When one thinks about a tried-and-true work truck,
all of us on staff here at the Mid-Missouri
Powerhouse fully understand that a 6 or 8 cylinder engine is usually perceived
as able to get towing and hauling jobs done.
A full-size 5,000 – pound truck is not the most likely place that some
would expect to find a thriving 4-cylinder engine, and some may shrug it off as
seeming as if it is on the weaker side of the powertrain spectrum. Even after
all of the engine downsizing seen during recent years, the staff on duty at Motor
Trend were leery about the premise of a 4-cylinder truck, but were
immediately very impressed with its responsive and powerful qualities.
Chevy's 2.7-liter turbo four's specs make it look like
the V-6 competitor that it is, but there is one key advantage: the 310-hp
2.7-liter engine has 348 of torque that is generated from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm,
so quick response comes easy. This results in a much quieter cabin as well, and
the team's 2020
Silverado 1500 RST tester hit 60 mph in 7.1 seconds. This is quicker than
the Ford F-150 XL with a 3.3-liter V-6 and the Ram 1500 Tradesman with the 3.6-liter V6. Also within the Silverado
family, a 5.3-liter LT Trail Boss with the 8-speed automatic reached 60 mph in
6.7 seconds, and the 4.3-liter-equipped work truck got to 60 in 7.2 seconds.
Understandably, one may miss the sound of the
naturally aspirated V-8, but at the 2020 Truck of the Year testing, this new 2.7
powertrain met a high level of praise. Features editor Scott Evans said after
testing the truck with a 4,000-pound trailer that “This thing pulls like
there's nothing there”, and that anyone who says this engine doesn't belong in
a truck should just “drive it for themselves”. It remains quiet even with large
crosswinds, and the steering is well-weighted and precise.
You'll be able to find this 2.7-liter engine as an
option on the WT, Custom, LT, and RST trims, and nail down a towing capacity of
6-7,000 pounds. It may be a bit surprising to not have the consistently heavy
rumble underneath you as you complete the daily drive as well as hauling and
towing, but the miracles of modern engineering has changed the way how
4-cylinders are perceived. It was just a decade or so ago that any truck with a
4-cylinder engine was going to be thought of immediately as a tiny number that
could potentially go anywhere, but not have the ability to pull its weight.
Driving like a pickup yet better, it heaves over
bumps as a unit, with the ability to settle well. As the temperatures drop and
the festive season is upon us in full force, its a great time to check out this
and all of the other trucks here on the lot, and figure out which friend or
family member would be the best recipient of the greatest gift one can give AND
receive!
