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We don’t have to pity a truck with a humble four-cylinder engine anymore. General Motors’ corporate twins the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are the only two full-size trucks that can be ordered with a four-cylinder motor. But, the four cylinder beats the GM 5.3-liter V8 in one key measurement that truck people care about: torque. While the four cylinder weighs less and gets better gas mileage, it twists harder than the 5.3. The V8 makes 383 pound-feet, while the four cylinder makes 430 pound-feet. That’s significant for when you’re towing. Sure, the V8 makes more horsepower, but only 45 more horses propel the V8 truck.

For 2022 General Motors enhanced the 2.7-liter four cylinder. The 2021 and earlier versions of the 2.7-liter made 348 pound-feet of torque. It is now the standard engine in the Work Truck, Custom, Custom Trail Boss and LT truck trims.  

Is the 2.7-liter turbo a good truck engine?

2022 Chevy Silverado Work Truck comes standard as a 4 cylinder Silverado.
2022 Chevy Silverado Work Truck | Chevrolet

The base Sierra and Silverado can be ordered with a new 2.7-liter four cylinder. The engines make 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. The trucks with four cylinders are rated at 19 miles per gallon in the city, and 22 on the highway for the two-wheel drive version.

For comparison, just 10 years ago the big V8 option in the same trucks made 315 horsepower, and far-less torque at just 335 pound-feet. And, just 10 years ago, the trucks were rated at 15 miles-per-gallon in the city and just 21 on the highway. That’s an improvement that will save you a lot at the pump.

Power and fuel economy make the four an attractive option

Trucks are measured on torque, and four cylinder Silverado and Sierra can tow

In your sports car you want horsepower for going fast. In your truck you want torque for towing and hauling. The Silverado can tow 7,200 pounds and haul 2,280 pounds of payload when equipped with the 2.7-liter four. That’s enough for most jobs.

Of course the Ford F-150 with the smallest 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 can tow 8,500 pounds. That truck is rated at 20 mpg in the city, and 26 mpg on the highway.

What else is new in ’22?

2022 4 cylinder Silverado interior
2022 Chevrolet Silverado LT interior

There’s a lot to like about the new 2022 GM trucks. The trucks were redesigned for 2022 and the eagle-eyed can spot them in a rear-view mirror easily by the new high-waisted grille. Inside, the trucks also have new interiors and larger standard touchscreens.

While the four cylinder Silverado and Sierra are impressive, the 2022 GM twins can be ordered with two different V8s, including the 6.2 liter V8 with a 10-speed automatic or the 5.3-liter V8, as well as a 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-Diesel.

What’s the difference between a Sierra and a Silverado?

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate full-size premium pickup truck parked on the driveway plaza of a luxury forest home
2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate | GMC

There’s not much difference between a Sierra and a Silverado. The Sierra is the more-stately version of the two. While it looks an awful lot like the Silverado, it can be upgraded to a Denali (though not with the four-cylinder) that brings leather, big digital screens and power everything. GMC also sells the the AT4X version that is the off-road package, which has a lift and the special Multimatic shocks, but again, not with the four cylinder.

The trucks are basically the same, but they have slightly different options packages and interior trim.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.