- EPA-estimated highway rating makes Chevy’s new diesel best in class
- 4-wheel drive models estimated up to 29 mpg
- GM’s all-new Duramax turbodiesel engine will also be used in upcoming 2020 GMC Sierra
- Deliveries expected to begin in September
- Priced from about $40,000
Chevrolet announced today that the 2020 Silverado 1500 pickup with its new 3.0-liter Duramax inline-6 diesel engine attains up to 33 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA estimates. In rear-wheel-drive form, the light-duty truck garners EPA-estimated ratings of 23 mpg city/33 mpg highway, while 4-wheel-drive models come in at 23 mpg city/29 mpg highway.
At these numbers, the 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 diesel boasts class-leading fuel economy. It beats the Ford F-150 diesel, which is rated 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway for rear-drive models and 20 mpg city/25 mpg highway for 4-wheel-drive variants. The outgoing, 2018 Ram 1500 with an optional diesel engine earned 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway for rear-drive models and 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway for 4-wheel-drive models. An all-new, 2020 Ram 1500 diesel is right around the corner, but for now the Chevy is the one to beat.
Same engine offered in GMC Sierra
The engine, an all-new inline-6 turbodiesel, will also be used in the forthcoming 2020 GMC Sierra. The 3.0-liter 6-cylinder makes 277 horsepower and a stout 460 lb-ft of torque. In both rear-drive and 4-wheel-drive models it is linked to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
RELATED: 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax Diesel First Review
The diesel engine option for the 2020 Chevy Silverado is among half a dozen powertrain offerings in the new Silverado. They range from a turbocharged 4-cylinder to a rumbling 6.2-liter V8. In addition to its class-leading fuel economy, the diesel is rated to tow up to 9,300 pounds and has payload rating of 1,870 pounds.
The turbodiesel engine option is available starting on 2020 Silverado LT trims, which begin around $40,000. The Duramax diesel is a $2,495 option over the 5.3-liter V8, and the same price as the optional 6.2-liver V8. That puts the starting price of a new Chevy 1500 Silverado diesel truck in the mid-$40,000 range. Chevy says the first customer deliveries of the 2020 Silverado with the new Duramax diesel is expected to begin in September.
