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| 89.1 | Cargo Capacity (cu.ft.) | 61.5 |
| 13,300 | Max Towing (lbs) | 12,750 |
| 27 | Fuel Economy (combined mpg) | 26 |
If you need a truck with the versatility to do-it-all, then you should consider a full-size truck. These half-ton workhorses are ideal whether you are planning to use your truck for business or pleasure. Whether you are planning to use your truck for towing a piece of machinery or just a camper for a holiday, a full-size pickup is really the best way to travel. Two of the finest models to compare today are the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 vs 2021 Ram 1500. Both of these automakers are constantly making incremental improvements to their most popular trucks, whether an improved infotainment system, an upgraded suspension, new off-road options, or standardized active safety features.
The industry has taken notice of both the Silverado 1500 and Ram 1500, making them two of the most rewarded truck models available today. Kelley Blue Book named the Silverado 1500 one of its top 10 for resale value as well as the best full-size pickup truck for 5-year cost to own. Similarly, the Ram 1500 was named the Truck of Texas by the Texas Auto Writers Association, while also being named the Green Truck of the Year by Green Car Journal. Despite these accolades, there are some crucial differences between the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 vs 2021 Ram 1500 that you need to consider when you go to buy your next truck. These are important since they show that the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 is ultimately more versatile and affordable than the 2021 Ram 1500.
The 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 has a lower base MSRP than the 2021 Ram 1500, as well as generally lower price points. Also, while both models feature the same number of trims, eight in total, there are six special editions of the Chevy Silverado 1500 as compared to only one special Edition for the Ram 1500.
The base model of the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 is the WT for an MSRP of $28,600, and it comes equipped with the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System on a 7-inch color touchscreen. The Custom has an MSRP Of $35,900 and adds 20-inch painted aluminum wheels. The Custom Trail Boss is designed with off-road enthusiasts in mind and adds a 2-inch factory lift for an MSRP of $40,800. The LT has an MSRP of $39,600, adding a 10-way power driver seat with power lumbar support. The RST includes body-color bumpers and grille for an MSRP of $43,900.
The LTZ has an MSRP of $49,100, with plenty of exterior chrome accents and the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus system with an 8-inch HD color touchscreen. The LT Trail Boss includes a standard V8 engine and 2-inch factory lift for an MSRP of $50,600. The top trim is the High Country, and it features 22-inch polished aluminum wheels, high-intensity LED lighting, and a Bose premium sound system. The 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 High Country has an MSRP of $53,400.
The base trim on the 2021 Ram 1500 is the Tradesman with an MSRP of $32,245. It has the Ram Uconnect infotainment system on a 5-inch touchscreen. The Tradesman HFE stands for high fuel efficiency and has an MSRP of $34,195. The Big Horn adds available leather seats and a larger 8.4-inch color touchscreen on the Uconnect system for an MSRP of $36,890. The Laramie has an MSRP of $41,430 and includes a leather interior with accent stitching and a 9-speaker Alpine Premium audio system.
The Rebel is an off-road model with an MSRP of $45,320. It includes tow hooks, a 1-inch factory lift, an electronic locking rear axle, and LED lighting. The Limited Longhorn has special trim exclusive Western styling for an MSRP of $52,180. The Limited is the top luxury trim for the 2021 Ram 1500 and includes leather bucket seats, a Uconnect system with Navigation on a 12-inch color touchscreen, a Harman Kardon premium audio system with 19-speakers, and power running boards for an MSRP of $56,250. The most expensive trim is the TRX, with an MSRP of $70,095 and plenty of off-road performance features.
The only special Edition available on the 2021 Ram 1500 is the Built to Serve Edition. In contrast, Chevy offers the 2021 Silverado 1500 with no fewer than six different special editions: the LT Trail Boss Midnight, RST Rally, Custom Rally, Texas Edition, All-Star Edition, and LTZ Premium Texas Edition. This gives you more options to customize your ride.
DrivetrainsChevrolet and Ram offer most of the trims on their respective trucks with a choice of either rear-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive. However, the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 Custom Trail Boss and LT Trail Boss are 4-wheel drive only. Similarly, the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX only comes with a 4-wheel drivetrain. Interestingly, the 2021 Ram 1500 Tradesman HFE is only offered with rear-wheel drive to improve overall fuel economy.
Both the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 and Ram 1500 come with a choice of five different engines. The base engine on the Silverado 1500 is a 4.3-liter EcoTec3 V-6 with active fuel management. It produces 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque. The second engine option is a 2.7-liter Turbo I-4 with active fuel management, which produces up to 310 hp and 348 lb-ft of torque. This engine utilizes auto stop/start technology to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.
The third engine option for the Silverado 1500 is a 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V-8 that produces 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. It is available as an option with active fuel management on the WT, Custom, and Custom Trail Boss trims. If you choose a higher trim, then this engine is standard with dynamic fuel management and auto stop/start technology. The largest engine is the 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V-8 with dynamic fuel management. It is capable of 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Finally, the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 is available with a 3.0-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel V-6 engine that produces 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. It has auto stop/start technology and gets a best-in-class fuel economy of 27 MPG combined.
The five engine options on the 2021 Ram 1500 are fairly similar to the ones on the Chevy Silverado 1500. However, the Ram does not offer a fuel efficient turbocharged four-cylinder engine option and only has one V8 option. The base engine is a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 with eTorque that produces 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. The upgraded gasoline engine is a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 that produces 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. There is also a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with eTorque that produces that same amount of horsepower and torque as the standard 5.7-liter V-8, but with improved towing and fuel economy. The Ram also offers an optional 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 that produces 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Finally, the largest engine on the 2021 Ram 1500 is a 6.2-liter Supercharged HEMI V-8 that produces 702 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque and is only available on the TRX trim.
Ram features an 8-speed automatic transmission on all 2021 Ram 1500 trucks. In comparison, Chevrolet gives you more options. The 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 models with the 4.3-liter V-6 engine and the 5.3-liter V-8 with active fuel management have a 6-speed automatic transmission. If you choose a Silverado 1500 with either the 2.7-liter Turbo I-4 or the 5.3-liter V-8 with dynamic fuel management, you will have an 8-speed automatic transmission. Finally, there is a 10-speed automatic transmission on Silverado 1500 trucks with the Turbo-Diesel and 6.2-liter V-8 engines, giving you maximum control.
Payload CapacityThe maximum payload capacity on the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 and the 2021 Ram 1500 are fairly comparable: 2,280 lbs on the Silverado 1500 and 2,300 lbs on the Ram 1500. However, you will have a greater ability to configure the space in your truck's payload with a Silverado 1500 than with the Ram 1500. There are two reasons for this. First, the Silverado 1500 offers short, standard, and long bed configuration, while the Ram 1500 comes with only a short and standard bed options. The lack of a long bed limits your options.
Second, the overall bed capacities are larger on the Silverado 1500. The Silverado 1500's short bed has 62.9 cubic feet of cargo space, more than either the Ram 1500's short bed at 53.9 cubic feet or its standard bed at 61.5 cubic feet. Meanwhile, the standard bed on the Silverado 1500 offers up to 71.7 cubic feet of space, while its long bed can hold up to an incredible 89.1 cubic feet of cargo.
Comparing the towing capacities between the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 and the 2021 Ram 1500 depends on the engine on the specific truck. The base 4.3-liter V-6 engine on the Silverado 1500 permits you to tow up to 7,900 lbs, more than the maximum 7,730 lbs on the Ram 1500 with the base 3.6-liter V-6 engine. The Silverado 1500 with a 2.7-liter Turbo I-4 can tow up to 9,300 lbs. There is no comparable engine on the Ram 1500.
The upgraded 5.7-liter V-8 on the Silverado 1500 has a maximum towing capacity of 11,500 lbs, similar to the 11,610 lbs maximum towing capacity on the Ram 1500 with the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8. The largest engine on the Silverado 1500 is the 6.2-liter V-8 that provides a maximum towing capacity of 13,300 lbs, which is higher than any engine in the Ram 1500. While the 6.2-liter Supercharged HEMI V-8 in the TRX is more powerful than the Silverado's 6.2-liter V8, it only has a maximum towing capacity of only 8,220 lbs, limiting the versatility of this truck.
The 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 comes in either a regular cab with two doors and one row of seats, a two-row double cab with two full-size and two pocket doors, or a crew cab with four full-size doors and two rows of seats. The 2021 Ram 1500 does not have a regular cab option, as it is only available with a crew cab or a quad cab, which is the name Ram gives for its version of the double cab.
While both the Silverado 1500 and Ram 1500 offer about the same amount of space for rear row passengers in their double/quad cabs, there is a marked difference when you look at the front row. While the front row passengers in a 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 will enjoy 43.0 inches of headroom and 44.5 inches of legroom, the 2021 Ram 1500 only offers 40.9 inches of headroom and 40.9 inches of legroom to front-row passengers. This will make the front row feel somewhat cramped, particularly on longer drives.
Welcome to Blossom Chevrolet. We are your Indianapolis Chevy dealership, proudly serving the people of the capital. We offer the full lineup of new, used, and certified pre-owned Chevy cars, vans, SUVs, and trucks, including the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500. With so many different trims, special editions, powertrains, and cab configurations to choose from, you will have no trouble finding a Silverado 1500 to fit your lifestyle and meet all your needs. Our staff of trained salespeople and financial specialists is standing by to help you find your next Chevy at a price and on terms that will fit your budget perfectly. Stop by today, and test drive a 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 to see why this is the most capable and versatile full-size truck on the market today.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.