2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty took the blocky and muscular aesthetics of the F-150 midsize pickup to a more robust level. Larger in every dimension, the Super Duty models truly embodied the heavy-duty truck look. This styling was not merely for show, as the Super Duty trucks featured numerous upgrades over their light-duty counterparts. With long bed lengths for better cargo hauling and a tall ride height for improved ground clearance, these trucks were well-suited for tough terrains and messy job sites. The exterior boasted giant grilles, heavy-duty bumpers, and durable bodywork designed to withstand daily wear and tear.

Inside, the Super Duty's cabin varied significantly based on the cab configuration. The base XL trim offered ample headroom and legroom but was otherwise a stripped-down work truck. Lower trims featured simple cloth upholstery, while higher trims like the Super Duty Limited could be outfitted with leather and upscale finishes, rivaling the quality found in many luxury cars.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 came in three cab styles, three different bed lengths, and eight trim levels, each with a distinctive appearance. It offered six different engines paired with six-, eight-, and 10-speed automatic transmissions. While rear-wheel drive (RWD) was standard, four-wheel drive (4WD) was available. Our test truck featured a crew cab, short bed, and LTZ trim, which was one step below the top of the lineup. It had 4WD and a 3.0-liter inline-six turbodiesel engine, known as Duramax, for an additional $995. The LTZ Premium Package, Technology Package, and a spray-in bed liner brought the MSRP to $61,165, including a $1,695 destination charge.

The Silverado was an attractive truck with a boxy design, chiseled details, flared fenders, and a blunt nose, giving it a tall, purposeful, and commanding appearance. Our test truck's Northsky Blue paint, chrome trim, and 20-inch polished aluminum wheels made it stand out. However, the interior did not match the exterior's appeal. The cabin felt dated, with glossy plastic, large panel joints, inelegant control panels, and small infotainment screens, lacking a sense of quality.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered three powertrains. The base engine was a 6.2-liter V8 producing 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. An available 7.3-liter V8 delivered 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine was the most powerful, rated at 475 hp and an impressive 1,050 pound-feet of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Super Duty trucks came standard with rear-wheel drive (RWD) but could be upgraded to four-wheel drive (4WD). The Ford F-350 could be ordered in a dual-rear-wheel configuration for better towing capacity. Maximum payload capacity reached 4,060 pounds in some configurations, and towing could exceed 36,000 pounds with a gooseneck setup. The turbodiesel V8 engine offered the best capabilities of any Super Duty drivetrain. The Super Duty Tremor models featured factory lift kits, beefy tires, and muscular styling for off-road capabilities. The EPA did not require fuel-economy ratings for heavy-duty trucks, so the Super Duty trucks did not have an official number, but fuel efficiency dropped considerably during towing or hauling heavy loads.

For the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the 6.2-liter V8 was the go-to for maximum towing capability and the satisfying rumble of an American eight-cylinder engine. However, the Duramax turbodiesel was highly recommended for its fuel efficiency and torque. The Duramax engine cost $995, significantly less than diesel options in Ford and Ram trucks. It returned a fuel economy of 22.6 mpg in combined driving with Auto 4WD. With 460 pound-feet of torque at 1,500 rpm, it matched the 6.2-liter V8's twist at much lower engine revs. The Duramax's 277 horsepower at 3,750 rpm was lower than the 6.2-liter's 420 hp, and there was a short wait for the torque to start flowing as the turbocharger spooled up. However, the Duramax delivered smooth and seamless acceleration after that momentary hesitation. The Duramax's towing capacity increased to 9,500 pounds (9,100 pounds with 4WD), and payload capacity was 1,870 pounds. The Silverado's maximum capabilities included a top tow rating of 13,300 pounds and a heaviest payload rating of 2,280 pounds. The Duramax engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and the electronic Autotrac 4WD system. The Silverado LTZ had a firm and athletic feel in town and the suburbs, but the standard suspension allowed for unsettling body movement on the highway and rough pavement. The Z71 Off-Road Package was recommended for better suspension control.

Despite its focus on hardcore utility, the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered plenty of creature comforts. The front seats came in a 40/20/40 folding bench setup as standard, providing a comfortable armrest with cupholders for the driver and front passenger. Crew Cab and Super Cab models offered generous rear seats with easy access through the trucks' huge doors. However, the Super Duty trucks were more at home on job sites than tight city streets. Their size made parking, maneuvering, and visibility difficult, and the large doors and tall ride height made entering and exiting a challenge. From behind the steering wheel, the F-250's flat hood and towing height could make it feel like driving a bulldozer. Loading child seats and entering the truck could be difficult, even with running boards. The Super Duty trucks also offered a clever tailgate design with optional steps and a handle for easy bed entry, though it was not as elaborate as the tailgate functions on the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab was spacious inside, with wide, flat, supportive front seats offering 10-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The Silverado LTZ also featured a heated steering wheel. Without optional power running boards, the test truck was hard to climb into and step down from. The Silverado had more storage space than a typical car or SUV, including dual dashboard glove compartments, but the storage areas were small for the segment, and Chevy missed opportunities for innovation. The rear seat accommodated three adults comfortably, with ample headroom and legroom. The test truck had heated outboard seat cushions and a power sliding center rear window section. Each rear seatback had a built-in storage area, but they did not lock, making them unsuitable for valuables. A locking storage compartment was available under the rear seat. The Silverado offered the deepest and roomiest bed among its competitors, with useful CornerStep rear bumper designs and up to 12 tie-down hooks. The new Multi-Flex tailgate design offered six different configurations, though our test truck did not have this option. It did provide a remote power tailgate.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty featured Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system, known for its intuitive and easy-to-use interface. Menus were clearly labeled and required fewer taps to navigate, making the system less distracting to use daily. The base XL trim had a non-touch display, but a larger touchscreen was available on other trims. The system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and higher trims offered upgraded audio systems. The trucks were available with various tech options, including a WiFi hotspot, upgraded heated and ventilated seats, adjustable upfitter switches for accessories, and a rapid heating unit for diesel-equipped trucks to quickly raise the cabin temperature.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500's Chevrolet Infotainment System 3 was impressive despite its smaller 7-inch and 8-inch screens compared to rivals. The system had quick loading and response times, and the high-definition 8-inch display had modern and pleasing graphics. Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, and even the basic Silverado WT trim offered access to a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot through a paid subscription. The Silverado LTZ had a fully-featured infotainment system with an 8-inch HD display, Bluetooth pairing for two smartphones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, navigation, enhanced voice recognition, wireless smartphone charging, and a 7-speaker Bose premium sound system. The system was easy to set up and use, with stereo volume and tuning knobs and shortcut buttons on the dashboard. The enhanced voice recognition technology was excellent, but the Bose speaker components were not premium. The available head-up display (HUD) was useful, but the rear camera mirror option was less so, given the Silverado's 15 different high-definition cameras. The truck also offered numerous trailering technologies, though they fell short compared to the competition.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered a variety of safety features, though many advanced driver aids were available as added-cost upgrades or for higher trims. A trailer tow package included special camera views and Ford's Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature. Blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, forward collision alerts, and more were available. However, Super Duty trucks were considered commercial vehicles and were not crash-tested like light-duty trucks, so the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) did not issue scores for the trucks.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 fell short in safety, earning a "Marginal" rating from the IIHS for front passenger protection in a small-overlap, frontal-impact collision. The Silverado's headlights were rated "Poor," and the truck's overall four-star rating from the NHTSA was dragged down by four-star frontal-impact results for the driver and front passenger. Despite being all-new for 2019, the Silverado's crash-test performance was unimpressive. Chevrolet offered forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert as standard or optional equipment. The truck also had a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, automatic collision notification, and a rear-seat reminder system for crew cabs. Teen Driver safety technology was standard. Upgrades included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and a Safety Alert Seat driver's seat. However, features like stop-and-go capability for adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance were missing.