Chevy’s Four-Cylinder Silverado Got Worse Gas Mileage Than Its V8 Brethren

In a recent article by Car & Driver, they tested two Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks to see how they compared in fuel economy. Both are 2019 Silverado 1500 models – a 2.7-liter turbocharged inline-four and the updated 5.3-liter V8. Both are equipped with the same eight-speed automatic transmission and four-by-four transfer case offered by GM.

On the window sticker, it mentions that the four-cylinder turbo gets 20 mpg while the V8 gets 18 mpg. EPA claims that these two trucks should be equally matched at 22 mpg highway. Of course “actual results may vary” are posted in the fine print, and vary they do. With a 2.7T Double Cab in RS trim at the C&D office, they decided to run it on a 75 mph highway fuel economy test or “HRE test”. As it turns out, the truck averaged at about 18 mpg over in the 200-mile test, and the big 5.3-liter V8, weighing 314 lbs. heavier, picked up 21 miles per gallon in the same testing. The four-banger is obviously smaller and has to work harder to pull its weight.

C&D also decided to test the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali against the 2.7T Silverado. The Denali has a huge 6.2-liter V8 and has an additional 110 horsepower, and all of that is shifted by a 10-speed automatic. The Denali tied with the four-cylinder truck grabbing 18 mpg during the HFE test. The Ford F-150 Raptor also ties in gas mileage at 18 mpg, while the 2017 Toyota Tundra SR5 TRD was the only truck that did worse at 17 mpg.

The best fuel economy trucks they tested? Both the Honda Ridgeline and GMC Canyon diesel grabbed 28 mpg. For half-ton trucks, the Ford F-150 Crew Cab 4×4 Power Stroke diesel grabbed an impressive 26 mpg.