A brand-new pickup truck is something that's moving further and further away from the financial grasp of the everyday American. Even stripped-down, base-spec pickups these days fetch nearly $40,000 when new, and those trucks come without things like carpet or, in some cases, electric windows. Of course, the higher premium is due to what the pickup truck is capable of compared to other segments, but a near-$40,000 price tag is still a large hurdle to get over for folks who live paycheck to paycheck.However, if you're not averse to buying used, the doors to pickup truck heaven begin to open up to you. For example, a fully-loaded, five-year-old Chevrolet Silverado 1500 costs, on average, less than a brand-new base-spec pickup truck. That means virtually every option you can cram into a '21 Silverado 1500 is included, along with an entire truck, for less than a vinyl-floored, crank-window work truck. If there was ever a reason to buy a used fully-loaded '21 Silverado 1500, it's now. Poverty-Spec, Or Luxury? Chevrolet While you should never let what you drive dictate how you perceive yourself, you can't argue with the fact that driving something higher-end does have a nice feel to it. This is especially the case when compared to driving some sort of stripped-out base model with matte black bumpers, vinyl seats, and steel wheels. Hopping into your top-spec Silverado 1500 with heated leather seats, a perfectly tailored dual-zone HVAC system set to the exact temperatures you want, and being able to set adaptive cruise control for the drive home is an attractive prospect.Chevrolet Let's break down the difference in pricing between the used Silverado 1500 and the brand-new one. As of 2026, a new Chevrolet Silverado 1500 trimmed with the base-level W/T (Work Truck) spec will run you approximately $36,900 before any destination fees or taxes are factored in. As for a five-year-old, fully-loaded Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country? Current estimates place its average used price to be just about $36,720.The '21 Silverado 1500 High Country also sports a comparable price when pitted against its competitors. In the table below, we'll take a look at how its $36,720 price stacks up to its adversaries: All The Bells And Whistles Interior & Tech ChevroletA top-of-the-line truck such as the Silverado High Country will come standard with as many optional upgrades as Chevy can throw at it. Inside the High Country is where most of its luxurious amenities are found. Its front seats are trimmed in perforated leather, sport 10-way power, and both boast heating and cooling, too. The rear seats and steering wheel are heated, as well. Dual-zone climate control also comes standard, along with an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment screen that's capable of utilizing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Bose-bred premium sound system and a wireless charging pad are standard fare.In total, the '21 Silverado 1500 High Country carries a choice between just two interior color schemes, those being Jet Black and a two-tone finish combining Jet Black and Umber, a dark tan color. A split-folding bench seat is not offered as an option for the front row, with the only seating arrangement being a pair of captain's chairs situated on either side of the center console. Exterior ChevroletWhile not as dedicated to luxury, the '21 Silverado 1500 High Country's exterior is opulent in its own right, too. It comes standard with an exclusive chrome grille, along with a set of unique 20-inch wheels. It also comes with a set of LED headlights with a Daytime Running Light (DRL) function. Its front-mounted recovery hooks are finished in chrome, along with its side steps. A power-assisted "Multi-Flex" tailgate, which can be lowered and raised automatically and configured a total of six different ways, is offered as an option. Those who sprung for the optional High Country Deluxe Package added features like a dual-pane moonroof. Safety ChevroletLike most other modern cars, the 2021 Silverado 1500 High Country comes standard with a slew of driver assistance goodies, like forward collision alert and automatic emergency braking. In addition, other driver assistance features, like blind spot monitoring and front pedestrian braking are standard. A few optional safety features exist, such as the Safety Package II, which includes adaptive cruise control with a following distance indicator. There's also the optional Advanced Trailering Package, adding stuff like jack-knife alert and trailer side-view monitoring. Three Engine Options ChevroletThe standard mill found in the '21 Silverado High Country is the familiar 5.3-liter V8, part of GM's LS-based small block engine family. The mill in particular goes by the internal codename of "L83." In addition to the 5.3-liter V8, the High Country also offers a larger 6.2-liter eight-pot called the L86, although the big powerplant is only available on four-wheel drive models. Rounding off the engine choices is a 3.0-liter turbo diesel inline-six under the Duramax brand name.Handling the 5.3-liter V8's power output is either an eight or 10-speed automatic transmission. Both the 6.2-liter V8 and the 3.0-liter diesel I6 boast 10-speeds. Buyers could choose between rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, although the latter is much more common. As for suspension, the '21 Silverado High Country makes use of a factory-installed two-inch lift. Optionally, buyers could spring for the Adaptive Ride Control, which automatically adjusts the dampeners to compensate for bumps.Chevrolet The Z71 Off-Road package is also available, which beefs up the High Country's all-terrain prowess with things like Rancho chock absorbers and larger skid plates. A Worthwhile Investment ChevroletYou can't ignore it. The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country is a great bargain when you compare it to a brand-new truck. It's so good, in fact, that it doesn't make much sense to a buy a brand-new truck at all while it exists, depending on if you're a die-hard Chevy guy or not. If you're apprehensive about buying used, Chevrolet offers its Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program on models that are six years old at the most, with 75,000 miles or less.In that case, find yourself a '21 High Country-spec'd Silverado 1500 with less than 75,000 miles and forget about that brand-new W/T-trimmed one, you'll probably be much happier.