Manoli Katakis 
General Motors really wants you to buy its diesel half-ton pickup trucks. And you should. They’re pretty great, based on our experience. For example, in a 2020 Sierra 1500 Duramax, we averaged an impressive 27 mpg across 1,500 miles on northern Michigan roads. This 3.0L LM2 engine is also the smoothest diesel engine in the half-ton competitive set, thanks to its unique straight-six design. But that’s not what’s new. Here’s the latest: the LM2 Duramax diesel option for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 trucks gets a deep price cut, according to GM’s employee discount website.
To simplify things, here’s what you’re looking at: the LM2 is just a $995 upgrade on 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ and High Country models when upgrading from the from 5.3L L84 V8 engine. But it moves to $2,390 on the 2021 Silverado 1500 LT and RST models equipped with their 2.7L L3B turbo inline four base engine. It remains unavailable on Silverado WT and Custom trim levels.
This is a price cut of $1,500 for each trim level. Chevrolet and GMC dealers alike have been informed that these new prices will also apply to remaining 2020 Silverado and 2020 Sierra 1500 Duramax pickup trucks.
Last year, the 3.0L Duramax commanded a $2,495 premium over a Silverado with a 5.3L V8, or $3,890 over a Silverado with a 2.7L turbo-four when it launched. In its inaugural year, the take rate of the LM2 was about 6 percent.
Looking ahead, GM is planning to offer up towing improvements for its half-ton diesel trucks – a sore spot on their current spec sheet. The T1 trucks will also soon get upgrades to their truck tailgates, interiors, technology, and exterior designs.
The LM2 diesel engine will also be offered on every all-new T1 platform full-size SUV model that is launching this year starting this quarter (Q4 2020). This includes the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon Denali, and even the Cadillac Escalade. It will not be available on the Tahoe Z71, Suburban Z71, or Yukon AT4.
