2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 MPG: Testing the 2.7-Liter's Fuel Economy
The EPA claims the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500’s new turbocharged four-cylinder engine gets 19/22/20 mpg city/highway/combined, and we took it on a mileage loop to see how it does. Having the truck in Utah gave us the chance to test the vehicle at higher elevation. Our test loop started at around 4,500 feet, climbed to 5,400 feet and returned along the same path. It consisted of 20 percent city (45-mph speed limit with stoplights) 15 percent freeway (70-mph speed limit) and 65 percent highway (55-60-mph speed limit). The route was 68.1 miles according to Google Maps, and the truck measured 68.7 miles. The truck was tested empty except for the 185-pound driver.
Related: A Four-Cylinder Pickup? Chevrolet Takes a Gamble With 2019 Silverado 1500
Getting to the punch, the four-cylinder turbo exceeded the EPA estimates with a calculated 22.13 combined mpg. As is often the case, the computer in the truck displayed a slightly higher average at 23.4 mpg. It was clear that this engine loved to be in the 55-60-mph range, as the trip computer showed 25-26 mpg for that portion of the test. This Silverado’s as-tested 22.13 mpg is the best calculated fuel mileage of any half-ton pickup truck I’ve tested on this route. While not the most fuel-efficient versions of each, it beats the 2019 Ford F-150 Limited with a high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost at 18 mpg, 2019 Trail Boss LT with the 5.3-liter V-8 at 17 mpg and 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn with the 5.7-liter Hemi (not equipped with eTorque) at 18 mpg.
Our test truck was a double-cab, standard-bed Silverado LT with four-wheel drive and a few optional packages. The two convenience packages added dual-zone automatic climate control, power adjustable heated seats, heated steering wheel, keyless entry and start, and a variety of other items. A few other features that could affect fuel mileage due to weight or aerodynamics were the 6-inch rectangular side steps, bedliner and trailering package. The base price for our test truck was $41,695 with destination charge, but it came in at $49,365 with all the added features.
Who benefits from this engine? The fuel savings over a similarly equipped truck with the 5.3-liter V-8 is roughly a couple of hundred dollars a year. The four-cylinder also benefits from a purchase price $1,395 less than the V-8. The savings may be enough for many people to make the switch from the V-8 to the turbocharged inline-four-cylinder. And with 310 horsepower and 348 pounds-feet of torque running through an eight-speed automatic transmission, the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado’s turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder is a substantial improvement over the outgoing 4.3-liter V-6 with 285 hp and 305 pounds-feet of torque that ran through a six-speed auto.
For those who don’t need the added power of the V-8, this would be an excellent commuter truck. It’s also good for towing light loads and occasionally hauling. It’s a great fit for the do-it-yourselfer who will mostly runs around empty but needs to pick up a few larger items from the hardware store on a regular basis. If diesel engines are your thing, then you may enjoy the dual-volute turbo (a style commonly used in commercial diesels) of the inline-four that gives the truck the clattering sound of a diesel.
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