Here is exactly how the new 2020 Chevy Silverado HD gas-V8 does on our highway MPG loop with a 16,000 lbs trailer and running unloaded. The other big question is: if you buy a new 2020 Duramax diesel V8 with a 10-speed automatic transmission for just over an additional $10,000 – how long will it take to recoup that initial investment compared to a gas V8-powered truck?
2020 Chevy Silverado HD
This is an all-new truck powered by an all-new gas V8 engine. It’s a 6.6-liter direct injected push-rod valve engine that is based on the 5th-generation LT1 engine architecture. It’s built up from there to handle heavy duty commercial truck abuse. For example, towing a 16,000 lbs trailer over a long distance, like we are doing here.
The power rating is 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque on regular unleaded fuel. This engine does not require premium high-octane fuels. The engine is backed up by an updated heavy duty 6-speed automatic transmission. It’s based on the 6-speed automatic that has been there before.
The 2020 heavy truck is longer and taller than before. The wheelbase is approximately 5-inches longer to provide more highway stability with and without the trailer. There is about 3-inches more rear seat legroom in the crew cab, and the standard HD bed is a bit longer as well at 6-foot 10-inches.
This crew cab HD 2500 truck is equipped with a large 36-gallon fuel tank, which is good for towing work like this. The maximum towing rating for this 4×4 crew cab is 16,600 lbs. We are pushing this truck very near its limit on towing and payload capacities.
We are pleasantly surprised by the highway MPG we get with an empty truck. This crew cab 4×4 got 16.0 MPG at a speed of 70 MPH.
In the end, the pump-verified fuel economy with the 16,000 lbs trailer and running at 70 MPH is 6.9 MPG. This number looks very low, but take a look how it compares to other HD truck towing on the same highway loop in the TFLtruck MPG Towing Guide. We will run the same loop with the same trailer with the other 2020 HD trucks from Ford and Ram, but 2017 HD gas trucks we compared with a 12,500 lbs trailer were getting between 7.3 – 8.6 MPG.
Take a look at all the details in the video below.
