GM Details 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra’s 5.3-Liter V-8 Engine

When GM debuted the all-new full-size Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups late last year, it outlined a bevy of changes and updates—everything, that is, except power figures for the trucks’ equally new small-block V-8s and small-block-derived V-6 engines. When it goes on sale later this year, the Silverado and the Sierra will offer a 4.3-liter V-6, a 5.3-liter V-8, and a 6.2-liter V-8. Chevy finally has released output figures and EPA fuel-economy ratings for the mid-level, 5.3-liter V-8. Info on the other two engines will be released later.
A member of GM’s latest small-block engine family, the 2014 Silverado and Sierra’s 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V-8 will produce an impressive 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. The outgoing trucks’ 5.3-liter V-8, by comparison, produces a measly 315 ponies and 335 lb-ft of twist. Thanks to the 2014 trucks’ aero tweaks and the new mill’s direct injection, cylinder deactivation, and continuously variable valve timing, two-wheel-drive rigs so equipped are EPA-rated for 16 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway. With four-wheel drive, the 5.3-liter-powered Silverado and Sierra’s fuel economy drop just 1 mpg on the highway—the city figures are identical.
The GM trucks’ efficiency numbers are the highest of any V-8–powered, full-size pickup, and even edge out Ford’s V-6–powered F-150s, including the twin-turbo, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 model. Both V-6 F-150s top out at 16/22 with two-wheel drive and 15/21 with four driven wheels. In fact, the only full-size pickup more efficient than the 5.3-liter-equipped GM trucks is Ram’s updated 2013 1500, which, in V-6 guise, comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission and is EPA-rated for 17/25 with rear-drive and 16/23 with four-wheel drive. The four-wheel-drive 1500 with the top-dog 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 and the optional eight-speed auto is roughly more equivalent to the new Chevy in performance and cylinder count, and comes closest to the bow tie’s figures, netting a 15/21 EPA certification.

• Instrumented Test: 2013 Ram 1500 SLT V6 8-Speed Automatic
• Instrumented Test: 2013 Ford F-150 Limited SuperCrew 4×4 EcoBoost V-6
• Instrumented Test: 2013 GMC Terrain V-6 AWD

As it stands, the Silverado and the Sierra have the jump on the rest of the full-size pickup market for fuel economy, although in terms of pure horsepower, the trucks are down on power compared to Ford’s EcoBoost V-6 and its 5.0-liter V-8, as well as Ram’s 5.7-liter Hemi V-8. But that power imbalance might change when the GM twins’ more powerful, 6.2-liter V-8 arrives later this year.


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