The Warrior’s Heartbeat: The Silverado 1500’s Engine Lineup Since 2019

Buying a Chevy truck is one of the smartest investments you can make for your future behind the wheel. Why? As the leading destination for used trucks for sale near Jersey Village, we know firsthand that it’s impossible to beat the Silverado’s broad range of power and capability. Chevrolet is renowned for its engine, with the Silverado 1500 boasting a multi-engine lineup that showcases that legacy.

So, what are your powertrain options? Shopping for a used Silverado often means getting behind the wheel of a fourth-generation model. Chevy introduced the fourth-gen Silverado in 2019, turning heads by expanding the truck’s wheelbase and footprint while reducing its weight. Shedding 450 pounds and boasting a best-in-class cargo capacity, the fourth-generation Silverado is an exceptional workhorse with five powertrain options. Here’s a closer look at those heartbeats and what you can expect as you explore Chevrolet’s iconic road warrior.

#1 – The 4.3L V6: The Silverado’s Base Powertrain (2019 to 2021)

Newly redesigned from the ground up, the 2019 Silverado returned to the lineup with its tried and true 4.3L V6 engine. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the 4.3L V6 with Active Fuel Management sets the baseline for the Silverado’s performance on entry-level trims like the WT built from 2019 to 2021. The engine produces 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque, which yields a maximum towing capacity of 7,900 pounds and a payload of 2,250 pounds on 2020 models and 2,280 pounds on 2021 models.

Despite having Active Fuel Management, the 4.3L V6 isn’t the most efficient in the Silverado’s powertrain lineup. Instead, the rear-wheel-drive Silverado averages 16 MPG in the city and 21 MPG on the highway, with four-wheel drive models seeing this EPA-estimated economy decrease to 15 MPG and 20 MPG, respectively. Because of this, emissions regulations, and the need for more power, Silverado eliminated the 4.3L V6 from the Silverado lineup after 2021.

#2 – The 2.7L I-4: The Silverado’s Turbocharged Four (2019 to Present)

Chevrolet introduced several new engines to the Silverado 1500’s 2019 lineup. The 2.7L turbocharged inline-four is among those, with the powertrain eventually replacing the 4.3L EcoTec3 V6 as the Silverado’s base engine after 2021. So, what makes the inline four appealing?

As the Silverado’s only four-cylinder option, the 2.7L Turbo doesn’t disappoint, especially with its output and capability increasing over the years. For example, Chevrolet pairs the 2.7L Turbo with a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission, yielding an output of 310 hp and 348 lb-ft of torque. This torque output jumps to 430 lb-ft in 2022, with the engine capable of towing up to 9,500 pounds. The 2021 Silverado with the inline-four under its hood can tow up to 7,000 pounds, making the jump significant to consider when shopping for a used model.

#3 – The 5.3L V8: The Silverado’s Baby V8 (2019 to Present)

On the heels of its 2019 redesign, the Silverado returned to the spotlight in 2020 by offering a choice of V8 powertrains. The Silverado’s 5.3L V8 engine is considered the “baby” of its V8 options and, depending on the model, features Active or Dynamic Fuel Management. For 2020 and 2021, the 5.3L V8 is available with either AFM or DFM, which affects the Silverado’s EPA-estimated fuel economy rather than its output. How so?

The 5.3L V8 produces 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, whether under the hood of a 2020 Silverado or a 2024 Silverado. However, the engine’s tuning, fuel management system, and transmission affect its fuel economy and towing capacities. For example, the 2021 Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L EcoTec3 V6 with AFM is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission that yields an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 17 MPG combined and a maximum towing capacity of 10,900 pounds. The DFM alternative exchanges the six-speed transmission for an eight or ten-speed that pushes the towing maximum to 11,500 pounds and increases efficiency to an EPA-estimated 19 MPG combined.

DFM management makes the Silverado more efficient, but what else should you know when shopping for the truck with the 5.3L V8 under its hood? In 2022, Chevrolet eliminated any confusion by simplifying its transmission lineup to a ten-speed automatic with its V8 engines. Because of this, the 2022 Silverado and newer models pair the ten-speed automatic with the 5.3L V8 and offer a slight increase in towing capacity at 11,300 pounds.

#4 – The 6.2L V8: The Silverado’s Bigger, Beefier V8 (2019 to Present)

Sharing the spotlight with the Silverado’s “baby V8” is the ever-impressive 6.2L V8 with Dynamic Fuel Management. Newly introduced for 2019, the 6.2L V8 has become a staple in the Silverado’s powertrain lineup. It’s exclusively paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. The combination makes the 6.2L-powered Silverado an incredible workhorse and insatiable adventurer.

We see this firsthand in the 6.2L V8’s output of 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, which is the same on every model built since 2019. In 2020, the 6.2L V8 earned a best-in-class status for its horsepower output, with Chevrolet capitalizing on that by extending the powertrain’s availability to the Custom Trail Boss, RST, and LT Trail Boss. In terms of efficiency, the Silverado with the 6.2L V8 doesn’t guzzle fuel, with a modest EPA-estimated average of 17 MPG combined. Yet, towing is truly where the engine shines, offering the Silverado’s highest towing capacity of more than 13,000 pounds.

#5 – The 3.0L Diesel: The Silverado’s Duramax Heartbeat (2019 to Present)

Many truck manufacturers have discontinued diesel engines from their lineups, but Chevrolet recognizes the demand for diesel performance hasn’t gone away. Jersey Village drivers who need the capability and efficiency of a diesel engine have an outstanding option with the Silverado’s Duramax heartbeat. The 3.0L inline-six turbocharged diesel has a proven history and, with some recent improvements, promises more power and capability than ever.

Chevrolet expanded the Duramax’s availability in 2020 on the LT, RST, LTZ, and High Country. At the time and until 2022, the Duramax produced 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque for an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 27 MPG combined. The critical difference to remember here is that the Duramax sees its lowest towing capacity in 2020 and 2021, at around 9,300 pounds. However, that capacity jumps to 13,300 pounds in 2022, followed by a significant increase in output in 2023.

The Duramax powering the 2023 and 2024 Silverado is significantly more potent, thanks to several updates to its heartbeat. With redesigned steel pistons, a revised turbo compressor, improved temperature control features, and new fuel injectors, the Duramax’s output increases to 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque. This output keeps the Duramax’s towing capacity at 13,300 pounds and, even more notably, doesn’t diminish its efficiency, with the truck averaging 26 MPG combined. With the Duramax, Chevrolet gives drivers the best of both worlds.

Choosing the Right Heartbeat for Life in Jersey Village

The Silverado’s expansive engine lineup makes shopping for a used model exciting because the truck doesn’t appeal to just one type of driver or excel in a single realm. Instead, the Silverado 1500’s many engines showcase its versatility and appeal to Jersey Village drivers looking for diesel capability and those who need the efficiency of an inline-four or the exceptional towing capacity of a beefier V8. There’s genuinely a Silverado 1500 for every purpose and budget, especially when you shop for a fourth-generation truck that offers best-in-class capacities, performance, and versatility.