Manoli Katakis 
The 2019 model year could be considered the warm-up round for the all-new Chevrolet Silverado, as significant updates have come about for the 2020 model year.
The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 retains the same interior and exterior, but the big news is what’s burbling under its bonnet. Newly announced is the addition of the robust 6.2L L87 V8 engine to the Silverado Trail Boss and Silverado RST trim levels. Previously, the biggest engine offered was a 5.3L V8.
The 6.2L V8 is good for 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, and features Dynamic Fuel Management, a technology that is capable of reducing engine combustion down to one cylinder in certain occasions, in an effort to save fuel. That said, EPA fuel estimates haven’t reflected much, if any, fuel economy savings compared to the K2XX Silverado, which had a smaller drag coefficient of area than the new T1 Silverado.
If not much for saving fuel, Chevrolet is nevertheless offering the proposition of power. Specifically, the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Custom Trail Boss with the 6.2L V8 starts at $43,865 including destination. So even though it’s over $40-grand, it’s nevertheless the most affordable light-duty truck with more than 400 horsepower on the market as it stands.
2020 Chevrolet Silverado models equipped with the 6.2L L87 V8 is available with a Performance Upgrade Package that adds a performance air intake and cat-back performance exhaust system, raising output to 435 horsepower and 469 lb-ft of torque. However, much like the upcoming 2020 C8 Corvette, good luck getting into the engine’s ECU to push the limits further. GM’s elevated cybersecurity measures on its latest products have so far stymied much of the performance tuning market from doing much with these trucks, despite the demand for more power.
Customers looking to tow their trinkets and toys around the town will be happy to hear that the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 RST with the 6.2L L87 V8 is SAE-rated to pull a class-leading 13,400 lbs.
In addition to the big V8 news, the 5.3L L84 V8 is now paired with GM’s 10-speed automatic transmission, which first appeared on the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. It’s standard on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado LT Trail Boss. Meanwhile, the new 2.7L L3B turbocharged four-cylinder with 310 hp and 348 lb-ft is now available on the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado Custom, alongside the standard 4.3L LV3 small-block V6 with 285 hp and 305 lb-ft.
Finally, the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 introduces the 3.0L Duramax LM2 inline-six diesel engine with 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. Pricing, payload, fuel economy and towing figures are expected to be announced soon.
Below is the current breakdown of the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 engine lineup:
| 4.3L V-6 w/ AFM (6-spd.) | 5.3L V-8 w/ AFM (6-spd.) | 2.7L Turbo w/ AFM (8-spd) | 5.3L V-8 w/DFM (8-spd.) | 5.3L V-8 w/DFM (10-spd.) | 6.2L V-8 w/DFM (10-spd.) | 3.0L I-6 Turbo Diesel (10-spd.) | |
| Work Truck (WT) | Std. | Avail. | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Custom | Std. | Avail. | Avail. | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Custom Trail Boss | Std. | Avail. | N/A | N/A | N/A | Avail. | N/A |
| LT | N/A | N/A | Std. | Avail. | N/A | N/A | Avail. |
| RST | N/A | N/A | Std. | Avail. | N/A | Avail. | Avail. |
| LT Trail Boss | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Std. | Avail. | N/A |
| LTZ | N/A | N/A | N/A | Std. | N/A | Avail. | Avail. |
| High Country | N/A | N/A | N/A | Std. | Avail. | Avail. | Avail. |
