GM Releases Fuel-Economy Figures for 6.2-Liter V-8 Silverado, Sierra Pickups

GM’s latest pickup-truck twins, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, were completely redesigned this year, and the company opted for a slow, painstaking rollout of the trucks’ details, as well as output figures and fuel economy for the rigs’ 4.3-liter V-6, 5.3-liter V-8, and 6.2-liter V-8 engines. At long last, the slow tide of information is all the way in: GM has finally released fuel-economy data for the Silverado and Sierra’s top-dog 6.2-liter V-8 engine.

The big V-8 sits above the base 4.3-liter V-6 and mid-level 5.3-liter V-8 in both trucks’ engine lineups, and brings 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. According to Chevy and GMC, that increased power isn’t penalized by drastically reduced fuel economy, at least relative to the smaller 5.3. Two-wheel-drive models get an estimated 15 mpg in the city and 21 on the highway—down 1 and 2 mpg, respectively, from the rear-drive 5.3’s 16/23. The four-wheel-drive 6.2 nets 14/20 mpg, down 2 mpg in both cycles to its 5.3-liter counterpart. The gap between the 6.2 and the V-6 is wider, with the latter capable of 17–18 mpg city and 22–24 mpg on the highway, depending on whether rear- or four-wheel drive is selected.

• Comparison Test: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado vs. 2013 Ford F-150, 2013 Ram 1500
• Instrumented Test: 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L 4×4 Crew Cab
• First Drive: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado / 2014 GMC Sierra 6.2L V-8

Like the Silverado and Sierra’s other two engines, the 6.2 boasts fuel-saving cylinder deactivation, which can put four cylinders to sleep under light loads or cruising. Compared to the burliest iterations of the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500, the GM 6.2 twins are more powerful and nearly more efficient. They beat the Ford’s optional 6.2-liter V-8’s output and efficiency; the Blue Oval’s 6.2 makes 411 horsepower and 434 lb-ft of torque and can only muster 12–13 mpg in the city and 16–18 mpg on the highway. The Chevy and GMC also have the Ram 1500’s most-powerful engine choice, a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, beat—at least in terms of output. The Ram squeezes out 395 ponies and 410 lb-ft of torque, but with its eight-speed automatic (the Ford and GM trucks use six-speeds), it edges the Silverado and Sierra’s fuel economy with 15 mpg in the city and 21–22 mpg on the highway, depending on drive configuration.

Similar to the Ford F-150’s top engine, the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra can only be had with the 6.2 on higher trim levels. On the Chevy, that means the big eight can only be ordered on the LTZ or High Country, and on the Sierra, the SLT or Denali.

Source: CarAndDriver