2020 Chevy Silverado Proves to be Immensely “Smooth Operator” Post Test-Drive

It's the first time in decades that the Chevy Silverado 1500-size pickup is available with both a diesel motor and an inline-six, and seasoned car writer Gary Gastelu was one of the first on the scene with the news scoop on his blog. The turbocharged 3.0-liter Duramax makes a large splash in the light-duty diesel segment while brandishing its straight-6 design, which operates on fewer moving parts than a V6, and a firing order with more balance and smoother operation. It's an all-new GM designed engine that is also found in the GMC Sierra 1500 and will soon be found in Chevy's  full-size SUVs.

It cranks out 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. For the two-wheel-drive models, the Duramax nails down a 33 mph EPE fuel economy rating, which is better than any pickup that exists.  When equipped with 4-wheel drive, it is in a tie of sorts with the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel 4x4 ranked at 29 mpg. During his extensive test drive, Gary was able to get his 4x4 Silverado LTZ crew cab over 30 mph by hovering around 60 mph, which has always seemed a good median point for full-sized truck effective use.

When it really comes down to the feel of the truck while driving, it has been said to feel more like a V8 than most diesels do. The pistons stand up and rev when you accelerate and is a trait that  makes a solid argument for itself every time you pull up at the pump. Considering what the fuel price average is right now in Anytown, USA, the diesel will save the average driver around $1,000 a year in fuel costs over 15,000 miles when put to the test right next to the 6.2-liter V8.

This is a truck that was designed to deliver the ultimate in both performance and efficiency, and technologies are at play every single second to optimize every drop of fuel, and make the Silverado more aerodynamic than ever before. Nicola Menarini is the head director for diesel truck engine program execution, and she had adamantly claimed early last year that Chevy had leveraged our global diesel expertise to assure this engine offered the performance and durability all of our customers demand daily. Within the aluminum engine block are iron cylinder liners, a forged steel crankshaft, and connecting rods as well as blended silicon/aluminum pistons for greater heat resistance and reduction in expansion.

A brand-new active thermal management system warms up components quickly for better efficiency, and the exhaust brake available in tow-haul mode provides more driver confidence when descending downhill. All of us here on staff at West Chevy of Knoxville are also so keen on one other feature of this best purchase for 2020: the driver-selectable stop start technology enhances fuel economy by completely shutting off the engine at stoplights and other situations, and then restarts automatically when the driver takes their foot off the brake!