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Chevrolet Silverado Adds An Efficient 2.7L Turbo To Challenge Ford’s EcoBoost

For 2019, Chevrolet’s full-size pickup – the Silverado – has the Ford F-150 EcoBoost in its crosshairs, the General Motors brand today announcing a new turbocharged, 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine for the half-ton truck. The new powerplant is rated at 310 horsepower and 348 lb-ft of torque, according to our sister site, GM Authority – a bit less than the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 in the 2018 Ford F-150, but with the chance to achieve greater fuel economy thanks to its lower cylinder count. It’ll be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, to the F-150 EcoBoost’s ten-speed.

Downsizing and turbocharging has proven an effective tack for Ford’s EcoBoost engine range, and the automaker’s current F-150 EcoBoost is EPA-rated at up to 22 mpg on the combined cycle – nearly 40 percent better than the most-efficient Ford F-150 from ten years ago. But Chevrolet’s new four-cylinder for the Silverado is expected to yield better efficiency than the 20-mpg 4.3-liter V6 it replaces in the LT and RST trims, meaning it could easily match or surpass Ford’s 2.7-liter EcoBoost in that measure.

Of course, those truly fixated on fuel efficiency will likely opt for a diesel, as both the Ford F-150 and the Chevrolet Silverado pick up diesel engine options for the first time. Ford’s new, 3.0-liter Powerstroke has already outboxed the 2.7L EcoBoost V6 in the F-150, achieving a combined EPA fuel economy rating of 30 mpg. The Silverado with 3.0-liter Duramax diesel hasn’t yet been tested, so we’ll have to wait to find out who, ultimately, wins the pickup truck fuel efficiency wars.

Aaron Brzozowski is a writer and motoring enthusiast from Detroit with an affinity for '80s German steel. He is not active on the Twitter these days, but you may send him a courier pigeon.

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Comments

  1. John LeSaffre

    The article states the 2019 Ford F-150 Diesel gets a combined 30 MPG. Isn’t it just 30 on the highway?

    Reply
  2. 4.3 S-10 guy

    As someone rationalizing my next vehicle being a 4.3 Silverado or Sierra, the news of the 2.7 T4 reads the same as if S&W announced phasing out the J-frame, and told owners how much they’ll love the new polymer semi. Pushrod V8 guys are on borrowed time. They’ll spite you too before they fight on your behalf.

    Reply
  3. CrabbyMilton

    I had to do a double take when I learned of this. I know 4 poppers these days can produce more than enough power but the sound is something that I would have a hard time with. V8’s and V6’s are nice and smooth and frankly sound right in a full size pickup but a 4 will make the thing sound like a PINTO or CHEVETTE.
    I seemed to have read some place that INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER had a 4 in their full size pickups for a short time but that was decades ago. But then again the 2019 SPRINTER van is going to have a gasoline turbo 4. So the days of full size vans and pickups with V8’s and V6’s may be slowly going the way of the square wheel and 8 track so what can one do other than accept it at some point.

    Reply
  4. George Sica

    Turbos or superchargers does amazing things for internal combustions engines but how many truck buyers choose a brand for better MPG rating or HP? Government municipalities and large fleet owner probably but the average PU truck buyer usually gets loyal to one brand and a die hard Ford guy will not buy a Chevy/GMC regardless of the fuel ratings.

    Reply
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