Trailering technologies update Chevy Silverado for 2021

Enhanced trailering assistance features, towing capacity increases, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability, and a Multi-Flex tailgate are among the upgrades for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

GM’s Adaptive Ride Control refined chassis and suspension technology is now available on the top-level High Country models.

Oxford Brown Metallic, Cherry Red Tintcoat, and Mosaic Black Metallic are new paint colors available at extra cost.

The trailering assistance enhancements are camera technologies including jackknife alert, trailer length indicator, cargo bed view improvement, rear trailer view with new guidelines and trailer-angle indicator, and rear side view improvement.

Towing capacity increases affect the 2.7-liter turbo four-cylinder and 3.0-liter turbodiesel six-cylinder engines, bringing them up to 9,600 pounds and 9,500 pounds, respectively.

The clever and nifty Multi-Flex tailgate has two-button touchpad operation for opening and folding the tailgate in six different ways to help with loading, unloading, and bed access. One setting happens to be ideal for tailgate party seating. You can sit on the edge of the bed and have a footrest instead of dangling legs.

The Chevy Silverado 1500 full-size pickup has a head-spinning assortment of configurations involving different cab sizes, bed sizes, engines, transmissions, trim levels, and equipment selections. To name them all here, I’d need a spreadsheet.

I drove a 2021 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab model in the LT trim level with a Duramax (six-cylinder turbodiesel) engine and 10-speed automatic transmission.

The LT trim is one up from the base model Silverado. Its base price is $47,395 including a $1,695 destination charge. The Duramax is a $2,390 option and the test truck was loaded with other add-ons including All Star Edition Plus, Safety, and Z71 Off-Road packages.

The turbodiesel engine produces 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. It’s at the lowest end of the Silverado 1500 performance scale that includes monster V8 engines capable of pulling Earth off its axis.

But she who has nothing to tow appreciated the generous torque (made manifest while under way and not so much off the line) as well as the fuel saving. The turbodiesel’s EPA rating is 23 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, but the tester’s four-wheel drive reduces it to 22 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.

Despite its imposing size and capabilities, the Silverado 1500 handles deftly and has good maneuverability in tight spots.

Compared to the extravagantly styled interiors of some other new trucks, Silverado’s cabin looks like a throwback to traditional pickup interiors. To many hardcore truck aficionados, that’s probably a great thing, although they wouldn’t use a word like aficionados to describe themselves.

2021 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 CREW CAB LT

Base price, including destination charge: $47,395

Price as driven: $55,565

Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.