3 Things We've Learned About the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500's Powertrains
A tester for sister site PickupTrucks.com recently had a chance to get behind the wheel of the new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado in a few different engine configurations. Here’s what we learned.
Related: Chevrolet’s New Cylinder Deactivation System Is a Game-Changer
- ${price_badge()}
- ${battery_badge()}${ev_report_link()}
- ${hot_car_badge()}
- ${award_badge()}
- ${cpo_badge()}
${price_badge_description}
The EV Battery Rating is based on this vehicle's current expected range relative to the vehicles expected range when new. ${battery_badge_text}
Certified cars are manufacturer warrantied and typically go through a rigorous multi-point inspection.
This car is likely to sell soon based on the price, features, and condition.
${award_blurb}
${award_two_blurb}
Shop the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 near you
The Four-Cylinder Is Impressive
The new base engine for the Silverado 1500 is a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder making 310 horsepower and 348 pounds-feet of torque. That’s the same displacement as Ford’s 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6, but with slightly lower horsepower and torque figures. Nonetheless, our tester found the engine responsive and the reduced weight — 80 pounds saved from the old 4.3-liter V-6, which is still available — added to the overall light and nimble feel of the new Silverado.
There’s a New Cylinder Deactivation System …
For buyers looking for a little more power, there are two versions of a 5.3-liter V-8 engine available. One version comes with a new cylinder deactivation system Chevrolet calls Dynamic Fuel Management. DFM can switch the V-8 to a V-4 like the old system, with the added wrinkle of deactivating even more cylinders. It can even operate the engine on one cylinder. The same system is also available on the larger 6.2-liter V-8. EPA fuel-economy numbers haven’t been released yet, however, so we can’t know for sure if this is an improvement.
… And It Involves … Ugh … Math
The real downside is that Chevrolet made our tester do math. While driving around in the Silverado, Chevrolet attached a second display that indicated the DFM engine mode using a fraction — 1/2 is straightforward and means the engine is operating as a V-4; anything beyond that gets too complicated for my dumb brain to explain. You can find a better explanation in the related link above. Fortunately, owners won’t have to worry about this information while driving.
Once we have fuel-economy numbers, as well as towing and payload figures, we’ll be better able to figure out just how revolutionary the Silverado 1500’s updates really are.
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
