Manoli Katakis 
Chevrolet has announced that the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 will have an optional all-new 3.0 liter Duramax engine, marking the first time the brand has offered a diesel in a light duty truck since 1997. The new motor also stands as the first time an inline six has found its way under the hood of a full size light-duty truck in the brand’s history.
The new 3.0 liter Duramax is the third diesel engine available in the Chevrolet truck line-up, following the Duramax 6.6 liter turbo-diesel V8 and Duramax 2.8 liter inline-four. Unlike the half-ton diesel offerings from Ram and Ford, this in-house diesel engine utilizes an inline-six layout, due to its inherent smoothness. An aluminum block was chosen for weight savings, and the motor also features dual overhead cams, and four valves per cylinder. The Hydra-Matic 10L80 10-speed automatic is the sole transmission option.
While the performance figures for the new Duramax powered Silverado are good, it’s the fuel economy that really stands out. Chevrolet says that a rear drive 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the diesel will get 33 MPG highway and 23 MPG in the city. Opt for the four wheel drive, and the highway efficiency drops to 29 MPG, respectfully. This is the highest fuel economy rating for the highway that we’ve seen in a half-ton pickup truck.
The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax is set to deliver 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque on tap from its 3.0L LM2 diesel engine. That power helps the Silverado 1500 reach a tow rating of 9,300 pounds, and a maximum payload of 1,870 pounds in 4×4 guise. Chevrolet says that this will meet the needs of 90 percent of their light-duty truck customers’ needs.
The 3.0L Duramax will be available on the LT, RST, LTZ and High Country trims for the Silverado 1500. Pricing for the diesel option varies depending on the trim level, starting at $2,495 for LTZ and High Country models and $3,890 for the LT and RST models.
