Aaron Brzozowski
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.
The article states the 2019 Ford F-150 Diesel gets a combined 30 MPG. Isn’t it just 30 on the highway?
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.
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.
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.
It falls rather flat on its face in this comparison between the Ford and the Chevy 2.7’s: https://www.fordf150blog.com/fords-2-7l-v6-vs-chevys-2-7l-i4/