Chevrolet’s future is electric, but the blue-collar brand hasn’t given up on combustion power. As part of the introduction of the 2023 Silverado ZR2 Bison, Chevy buried an update on the excellent Silverado diesel power plant.
Starting with the 2023 model year, the 3.0-liter turbodiesel straight-six packs 305 horsepower and 495 pound-feet of torque, up from the 277 hp and 460 lb-ft in today’s trucks. Chevy made improvements with all the oil-covered elements that make ICE engines work. There’s a reset turbocharger, upgraded fuel injectors and new steel pistons with an updated combustion bowl. Chevy hasn’t announced any changes in fuel economy – the truck currently returns 22 miles per gallon city, 26 highway, and 24 combined with four-wheel drive.
Like today’s diesel-powered trucks, the 10-speed automatic was the only transmission option. The revised diesel is available on the Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, or High Country trim, but not the Silverado ZR2 or ZR2 Bison. That’s disappointing (since the Colorado ZR2 carries the optional Duramax) and odd (because Chevy paired this announcement while introducing the more powerful Silverado ZR2 variant).
While Motor1.com the team hasn’t tasted a Chevy’s Duramax straight-six in years, that’s a highlight in our reviews of the Silverado and Tahoe, as well as the GMC Sierra. Powerful and powerful from rest, engine speed rises smoothly and predictably, with little performance loss. Throttle is excellent, with a pleasant weight that makes modulation a breeze. And the 10-speed, like the 6.2 liter, is a fantastic partner for the engine. Turbodiesel is also whisper quiet at cruising speed.
While Chevy is focused solely on the Silverado, it’s possible that the latest version of this popular engine will make its way to the Tahoe/Suburban, as well as to the GMC Sierra and Yukon and possibly the Cadillac Escalade. Bowtie loyalists will be able to purchase the Silverado with the updated engine later this year, when it starts rolling out from GM’s Flint, Michigan engine plant.
