If you live in the magical land of Narnia, you might think that a four-cylinder turbo engine isn’t robust enough for use in a full-size pickup truck like the Chevrolet Silverado. Meanwhile, in reality, GM’s 6.2-liter V8 engines are self-destructing at low-mileage, sometimes while idling, as the TurboMax four-cylinder builds its reputation for durability – and delivering more torque for less money than the 5.3-liter V8 above it within the lineup.
There’s a lot going on with the Chevrolet Silverado’s engine and powertrain lineup these days. Between the outgoing generation of V8 engines, expected updates to the mighty TurboMax four‑cylinder base engine, and an incoming family of next‑generation small-block options on the horizon for 2027, Chevrolet looks to be quietly restructuring how it’ll fit V8 engines into a more modern Silverado lineup.
2022 – 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4th Gen (GMTT1XX) Facelift PickupChevrolet
Not all that long ago, the idea of a four‑cylinder full‑size truck might have gotten an engineer laughed out of the room. Times change, and with them, so too do pickup truck engines. Chevrolet is quietly rewriting the Silverado’s pricing logic, making the 2.7‑liter TurboMax four‑cylinder standard on work‑focused WT, Custom, and LT trims, while nudging the soon‑to‑depart 5.3‑liter V8 up the pricing ladder just as its replacement, a 5.7-liter unit, waits in the wings.
2022 – 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4th Gen (GMTT1XX) Interior view of the front cabinChevrolet
Will future V8 engines be paid upgrades with the big TurboMax four-cylinder filling in for base-model duty across more of the model range? As the next era of Silverado comes online, the V8 looks increasingly like something shoppers will step up to, not start with. And with four‑cylinder engines gaining broader acceptance in the 4×4 and utility space, the timing is likely a little strategic.
Retirement Is Next For The 5.3-Liter V8 Legend
2025 Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 Bison front 3/4Chevrolet
The 5.3‑liter V8 has been the backbone of GM’s hardest‑working models for nearly 25 years, dating back to 1999 and spanning two major eras and various updates along the way. The current 5.3‑liter V8 is the fifth‑generation engine, though it shares the same small-block V8 architecture and design as the original, dating back to the fifties. This is the go‑to workhorse engine of the GM truck and SUV lineup, widely considered a safe bet by owners. It’s not affected by the widespread failures plaguing the big‑brother 6.2‑liter engine either.
With the larger sixth-generation engine arriving soon, it’s the end of the line for the current fifth‑generation 5.3‑liter V8. There are several big draws to the 5.3‑liter V8, not the least of which are its long production run, years of debugging, and its reputation as one of the most dependable modern pickup‑truck V8s. If you want your Silverado powered by a conventional V8 with decades of refinement behind it, the door is rapidly closing, though second‑hand copies will remain available at significant savings if you like.
2022 – 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4th Gen (GMTT1XX) Facelift Pickup – front 3/4 angle in red while parkedChevrolet
The stalwart 5.3‑liter V8 will be replaced soon, and your last chance to get one is getting pricier. At this writing, details of the all‑new‑for‑2027 Chevrolet Silverado lineup are being finalized as the model prepares to go on sale at the end of 2026. When the 2027 trucks arrive, they’ll ride on an all‑new platform and offer two all‑new V8 engines, effectively retiring the long‑running current‑generation small-block V8s in favor of larger, more powerful units built with the latest advancements.
The outgoing 5.3‑liter unit remains the Silverado’s most proven and dependable engine option, but you’re less likely to find it in a low‑cost, base‑model position if you’re buying brand new. As the TurboMax takes over more of the work‑focused applications, the 5.3‑liter V8 is increasingly pushed upmarket. It still offers a meaningful towing advantage (up to 11,200 lbs versus the TurboMax’s 9,500), but it’s now more commonly found in trims like LTZ and High Country, where it’s positioned like a premium upgrade rather than the default.
The Diesel Duramax Will Carry Over For 2027
2022 – 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4th Gen (GMTT1XX) Custom Trail Boss front 3/4 angle in whiteChevrolet
The popular Duramax 3‑liter straight‑six turbodiesel has now been through several iterations and will carry over into the 2027 model‑year trucks. The engine was originally launched in 2019 for the Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500, arriving as a late‑availability option for that model year and entering its first full year of sales in 2020.
It received its first major update for 2021, improving efficiency, NVH, and power delivery. A second, more substantial refresh arrived for 2023, when the next‑generation LZ0 variant replaced the LM2 and boosted output to 305 hp and 495 lb‑ft. The Silverado’s diesel option has been around for seven years now, outliving competitor engines from Ford and Ram in the process.
The 6.2-Liter V8 Era Is Grinding To A Halt
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 V8 engineChevrolet
The 6.2‑liter V8 era is winding down rapidly, or maybe even grinding to a halt in a puddle of engine oil. This is the Silverado’s halo engine, with the soul (and displacement) of a C8 Corvette Stingray. In the Silverado, the six-point-two has built its name on output and performance over more than a decade, though it won’t go out on a high note. The modern 6.2‑liter V8 first launched for the 2014 model year. In 2019, GM updated the engine, adding Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM), revised internals, and improved efficiency.
2022 – 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4th Gen (GMTT1XX) Facelift PickupChevrolet
This variant has carried the 6.2‑liter through the current 2024–2026 trucks, where it became embroiled in recalls for widespread self‑destruction. A clean-sheet new engine will replace it later this year.
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The TurboMax Might Be Getting A Big Power Upgrade
Chevrolet TurboMax engineChevrolet
That leaves the TurboMax. The Silverado’s first four‑cylinder option originally launched for the 2019 model year before becoming one of the most important engines in the lineup. In 2022, the TurboMax was revised with improved cooling and a retuned turbocharger system, among other upgrades. Power and torque were up, and the TurboMax now offered 310 hp and 430 lb‑ft, more torque than the 5.3‑liter V8. Today, after being on sale for seven years, the TurboMax could be due for another update and power bump. As reported earlier this year by TFL Truck, unofficial sources say that an updated 2.7‑liter TurboMax is coming, with 350 horsepower and 440 lb‑ft of torque.
That’s nearly 130 horsepower per liter. If you’re paying attention, this puts the theoretically updated TurboMax into the same universe as the Stellantis Hurricane 4 Turbo. It’s unclear whether the power upgrade would be included on all TurboMax engines, or if a lower‑output, lower‑cost tune might power more basic Work Truck models. What is clear, however, is that four‑cylinder turbo engines are about to start playing a more major role in truck and 4×4 applications as automakers work to deliver more power and cleaner emissions from less fuel.
2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 EPA Estimated MPG
Engine
City MPG
Highway MPG
Combined MPG
2.7L TurboMax I4 (2WD)
19 MPG
22 MPG
20 MPG
2.7L TurboMax I4 (4WD)
18 MPG
21 MPG
19 MPG
5.3L EcoTec3 V8 (2WD)
17 MPG
21 MPG
19 MPG
5.3L EcoTec3 V8 (4WD)
16 MPG
20 MPG
18 MPG
6.2L EcoTec3 V8 (4WD Only)
16 MPG
20 MPG
17 MPG
3.0L Duramax Diesel (2WD)
24 MPG
29 MPG
26 MPG
3.0L Duramax Diesel (4WD)
22 MPG
27 MPG
24 MPG
ZR2 / Trail Boss
14 MPG
17 MPG
15 MPG
Does The Silverado’s Next Powertrain Era Revolve Around The V8?
Turbocharged 2.7-liter TurboMax four-cylinder engine in a Silverado engine bayChevrolet
As the Silverado switches to an unproven, next-generation small-block V8 engine family for 2027, the TurboMax will be the most proven engine in the lineup for customers after gas power. The Duramax straight-six, also launched in 2019, has been around just as long. Translation? In a single year, the Silverado’s most proven, predictable and long-running powerplants will be a four-cylinder turbo gas engine, and a straight-six turbodiesel, not a pair of V8 engines.
The last few years have been tumultuous for the 6.2‑liter V8, with widespread lifter failures and catastrophic bottom‑end problems overshadowing its performance credentials. Meanwhile, the 5.3‑liter V8 has maintained its reputation as GM’s most dependable modern truck engine, a 25‑year workhorse with millions of units on the road.
2025 Chevrolet Silverado WT Regular Cab Red Front Angled ViewChevrolet
Chevrolet Silverado Powertrain Timeline
Duramax 3.0-Liter I-6
2019: Debut, late-availability launch in Silverado/Sierra 1500
2020: First full year, LM2 enters full production
2021: Update, Efficiency, NVH, and drivability improvements
2023: LZ0 refresh, major redesign, output rises to 305 hp / 495 lb-ft
2027: Carryover, continues into next-gen Silverado
EcoTec 3 5.3-Liter V8
1999: Introduction, LM7 Vortec 5300 launches and becomes GM’s core truck engine
2014: EcoTec3 launches as fifth-generation Small Block with advanced new tech
2014–2026: Production; it’s the longest-running modern GM truck V8
2027: Replacement, the new 5.7-liter sixth-generation Small Block (400 hp / 420 lb-ft) replaces the 5.3-liter V8
6.2-Liter V8
2014: Launch, Silverado’s halo performance V8
2019: Update with revised internals and improved efficiency
2014–2026: Production, widely reported lifter failures and engine trouble
2027: Replacement, the all-new 6.7-liter sixth-generation Small Block (500hp / 500 lb-ft) replaces the 6.2-liter V8
2.7-Liter TurboMax I-4 (L3B)
2019: Debut, the first four-cylinder Silverado engine
2022: Update, cooling, internals, turbo revisions, improved torque
2027: Rumored upgrade, leaked figures suggest 350 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque are en route
Both engines are being replaced for 2027. The 5.3 gives way to a new 5.7‑liter Small Block, and the 6.2-liter V8 is replaced by a larger, stronger 6.7‑liter unit. These sixth‑generation V8s bring new materials, tighter tolerances, and modernized combustion technology to push output and emissions performance upwards. According to GM, both new V8s will rely more heavily on in‑house parts production and advanced quality‑control measures, a necessary step toward restoring owner confidence in some circles.
2025 Chevrolet Silverado interior shot showing the dashboardChevrolet
It’s likely the TurboMax will continue anchoring WT, Custom, and LT trims, offering a torque‑rich, fuel‑efficient alternative to the V8s. The new 5.7‑liter and 6.7‑liter engines will serve as step‑up options, delivering higher towing capacity and capability headroom, alongside the traditional V8 feel loved by no shortage of pickup shoppers. In this way, it’s probable that the entire engine lineup becomes even more segmented, with the TurboMax covering more everyday work and efficiency, two new V8s for heavier work and premium upgrades, and the straight-six diesel for those who partake.
Sources: Chevrolet, GMAuthority, TFLTruck.com, EPA
