When equipped with the truck maker’s new 2.7-liter turbo engine, Chevy’s 2WD 2019 Silverado will achieve fuel economy of an EPA-estimated 20 city/23 highway/21 combined, the company announced Wednesday.
Chevy says its new 2.7 liter engine offers 14 percent more torque, 13 percent better city fuel economy and it is more than a full second quicker in the sprint to 60 mph than the 4.3 liter V-6 it replaces.
Set for sale later this year, Chevrolet says the inline four cylinder uses cylinder deactivation to boost fuel economy and variable valve lift for added performance. The pickup features a towing capacity of 7,200 pounds and payload 2,280 pounds.
The first four-cylinder engine ever offered in a half-ton pickup lags the highway and combined fuel economy offered by Ram and Ford’s base V-6 engines, but does does have an edge in power output.
The four-cylinder turbo is paired with eight-speed automatic transmission and will be standard on Silverado LT and RST models with prices starting just south of $37,000. It features 310 horsepower and 348 pound-feet of torque – a higher output than Ram’s 3.6 liter and Ford’s 3.3 liter.
The base curb weight of the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado with the 2.7L Turbo is 380 pounds less than the current Silverado with the 4.3L V-6, despite having more interior room and cargo space.
The 2019 Silverado will be available in eight trim levels and paired with six engine/transmission options.