What are the Differences Between the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado Custom Trail Boss & LT Trail Boss?

The Trail Boss line of Silverados are here to take you off the beaten path and tackle the off-road like never before, and in equal amounts of capability and style. Highlighted features on these models include many to powerfully confront uneven terrain, like a 2-inch factory suspension life, Rancho monotube shocks, skid plates, Hill Descent Control, Wrangler Duratrac tires and more. Two Trail Boss trims exist for your choosing across the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 lineup, but what sets them apart? Follow along with us at Ernie Dean as we outline the key differences between these supremely capable Trail Boss Silverados.

 

*This comparison is between these Silverado pickups on their Crew Cab, Standard Bed 4WD configurations.

 

Learn more with our past blogs here:

2021 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 vs. 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss

2021 GMC Sierra 1500 Elevation vs. 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 RST

What are the Differences Between the 2021 Buick Enclave & 2021 Chevrolet Traverse?

 

 

Engine & Performance Features

 

Kicking things off as a major difference between the Custom Trail Boss and LT Trail Boss is the engine that comes standard on each of these Silverado models. The Custom Trail Boss starts off with a 4.3L EcoTec3 V6 engine, reaching 285 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque, while the LT Trail Boss is home to a more powerful 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine that gets to 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. The differences don’t end there, as that Custom Trail Boss engine is paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the LT Trail Boss engine is matched to a 10-speed automatic transmission. While the standard engine is in favour of the LT Trail Boss, the Custom Trail Boss can be further upgraded with with either that 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine (with only a 6-speed automatic transmission) or a 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 engine (which the LT Trail Boss can also be upgraded to, as its sole other engine choice).

 

Custom Trail Boss Key Difference:

• Standard 4.3L EcoTec3 V6 engine

 

LT Trail Boss Key Difference:

• Standard 5.3L EcoTec3 V8

 

 

 

Exterior Features

 

You’ll notice head-on the differences between these two pickups based on their front grille alone. The Custom Trail Boss features “Chevrolet” lettering straight across the grille, while the LT Trail Boss features the iconic Chevrolet bowtie emblem in that same space. On the more functional side, the Custom Trail Boss only comes with halogen lighting as standard, while the LT Trail Boss improves the lighting a notch with LED headlights for superior illumination. The Custom Trail Boss sees a single side-exit pipe exhaust with a polished tip, only going to the dual-integrated exhaust with the V8, while the LT Trail Boss has a dual-integrated exhaust across the lineup. Both trucks drive on 18-inch high gloss black-painted wheels, with an option to upgrade to a 20-inch style, while the LT features wheelhouse liners, which aren’t available on the Custom.

 

Custom Trail Boss Key Difference:

• Front grille Chevrolet lettering
• Halogen lights

LT Trail Boss Key Difference:

• Front grille bowtie emblem
• LED lights

 

Interior Features

 

The interior is a bit different for these two similarly matched Trail Boss pickups. The Custom provides those up front with a 40/20/40 split-bench style, with the LT offering front bucket seats with a centre console in-between. While both pickups come with standard seat material of cloth, the LT Trail Boss has the option for some leather elements, featuring a leather-wrapped steering wheel, which the Custom does not have.

 

Custom Trail Boss Key Difference:

• 40/20/40 front split-bench

 

LT Trail Boss Key Difference:

• Front bucket seats

 

 

 

Trims & Pricing

 

Standard engine pricing for these two models showcases quite the difference, but it’s evident in our comparison throughout with the LT Trail Boss being the more premium of the two trims, and starting off with more power. Thus, the Custom Trail Boss starts off at $48,948*, while the LT Trail Boss starts at $59,048. Both trims increase in price with any engine upgrade choice, and subsequent packages and additional features added on. The Custom Trail Boss may come at a lower overall price than the LT Trail Boss, but the LT Trail Boss offsets that difference with its many discussed premier features that the Custom Trail Boss trim just doesn’t feature.

*Prices are subject to change

 

Whether you’re looking to buy a new or used Silverado, or just want to learn more about these illustrious Chevrolet pickups, we here at Ernie Dean are here to help. We consider ourselves as Truckville for a reason, Ontario’s top spot, both in-person and online, to get all your truck questions answered. From trim levels to configurations to packages, we have all your answers, so if you have a burning question, don’t hesitate to reach out to us, today.