2021 Toyota Tacoma vs 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD had a polarizing exterior design, with a front end and grille that resembled a vintage furnace or a freight train. It was a vehicle that exuded machismo, appealing to those who wanted a truck with a bold and rugged appearance. Inside, the Silverado's cabin was more conventional, prioritizing quantity over quality. Despite not having the best fit and finish, its spacious interior, comparable to a living room, made it a forgiving choice. The Silverado 3500HD offered various trim levels, including W/T, LT, LTZ, and High Country, each adding more features and luxury as you moved up the range.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma, on the other hand, embodied the classic truck look with boxy fender flares, a tall hood, and a shield-like grille. It contrasted with the more streamlined designs of competitors like the Ford Ranger and GM midsize twins. Certain Tacoma models had unique styling features, such as the Trail Edition with 16-inch TRD Off-Road alloy wheels and the Nightshade Edition with blacked-out trim. The TRD Pro model stood out with its exclusive Lunar Rock color, blacked-out hood and fender flares, and Rigid Industries LED fog lights. The Tacoma's body-on-frame construction favored towing and off-road capability, though it compromised ride and handling.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD offered two engine options. The standard 6.6-liter V8 gas engine produced 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional Duramax turbodiesel 6.6-liter V8 delivered 445 horsepower and an impressive 910 pound-feet of torque, mated to an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission. Both powertrains could be configured with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) with low range. The diesel engine, in particular, provided excellent pickup and optimal performance, thanks to the 10-speed automatic transmission. The Silverado 3500HD boasted a maximum towing capacity of 36,000 pounds and a payload capacity of 7,442 pounds, making it a formidable choice for heavy-duty tasks.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma offered two powertrain options as well. The base 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine produced 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, while the optional 3.5-liter V6 generated 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. The V6 engine featured Toyota's D4S fuel-injection system for improved fuel economy. The four-cylinder engine came with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the V6 could be paired with either the automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. The Tacoma's part-time 4WD drivetrain included a standard electronic rear limited-slip differential, with a fully locking rear differential available. The TRD models, particularly the TRD Pro, were equipped with off-road enhancements like upgraded suspension, Bilstein shocks, and Fox internal-bypass shocks. The Tacoma's maximum towing capacity was 6,800 pounds, and its maximum payload capacity was 1,685 pounds, though these figures varied depending on the configuration.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD was available in various configurations, including regular cab/long-bed, double cab/long-bed, crew cab/standard bed, and crew cab/long-bed. The single cab had one row of seating, while the crew cabs offered two rows of spacious seating with ample headroom and legroom. The Silverado featured helpful bed steps integrated into the corners of the rear bumper and additional step-ups along the side of the bed, making it easier to access the cargo area.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma, despite its four-door cab options, struggled with interior space. The Double Cab, in particular, had limited rear headroom and legroom, making it less comfortable for passengers. The front headroom and legroom were also below average, creating a bunker-like feel inside the cabin. The rear seats could fold up to reveal storage cubbies, but overall in-cab storage was limited. The Tacoma did offer a standard rail system with tie-down cleats and an available 120-volt outlet in the bed. The inner bed was made from sheet-molded composite, a lightweight and rust-resistant material.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while higher trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation in the High Country trim. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with hard buttons and dials for easy operation. The Silverado also offered a range of trailering features, including backup camera guidelines and multiple camera angles for trailering, as well as a trailering app with a pre-trailering checklist and status updates.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma's base SR trim level had a 7-inch touchscreen, while other models came with an 8-inch touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Higher trims offered a six-speaker JBL audio system with a subwoofer. The infotainment system was functional and easy to navigate, though the graphics were plain. The TRD Pro model featured the Multi-Terrain Monitor surround-view camera system, useful for off-road driving and parking.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD came standard with a backup camera and a full array of front- and side-impact airbags. However, advanced safety features like forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional. Front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree parking camera system were also available for added safety.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, except for an "Acceptable" rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test. Headlight ratings varied by trim level, but the Tacoma earned a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. The NHTSA gave the Tacoma a four-star overall rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests and five stars in side crash tests. Standard driver-assist features included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.