Used 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 for Sale nearMadison, WI

How much does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 cost?

Prices have softened 9.02% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 15,695 listings available, which suggests you have a healthy amount of inventory 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 repeatedly praise the comfortable ride, spacious interior, and strong performance, especially with the diesel engine options. They also appreciate the power and smooth shifting of the 10-speed transmission. On the downside, reviewers point to interior quality and the sound system as areas that could be better.

That lines up with the truck’s broad use case: you can configure it for work, daily driving, or a mix of both. The trade-offs are the cheap-feeling cabin materials and poor fuel economy, even if the truck remains fundamentally sound.

Good and great deals account for 33.3% of listings, so there are still some attractive opportunities in the market.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliable?

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

The owner feedback points to a truck people tend to trust over time, with praise for the comfortable ride, strong performance, and diesel powertrain options. The expert review also describes it as fundamentally sound and highlights the Duramax turbodiesel as a particularly compelling choice for buyers who value efficiency and smooth operation.

Chevrolet also pairs the turbodiesel with a flawless 10-speed automatic transmission, which supports the impression of a well-sorted drivetrain. For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is less about basic dependability and more about living with the truck’s weaker interior quality and safety performance.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 75.7% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a vehicle history report on any truck you’re considering, even if the listing looks clean. A pre-purchase inspection matters here because condition can vary a lot by trim, powertrain, and how hard the truck was used. Focus especially on cabin wear, feature content, and whether the truck has the equipment you actually want.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Silverado comes in eight different trim levels, and the base setup can feel sparse compared with higher trims. The cabin quality also matters because the interior is described as lacking finesse, so higher trims may be worth it if you want a more polished feel.
• Powertrain: You have multiple engine choices, including the available Duramax turbodiesel, which is praised for smooth acceleration and strong efficiency. If you plan to work the truck hard, the diesel is not the maximum-capability choice.
• 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 7-inch and 8-inch screens, and the system includes Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available on higher trims, along with navigation, wireless charging, and a larger 8-inch HD display.
• Fuel efficiency: The Duramax turbodiesel returned 22.6 mpg in combined driving in testing and is described as effortlessly fuel-efficient. The truck’s fuel economy is otherwise called poor.

Which 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 trim should I buy?

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

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 extra comfort or tech.
• Custom: This trim adds a bit more everyday appeal while staying relatively accessible, making it a practical step up if you want more than the bare minimum.
• LT: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it balances equipment, usability, and broader appeal without pushing too far up the price ladder.
• RST: Choose this if you want a more style-forward version with a stronger visual presence.
• LTZ: This is the right pick if you want a more upscale feel and more available tech, especially if you value the richer feature set in the test truck.
• High Country: This is the luxury-leaning choice for buyers who want the most premium Silverado experience.
• Custom Trail Boss: This is the more rugged-looking option for shoppers who want off-road styling and capability cues.
• LT Trail Boss: This is the better choice if you want the Trail Boss character with more equipment and a stronger overall balance.

The safety package is available across the lineup, but some advanced features remain optional rather than standard.

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 carefully without feeling rushed.

• Deal availability: 33.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 15,695 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 9.02% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 75.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $30,197, 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 $30,197 sits slightly below last year's $33,192.

That decline suggests the truck has softened in the used market, which can work against future sellers if prices keep easing. If you buy now, you may be entering at a more favorable point than owners who bought when prices were higher. For resale, condition and equipment will matter a lot, especially because buyers can be selective in a market with plenty of listings.

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 for front passenger protection in a small-overlap frontal crash from IIHS and an overall four-star 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 standard or optional equipment. The truck also offers a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, automatic collision notification through a paid 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. The main caveats are the Marginal IIHS result, the Poor headlight rating, 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:

• 33.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 75.7% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 9.02% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.6/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It offers broad configuration flexibility, strong owner praise for comfort, and the available Duramax turbodiesel.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $27,704, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $30,197 average.
• It adds more powertrain availability and modern convenience features.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $33,523, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $30,197 average.
• It brings a refreshed interior and a new off-road performance model.

The bottom line: If you want the best balance of price, inventory, and broad appeal, the 2021 is the sensible target. If you’re especially price-sensitive, the 2020 is the cheaper path; if you want a more modern cabin, the 2022 is the upgrade to watch.

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 matches the F-150 on flexibility, but the Ford has the stronger overall expert score and more impressive technology. The Silverado’s easy-to-use tech is a plus, though its cheap-feeling interior and poor fuel economy hold it back. The F-150 also has a cheaper starting MSRP and better MPG figures, while the Silverado counters with slightly more listings and a lower average used price.

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

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 10, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.