While you are looking over the various specs and options for an engine, it's natural for many different thoughts to cross your mind, as this is what you will be situated with as you enjoy your new vehicle's performance. Will it be strong enough? Can it posses the ability to tow and off-road well? As you sit with your laptop or tablet on the table in front of you building the ultimate rig, which one will best meet your needs?
We frequently come across customers who are comparing engine types here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse, and since we already know that the Chevy Silverado boasts about everything anyone would want in a new truck, this is a likely virtual spot for them to hover over. The turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four L2B and the naturally-aspirated 4.3-Liter V6 LV3 both come at about the same price and are worth a closer look to properly make your decision. The 4.3-liter V6 L3 is the older sibling in the mix, making its debut in the 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500. This integral member of the fifth-generation Small Block Family uses two overhead valves per cylinder that are operated by a single central camshaft.
The 2.7-liter I4 L3B was introduced in the 2019 Silverado 1500 and 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 and boasts modern qualities. There are four valves per cylinder, and they are operated more directly than in the V6 by putting to use double overhead camshafts. This results in drastically less turbo lag and can be a great help as you reach much thinner air space while driving in high-altitude and mountainous terrain. Both of these Silverado engines feature Active Fuel Management and contentiously variable valve timing, seeing to it that cylinders not needed for smaller-power stints are shut off for conservation.
The 2.7-liter I4 L3B also has variable valve lift, which allows torque peak production from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm. Since this inline-four is lighter than the 4.3-liter V6 LB3, it gives it an advantage off the bat for this showdown between the two. What also finishes as surprising in the toss-up between the two is that the four-cylinder offers more horsepower by 9 percent, torque by 14 percent, and fuel economy up 25 percent. It can even get to that all-important 60 mph mark 1 second faster while offering up 22 percent more in the maximum towing category.
V6 engines are traditionally tough and ripe with power, and we encourage you to check out every single great model here that boasts one under the hood! But in this particular face-off, the 2.7-liter four-cylinder happens to possess the might and muster to nail down positive readings on the virtual scoreboard. Standard features include 12 cargo bed tie-downs, a 7-inch touchscreen multimedia system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and the Teen Driving monitoring system.
