The three top-selling vehicles in the United States are the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ram 1500. That goes to show you full-size pickup trucks’ dominance in America. Trucks have become luxurious enough to meet families’ daily driving needs while still fulfilling their practical, work-truck traditions.

So consumers expect high-quality interiors in their trucks. But sometimes, they fall short. And that’s the case with the 2021 Chevy Silverado.

The 2021 Chevy Silverado’s so-so rankings

The 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 ranks fourth out of six on MotorTrend‘s “The Best Full-Size Pickup Trucks to Buy in 2021.” The Silverado even falls to its cousin, the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500, which the publication finds better-looking.

Other reviewers aren’t in love with the Chevy either. Consumer Reports rates the 2021 Silverado fifth on its list. U.S. News ranks it a bit better at number three. Despite the truck’s capabilities, its interior, which isn’t as nice as other trucks’ cabins, hurts its ratings.

The Silverado’s ‘cheap-feeling’ interior

MotorTrend calls the 2021 Chevy Silverado’s interior “funky looking,” “cheap-feeling,” and “still not great.” The publication says the seats are stiff and unsupportive, and the finishes seem cheap. The Silverado includes a seven-inch touchscreen you can upgrade to an eight-inch touchscreen. But that doesn’t measure up to the F-150 and Ram 1500’s 12-inch displays. However, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility come standard on all Silverado trims.

Competitors earn more positive reviews for their interior designs. CNET’s Roadshow praises the 2021 Ford F-150 for its “clever features” and an available hybrid option. It offers front seats that fold nearly flat to create a bed, plus a hideaway shifter that creates a flat workspace. And though the Ram 1500 isn’t the top truck for towing, MotorTrend calls it “more refined, more luxurious, more well-rounded, and more technologically savvy than any other half-ton on the market.” In fact, the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is MotorTrend’s Truck of the Year.

2021 Chevy Silverado specs

On the plus side, the 2021 Chevy Silverado boasts five engine options, including a diesel. It also offers several trims for buyers to choose from, plus plenty of features and technology options. Trims range from the basic Work Truck to higher-end editions. There are also three cab sizes and three bed-length options. Plus, Chevrolet added a multifunction tailgate for 2021.

Power

The Silverado’s five engines are a 3.0-liter diesel inline-six that produces 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque; a 4.3-liter V6 generating 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque; a 2.7-liter turbo inline-four making 310 hp and 348 lb-ft of torque; a 5.3-liter V8 producing 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque; and a 6.2-liter V8, harnessing 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Engines come with a six-, eight-, or ten-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive is also available.

Towing

The Chevy Silverado boasts good towing capabilities and agile handling, MotorTrend reports. It has a maximum towing capacity of 13,300 pounds when equipped with the Double Cab, four-wheel drive, 6.2-liter V8, and maximum towing package. That’s less than the F-150 but more than the Ram 1500, MotorTrend says. The Silverado’s lowest maximum towing capability is still 7,200 pounds. It can haul up to 2,280 pounds when properly equipped. And its lowest payload rating is 1,780 pounds. For fuel efficiency, the Silverado’s engines are rated for 14 to 23 mpg in the city, 18 to 33 mpg on the highway, and 16 to 27 mpg combined.

Technology

The Silverado also comes standard with a 4.2-inch gauge cluster display, and higher trims have an eight-inch display. Other available tech features include a wireless charging pad, digital rearview mirror, and head-up display.

Forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking is now standard on the 2021 Chevy Silverado. Other available advanced safety features are adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Chevrolet has also added trailer safety features, including “a jack-knife alert function, lane-change trailer length indicator, and forward and reverse trailer side-view monitoring,” MotorTrend reports.

Price

The starting price for the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 ranges between $30,595 and $61,790. It’s a great truck for taking care of business. It’s good at towing and hauling and has plenty of engine options. It falls a bit short on its design though, especially when comparing its interior against the Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500.