and straightforward tech, while the F-150 pulls ahead with stronger overall expert scoring and more impressive technology. Both trucks have interior-material complaints, but the Ford also has the edge in market data and deal share. If you want the more compelling all-around package, the F-150 is the stronger pick; if you want the Silverado’s specific mix of body styles and powertrains, it still has appeal.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 3, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.