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Starting at
Starting at
| 13,300 | Max Towing (lbs) | 7,700 |
| 2,280 | Max Payload (lbs) | 1,550 |
| 305-460 | Torque (lb-ft) | 191-369 |
A lot of the time, when you compare two vehicles, you are looking at two comparable models of the same class to see which is better. Sometimes, however, it can be hard to decide which class or size is really right for you. Rather than looking for one that is clearly superior, it is about knowing what you need and choosing the model that checks all of your boxes. For example, looking at the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 vs 2021 Chevy Colorado, the right truck for you will really depend on what you need.
If you are looking for a full-size pickup that has plenty of room for passengers and cargo, plus excellent power and performance, then the Silverado is a fantastic choice. On the other hand, the Colorado is smaller and less powerful, but it is also easier to fit into an already crowded life and is a terrific pickup if a midsize model is really better for you. It all comes down to what you are looking for and need from your truck. If something smaller works for you and you need about 7,000 lbs of towing, then the Colorado is a great choice. But if you need more like 10,000 lbs. of towing, then you will want to go with the Silverado.
As you can see, there are a lot of different things to consider when weighing your options and deciding on the right truck. That is only looking at their basic capabilities and performance too. Once you look inside and start to consider the options available with different trims, it can get even more complicated. Fortunately, you do not have to figure this out and alone – we are ready to help you with everything you need and make sure you get the right truck.
When looking at the engines that are available for the 2021 Chevy Silverado and Chevy Colorado, it is important to remember the size difference between these vehicles. If you just look at numbers, the Silverado will seem far better because it has more horsepower and torque available, but that is to be expected since it is a full-size truck, while the Colorado is midsize. This is not about which numbers are bigger. It is about what you need.
The Silverado has five different engines available while the Colorado has three, giving you a lot of options for both trucks. With the Silverado, you start with a 4.3L EcoTec3 V6 that delivers 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque, while there is an available 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 engine that provides an impressive 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.
By comparison, the Colorado’s starting engine is a 2.5L 4-cylinder that gives you 200 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque, though there is an available 3.6L DOHC V6 that delivers 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. While the numbers for the Silverado are more impressive, it is a larger, heavier truck that requires that kind of power to offer you a great driving experience.
Both models have diesel engines available, which is fantastic, so if you are interested in a diesel, then you can still get the right pickup for you. The Chevy Silverado’s 3.0L Turbo-Diesel is stronger than the 2.8L Turbo-Diesel of the Colorado, but they both give you excellent power and performance. Do not focus on the Silverado being more powerful – that is to be expected – but note that both trucks have a number of fantastic engines for you to choose from. So no matter how much power you need with your pickup, Chevy has you covered with both models.
One of the biggest reasons to choose a truck is for the kind of muscle it has to offer and the work it can help you get done. That typically means towing and payload, which is to say, how much weight it can pull and how much you can load onto it. As you would expect, the 2021 Chevy Silverado has greater capabilities than the 2021 Chevy Colorado due to its larger size and more powerful engines, but the Colorado is still a powerful option for its class. Which one is best for you really depends on what you need from your pickup.
It is important to note that the amount of towing and payload capacities you will get with these trucks depends on a lot of different factors, especially which engine you choose. For example, the Silverado, with its standard engine and certain configurations, can have a towing capacity as low as 7,300 lbs. When you change that to the available 6.2L V8 engine and a configuration designed for towing, however, that can go up to 13,300 lbs. By comparison, the Colorado might only have 3,500 lbs of towing capacity with its starting engine, but with its available Turbo-Diesel engine, that can go up to 7,700 lbs when properly configured.
You can see that a lot of the capability you get really comes down to each specific configuration and engine combination. The right Chevy Colorado can give you more towing than certain Silverado pickups. The payload also depends on a number of different factors, with the Silverado giving you about 700 lbs greater maximum payload compared to the Colorado. If you want a midsize truck with about 1,000 lbs of payload and 7,000 lbs of towing capacity, then the Colorado is a terrific choice. However, the Silverado is a better option if you want something larger with more power.
One of the great things about the 2021 Chevy Silverado and the Colorado is that they both have a number of different configuration options for you to choose from. This gives you a lot of freedom to get a setup that you want and that meets your needs. For example, the Silverado has three different cabs and three bed lengths available, giving you four different configuration choices. The midsize Colorado is quite similar: two cab sizes and two bed lengths with three total options to pick from.
With either truck, the cab size that gives you the most freedom is the crew cab, which is perfect if you tend to have more than one passenger in your vehicle at a time. The crew cab gives you a spacious back seat; with the Silverado, you can get it with a 70-inch short bed or an 80-inch standard bed. With the Colorado, you also get two options for the crew cab: either a 61-inch short bed or a 74-inch long bed.
You can see that the bed lengths differ pretty dramatically in length, and this extends throughout both trucks, giving you great options for the overall length that works best for you. The Chevy Silverado measures from about 230 inches in length with its smallest configuration to up to about 241 inches in overall length. By comparison, the Colorado can be as short as about 212 inches in overall length or up to nearly 225 inches in length in its longest configuration. That is a difference of almost two-and-a-half feet in length between the longest Silverado model and the smallest Colorado. Keep that in mind when figuring out which truck will best fit into your life.
One of the best things about Chevy trucks is that you get a lot of options for the features that you want in your pickup. The 2021 Chevy Colorado has four different trims to choose from, including the off-road-focused ZR2, plus plenty of other available packages. If you go with the Silverado, then you get eight different trims available to you, including two different off-road options, giving you a tremendous amount of freedom.
This can make things a little difficult when trying to decide on the right truck, so it often helps to consider what you really need. With the Silverado, for example, you can choose the WT for a simple approach and limited options, one of the Trail Boss trims for an off-road focus, or the High Country if you want all of the bells and whistles. Things are simpler with the Colorado: the WT is a great choice for the essentials, while the LT gives you some nice upgrades, and the ZR2 is one of the best off-road trucks on the market.
As you can see, both the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 and the Chevy Colorado have a lot of great features and options available. There is no one truck that is perfect for everyone, so having the freedom to choose between a great full-size model and a terrific midsize pickup lets you find exactly what you need. If a larger size and more power, with greater towing and payload, is what you need, then go for the Silverado. Otherwise, the smaller size and impressive performance of the Colorado is likely the right choice. Even with these two great options, choosing the one that is just right for you can still be difficult.
That is why you deserve to have an experienced and knowledgeable salesperson by your side to help you figure out which truck is right for you. Here at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford, we are always ready to answer any questions you have, discuss your options and what you are looking for, and make sure you drive away in the perfect truck. All of the options available in the Chevy lineup certainly make it easy for us to help all of our customers find just the right vehicle, but they can be a bit intimidating if you are unsure of what you need. Call or come visit us at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford today to discover how easy it can be to get the perfect truck.
*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.