Quick Answer

The Duramax Diesel Leads on Fuel Economy

The current Silverado 1500 lineup offers four different engines, and each one is built for a different priority: everyday value, towing muscle, or straight-line power. When it comes to fuel economy specifically, Chevrolet points to one clear leader: the available Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel, which the manufacturer cites as delivering best-in-class highway fuel economy at an EPA-estimated 28 mpg highway in 2WD trucks. Here's how all four engines compare.

• ✓Four engines available: TurboMax, 5.3L V8, 6.2L V8, and Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel
• ✓Duramax diesel is the only engine with a published, best-in-class MPG figure
• ✓TurboMax offers best-in-class standard torque for a gas engine at this price point
• ✓6.2L V8 tops the gas lineup for horsepower and torque

TurboMax: The Everyday Workhorse

The TurboMax engine is standard on WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, and LT Trail Boss models. It's rated at 310 horsepower and a best-in-class 430 lb.-ft. of standard torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and Active Fuel Management with Automatic Stop/Start to help cut down on fuel use during everyday driving. Chevrolet has not published a specific city, highway, or combined MPG figure for this engine, so we can't cite a number here, but the strong torque rating at this price point makes it a popular pick for daily driving and light towing.

5.3L EcoTec3 V8: The Balanced Choice

Standard on LTZ and High Country, and available on several other trims, the 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 steps up to 355 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft. of torque. It runs through a 10-speed automatic transmission and uses Dynamic Fuel Management with Automatic Stop/Start, technology designed to shut down cylinders you don't need during light-load driving. As with the TurboMax, Chevrolet's Silverado 1500 page doesn't publish an official MPG figure for this engine, so that number is left out rather than guessed at.

6.2L EcoTec3 V8: The Power Leader

Available on RST 4x4 Crew Cab, LT Trail Boss, LTZ 4x4, ZR2, and High Country 4x4, the 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 tops the gas engine lineup with 420 horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque, also through a 10-speed automatic transmission with Dynamic Fuel Management and Automatic Stop/Start. This is the engine to pick if power and towing muscle matter more than sipping fuel, and Chevrolet does not publish a specific MPG rating for it.

Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel: The Fuel Economy Leader

The Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel is standard on ZR2 and available on Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, and High Country. It produces 305 horsepower and 495 lb.-ft. of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission with Automatic Stop/Start. This is the only engine in the Silverado 1500 lineup with a published fuel economy figure, and Chevrolet calls out best-in-class highway efficiency here: an EPA-estimated 28 mpg highway in 2WD models and 26 mpg highway in 4WD models.* If maximizing fuel economy on the highway is the main goal, this is the engine Chevrolet itself points to.

Frequently Asked Questions

*Silverado with available Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel engine EPA-estimated MPG 28 highway 2WD, 26 highway 4WD. Source: chevrolet.com.