The fuel economy ratings for the diesel-powered 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 are out and they are quite remarkable.
Rear-wheel-drive versions have been rated by the EPA at 33 mpg (7.1 l/100 km) highway and 23 mpg (10.2 l/100 km) city, making the Silverado 3.0 Duramax the most economical truck in its segment.
That’s an improvement of 3 mpg highway over the 2019 Ford F-150 Power Stroke diesel and 6 mpg highway over the outgoing Ram 1500 EcoDiesel. Still, Ram is expected to narrow the gap when an all-new model launches for 2020.
Things are looking good for four-wheel-drive Silverado 1500 diesel models as well, with EPA-estimated ratings of 29 mpg (8.1 l/100 km) highway and 23 mpg city (10.2 l/100 km).
The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 features an all-new 3.0L Duramax inline-six turbo diesel rated at 277 hp (281 PS) and 460 lb-ft (624 Nm) of torque. The engine is exclusively mated to a Hydra-Matic 10L80 10-speed automatic transmission with smaller gear steps and an overall larger ratio spread to enable peak efficiency.
Also read: 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 Range Receives Powertrain Updates And More Tech
When equipped with the optional four-wheel drive system, it allows the Silverado to tow up to 9,300 lbs (4,218 kg), with the maximum payload reaching 1,870 lbs (848 kg).
“The engine utilizes state-of-the-art technologies to optimize every drop of fuel, and takes advantage of architectural changes to make Silverado larger, lighter and more aerodynamic than before,” said Tim Herrick, Silverado executive chief engineer.
“The resulting combination offers all of the performance, refinement and capability customers want in a full-size truck, with highway fuel efficiency you would expect from a family sedan,” he added.
The 3.0L Duramax turbo diesel is available on the LT, RST, LTZ and High Country trims. For the LTZ and High Country, the 3.0L Diesel is a $2,495 option, identical to that of the 6.2L V8. For the LT and RST, it represents a $3,890 increase over a 2.7L Turbo engine.
Customer deliveries of the 2020 Silverado 1500 3.0L Duramax turbo diesel are expected to begin this fall.