The keyword for the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500’s engine lineup is variety. There’s a turbocharged four-cylinder, a pair of V8s, and a Duramax turbodiesel. Whether you want a fuel-efficient daily driver, a dedicated work truck, or something that can do both, you’re covered on all fronts.
Out of the four engines up for grabs, the new Small Block V8s may be the most exciting, but each powerplant will have its uses. Here’s what we know about these engines so far.
We’re still waiting on final specs for all of these engines, especially the new V8s. We’ve provided the 2026 specs for returning engines, and estimates for the new powerplants. All engines are equipped with a 10-speed automatic as the standard transmission.
The 2.7 TurboMax Is Back
The Turbocharged Straight-Four Was Introduced To The Silverado Lineup For 2019
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500Chevrolet
Power
310 hp
Torque
430 lb-ft
Maximum Towing Capacity
9,500 lbs.
Chevrolet promises that the enhanced 2.7L TurboMax will deliver “best-in-class standard torque.” The TurboMax has a strong track record, having been introduced at the start of the fourth generation, and drivers generally favor the later models. The 2.7 TurboMax engines built for the 2022 model year and later have reinforced components that are more capable of withstanding high mileage.
Chevy is promising an “enhanced” version of the engine, so our specs, based on the 2026 model, shouldn’t be assumed to be final until we get confirmation from the automaker.
This Is The Daily-Driver Engine
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500Chevrolet
The 2.7 TurboMax is a fairly efficient daily-driver engine, delivering a combined 20 miles per gallon, with FuelEconomy.gov estimating an annual fuel cost of $3,100, assuming 15,000 miles driven a year, split 45/55 between highway and city miles. For a pickup that starts at more than two tons of curb weight, you could do a lot worse.
Gas prices have been threatening to hit a new all-time high all year, so, as attractive as a small block V8 may be, the TurboMax will no doubt continue to be the most popular engine in the lineup for the new model year. For most drivers, 310 horsepower is more than enough to get the job done.
The 3.0-Liter Duramax Turbodiesel Sticks Around For The New Generation
The 3.0-Liter Duramax Has Been Around Since 2020
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500Chevrolet
Power
305 hp
Torque
495 lb-ft
Maximum Towing Capacity
13,300 lbs.
Another returning favorite, the 3.0 Duramax turbodiesel, the LZ0, is the second version of the inline six, launching in 2023. The original Duramax, the LM2, was retired in 2024. The Duramax is an aluminum-head, aluminum-block towing monster with a 15.2:1 compression ratio and 2,993 cc of total displacement.
FuelEconomy.gov estimates the 2026 version of this engine to get around 25 miles per gallon combined, resulting in an annual fuel expense of $3,150. Not bad, but we’ve seen Duramax drivers claim 35 miles per gallon or more on the highway.
Nothing Beats A Diesel Work Truck
DMAX Duramax 3.0L Turbo DieselDMAX
It goes without saying that a turbo-diesel engine primarily appeals to drivers who see a full-size pickup not as a grocery-getter or a status symbol, but as a practical solution to real-life problems. A Duramax is simply a beast when it comes to towing, hauling, and durability, pulling over six tons of weight and proven to have crossed half a million miles with regular maintenance.
We would bet on the TurboMax powering more fleet trucks, while the Duramax will be the engine you find in Silverados belonging to private contractors and small business owners. In a 2026 Silverado 1500, upgrading to the Duramax inline-six can cost around $6,000. Worth the cost if you want to invest in a truck you plan to keep for 10+ years, but not so much when outfitting a dozen entry-level models.
The 5.7-Liter V8 Is One Of Two New Small Blocks
The Gen VI Small Block Is New For 2027
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500Chevrolet
Power
400 hp
Torque
420 lb-ft
Maximum Towing Capacity
12,000 lbs.
Chevrolet claims that the new 5.7-liter V8 “honors Chevy Small Block heritage while advancing more than a century of truck capability, durability and performance.” By all appearances, the 5.7-liter engine looks to be the replacement for the outgoing 355-hp 5.3-liter small block. Details on this engine are still scarce at the moment, but estimates cited in dealer communications, according to GM-Trucks, put the power output at around 400 hp.
Note that this is not the same engine as the classic 5.7-liter Vortec. Both engines are part of the same Small Block lineage, but separated by six generations. They have the same displacement and same engine family, but this is a new powerplant.
The Go-Anywhere-Do-Anything All-Arounder
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500Chevrolet
The TurboMax may be the most popular engine for the lower trims in the 2026 Silverado, but the 5.3-liter engine gets more popular as you go up the ladder, powering the High Country (set to be the sole luxury trim for the new model year) and the ZR2. We would expect that pattern to repeat for the 2027 model year.
That is, we expect to see the more affordable four-pot powering the entry-level models and most mid-range Silverados. The 5.7-liter, meanwhile, offers smooth, naturally aspirated power delivery for the luxury-minded High Country driver and torquey off-road performance for ZR2-driving adventurers. If you’re not interested in driving a diesel, and 6.6 liters of naturally aspirated power sounds like overkill, the 5.7 is the perfect all-around, mid-range engine.
A New 6.6-Liter V8 Is The Star Of The Show
The Other New Small Block Promises Massive Power
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500Chevrolet
Power
500 hp
Torque
500 lb-ft
Maximum Towing Capacity
13,500
The new 6.6-liter V8 is clearly the engine that Chevy wants to showcase with the launch of the new generation of Silverado light-duties. The Gen VI small block debuted in the 6.7-liter LS6 in the Chevrolet Corvette C8, where it’s rated at 535 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque. Losing just one tenth of a liter of displacement, the 6.6-liter V8 shouldn’t be far behind those ludicrous performance numbers.
We expect this engine to be a popular powerplant for street truck enthusiasts. Who doesn’t want to brag that their Silverado packs “basically the same engine” as the new ‘Vette? By this time next year, we’ll probably be reporting on hot-rodded 1,000-hp Silverado 1500s packing a 6.6-liter small block.
Related
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Revealed: New Look, New Engines, Same Attitude
The 2027 Silverado 1500 gets two new versions of the sixth-generation small-block V8, including a 6.6-liter mill with segment-best power.
Chevy Claims The 6.6 To Be The Most Powerful In Its Class
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500Chevrolet
Chevrolet announced the 2027 Silverado with the promise to deliver the most powerful naturally-aspirated V8 engine in its class, its class being half-ton gas and diesel pickups, based on the “latest competitive data available,” and not counting other GM vehicles. If early estimates are to be believed, the 6.6-liter V8 should rival the turbodiesel Duramax in towing power.
Chevy is still playing its cards close to its chest. The 6.6-liter unit seems to be a natural fit for the ZR2 Bison Edition, a new take on the fan-favorite off-roader, built in cooperation with American Expedition Vehicles, with 18-inch wheels, full skid plates, and two extra inches of ground clearance. The High Country, with its limo-like interior, will probably feel like a Cadillac with one of these engines under the hood, and, obviously, you won’t want for horsepower in a 6.6-liter work truck.
Ultimately, Chevrolet has a little something for everyone in the 2027 Silverado 1500. The 6.6-liter V8 sees Chevy throwing down the gauntlet and saying “top that,” but it looks like everything from the TurboMax to the 5.7-liter small block has the potential to be someone’s all-time favorite engine.
Sources: Chevrolet, GM-Trucks, FuelEconomy.gov,
