2014 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra's V6 leads in key fuel economy measure

Drive around any city or large suburban area and a very large percentage of the vehicles on the roadways are pickup trucks. The fact is that many work vehicles spend very little time on the highway. General Motors’ new 4.3 liter EcoTec3 V6 engine will therefore be a money maker for many contractors, municipalities, and urban cowboys since it will have the best city fuel economy of any pickup in the segment.

Chevy and GMC are very proud that their base V8 engine in the 2014 Sierra and Silverado will beat the highway fuel economy of even some of the key competitor’s turbocharged V6 engines, such as the Ford F-150's. Some work requires the torque that only a V8 or turbocharged V6 can provide, particularly if the vehicle is used for trailering. However, the fact remains that today’s V6 engines have as much torque and power as many V8s did a decade ago and the work got done somehow back then. By focusing on the V6 engine’s capabilities GM hopes to convince some customers who might have bought more truck than they need that the 4.3 EcoTec3 can more than live up to their needs.

GM proudly announced today that the V6 EcoTec3 can match the Ram’s 18 mpg city in 2WD form, and that in 4WD, the 17 mpg the Silverado and Sierra can achieve is the best in the class. With 305 ft-lbs of torque the EcoTec3 also has the most torque of any standard V6 in the market. To get this kind of torque GM employed sculpted cylinder heads and direct injection in order to improve the combustion inside the engine. GM also uses cylinder deactivation on the aluminum block EcoTec3 line of engines in order to optimize fuel efficiency during low load periods of operation.

As impressive as the V6 engine’s fuel economy is, the standard V8 is only 1 mpg thirstier in city and highway operation. For many, the V6 will be enough, but either way the base V6 and base V8’s offer impressive industry leading fuel economy for 2014 Sierra and Silverado shoppers.