How much does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 cost?

Prices have softened 8.04% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 9,574 listings available, which gives you a healthy amount of inventory to compare across trims and configurations.

If you find a listing below $31,620.39, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 earns a 4.62/5 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 interiors, and strong performance, especially with the diesel engine options. Many also like the smooth shifting of the 10-speed transmission and the truck’s broad capability. On the downside, some reviewers point to the interior quality and sound system as areas that could be better.

That lines up with the broader use case here: you get a full-size pickup with multiple powertrain choices, multiple body styles, and easy-to-use technology, but you also have to accept some interior and refinement compromises.

With 27.8% of listings marked as good or great deals, you have room to shop selectively.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliable?

Owners rate it 4.62/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback also points to a truck that feels dependable in everyday use, with praise for the comfortable ride, strong performance, and diesel-powered smoothness. That kind of feedback suggests you can count on it for regular truck duty if you choose a well-kept example.

The expert evaluation also describes it as a fundamentally sound truck, and the diesel powertrain is singled out as a strong value choice. That said, the same review notes that the truck still needs greater attention to the details, which is a reminder that condition matters a lot on the used market.

For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is ending up with a truck that has been neglected or worked hard without proper maintenance.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 78.3% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a history report on every truck you consider, because a clean listing percentage does not replace a vehicle-specific record. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the truck has towing, hauling, or off-road use in its past. Focus on condition details that matter in a pickup: cabin wear, suspension behavior, and signs of hard use.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The truck comes in three cab styles, three bed lengths, and eight trim levels, and the cabin quality is a weak point even though the exterior styling is strong. Base-trim trucks can feel especially sparse, while higher trims add more equipment and a more complete feature set.
• Powertrain: You get six different engines with six-, eight-, and 10-speed automatic transmissions. The Duramax turbodiesel stands out for its smooth acceleration and strong fuel economy, 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. Adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and a Safety Alert Seat are available, but stop-and-go capability and lane-centering assistance are not.
• Infotainment: The Silverado uses Chevrolet Infotainment System 3 with 7-inch and 8-inch screens. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available on the 8-inch setup, and the system can include Bluetooth for two phones, navigation, wireless charging, and a 7-speaker Bose audio system.
• Fuel efficiency: The Duramax turbodiesel returned 22.6 mpg in combined driving and was rated at 24 mpg combined.

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, so it makes sense if you want the Silverado’s core capability and plan to keep costs down. It gives you the basics, but you should expect the fewest comfort and convenience features.
• Custom: This is a step up if you want a little more everyday usability without moving too far up the price ladder. It should suit you if you want a straightforward truck with a bit more polish than the WT.
• Custom Trail Boss: Choose this if you want a more rugged setup and the off-road-oriented character implied by the Trail Boss name. It is for buyers who want a tougher-looking truck with more adventurous intent.
• LT: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it balances equipment, usability, and price more effectively than the lower trims. It is a smart pick if you want a well-rounded Silverado without paying luxury-trim money.
• RST: Pick this if you care more about appearance and a more street-focused presentation. It suits you if you want a nicer look without jumping all the way to the upper trims.
• LT Trail Boss: This is the better choice if you want the Trail Boss idea with more equipment than the lower off-road-oriented trim. It is the trim to consider if you want capability and a more complete feature set.
• LTZ: This is the upscale choice in the lineup and the trim used for the test truck, with the larger 8-inch HD display, wireless smartphone features, navigation, and more premium convenience equipment. It is the right fit if you want a more refined Silverado experience.
• High Country: This is the top-end trim for buyers who want the most premium presentation in the standard lineup. It makes sense if you want the most upscale Silverado without stepping outside the gas model lineup.

The safety package is available as an option, but it still leaves out stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance.

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

This is a moderate, selective-buyer market, so you can shop with some leverage if you know what you want.

• Deal availability: 27.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 9,574 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.04% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 78.3% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $31,620.39, 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 $31,631 sits slightly below last year's $34,397.

That price movement suggests the truck has already absorbed some depreciation, which can help future resale stability if you buy at the right price. A softer market today can be good news for you as a buyer, but it also means a future seller may need to be patient if the truck is not especially well equipped or well maintained.

The strongest resale candidates will usually be the trucks with desirable powertrains, clean histories, and the right mix of equipment. Condition and configuration matter a lot in a full-size pickup market like this one.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.62/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 safe?

In crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Silverado earns a Marginal rating for front passenger protection in a small-overlap frontal-impact collision. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives it an overall four-star rating, 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 standard or optional equipment. The truck also offers a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, automatic collision notification through a paid connected-services subscription, and a rear-seat reminder system with crew cabs. Teen Driver safety technology is standard and free.

Upgrades include adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and a Safety Alert Seat that vibrates to get the driver’s attention. The main caveats are the weak crash-test results and the lack of stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance.

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:

• 27.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 78.3% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.04% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.62/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It offers a broad mix of powertrains, body styles, and easy-to-use technology, with the Duramax diesel singled out as the best buy.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $28,858, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $31,631 average.
• It adds a new turbodiesel, broader powertrain availability, and more camera tech.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $35,094, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $31,631 average.
• It brings a new interior starting with the LT trim and adds the ZR2 off-road performance model.

The bottom line: The 2021 is the right path if you want a wide range of configurations, strong owner satisfaction, and a softer used-market price than the 2022. If you are more price-sensitive, the 2020 can save you money, while the 2022 is worth considering if you want the refreshed interior and can stretch your budget.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 28, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.