2020 Chevy Silverado: Diesel or Gasoline?
Last year Chevrolet joined the ranks diesel-driven light-duty trucks.
And, the Duramax diesel Silverado claimed the best fuel economy for this popular class of trucks. So we were waiting for our chance to drive it and compare it to the gasoline model: the 2020 Chevy Silverado Diesel LTZ and the 2020 Silverado High Country. These are both beautiful trucks, built on the same frame, and the diesel and gas models come with the same appearance and performance options. So, we’ll talk not only about the different engines, but the appearance packages, too.
Related: Should You Buy a Diesel Vehicle? Pros, Cons and What You Need To Know
2020 Chevy Silverado: Gas vs Diesel
Right now, in our small town, regular unleaded gas is about $1.29 per gallon. Diesel is averaging $1.99 per gallon. That’s quite a difference in price, especially when you’re buying it for a truck that has a 24-gallon fuel tank. But, what if we told you the gasoline engine only 16-22 miles per gallon with a range of approx. 340 miles per tank, while the diesel version gets 23-33 miles per gallon for a range of 668 miles on a single tank of fuel?
Yeah. The diesel is way more fuel-efficient. But, you’ll pay extra for the truck at the get-go, and extra for the fuel. So, is it worth it?
To make this decision ask yourself:
- Is diesel readily available in my area?
- When fuel prices fluctuate as they are prone to do, will the difference in price stay the same, or vary a lot?
- Do I even like diesel trucks?
- What about engine life?
- What appearance package do I want? (the diesel engine isn’t available on the lower models)
A lot of people are huge fans of the Duramax diesel engines that Chevrolet puts in their trucks. They have a reputation for long life. And in general, diesel trucks are known to last longer and be better for hauling and towing. We do have to note tho, that Chevy took light-duty to heart with its diesel truck and this engine configuration has the least horsepower, torque and towing capacity of the 5 engine options Chevy offers. So, you do compromise a bit with the truck, but so long as it can do everything you require of it, there’s really no downside, right?
After driving both versions back to back we felt the diesel would be our choice, hands down. We liked the way the truck drove, the pickup it had, and that little gauge on the dash congratulating us on our excellent fuel economy in a Z71, 4-wheel drive off-road truck didn’t hurt either. 😉
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Now, Let’s Talk About Appearance and Performances Packages, AKA How Much Does it All Cost?
The base price for a 2020 Chevy Silverado is $49,000. Every truck starts here, with engine choice and appearance packages chosen affecting the starting price of that model. On top of appearance packages you can add customization in the form of accessories. So, the total cost of your truck could be more or less than what you see here. In this case, even tho the High Country is the premium trim, the Z71 off-road equipped LTZ came in with a higher price tag thanks to the addition of some off-road equipment.
Chevrolet offers the 2020 Silverado in eight different trim choices, with their luxurious High Country trim setting the bar pretty high. The truck with this trim level starts at $56,500. The truck as pictured above (brown truck) runs $61,065 thanks to some add-ons that include an extra technology package with nicer cameras for trailing, a heads up display (HUD), and a bed-view camera, plus a safety package with things like forward collision alert, lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, auto-high beams, adaptive cruise, and an alert that reminds you of passengers in the backseat.
The blue 2020 Chevrolet Silverado LTZ Z71 we drove was pretty slick too. We felt the appearance package on this one suited our active lifestyle a lot better, without sacrificing any of the technology, safety features, or comfort. This truck came with all-weather mats inside and a nice bedliner. It also felt just a little less “fancy” upfront and like it would hold up to daily use better. The LTZ premium package added things like leather heated/cooled seats, rear sliding window, 8″ touch screen with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, Bose premium sound system, wireless device charging, park assist, lane change and blind-spot alert, cross-traffic and collision alerts, lane keep assist, auto high beams and adaptive cruise, as well as a power sunroof, 20″ polished wheels. This truck also had the Duramax 3L Turbo-diesel engine, added technology package with better cameras, a heads up display, and a bed-view camera. And they just kept going with the Z71 off-road package which includes better shocks, skid plates, hill descent control, better air filters, special badging, dual exhaust with polished tips (so pretty!), all-terrain tires, all-weather floor mats, and a spray-on bed liner. The total for all of this came to $62,020.
What You Need to Know About the Base Model of the 2020 Chevy Silverado
- Starting price: $49,000
- 3 year / 36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
- 5 year / 100,000 mile powertrain warranty
- Onstar and 4G Wifi Available
- SiriusXM radio capable
- 120V power outlet in the bed and front instrument panel
- Keyless open, lock and start
- Remote start
- Rear seat reminder
- Dual-zone climate control
- 10-way power seats with lumbar controls
- Rear 60/40 folding seats with storage
- Driver sear and mirror memory
- Heater and leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls
- Corner-step rear bumper
- Rail protectors on the bed and 12 fixed tie-downs
- LED lighting
- Power folding and heated mirrors
- Read window defogger
- Front recovery hooks
Know your options when it comes to light-duty diesel trucks. Check out the 2020 Ram 1500 Eco-Diesel Pickup Truck: Eco and Family Friendly
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What We Love About These Trucks
While the base model of the Silverado is pretty basic, it does come with some nice features. A few of our favorites are the corner-step rear bumper which makes getting in and out of the bed a breeze. We also love that LED lighting comes standard. And, the storage in the back seats is pretty slick.
Of the add-ons we got to experience, we loved the spray-in bed liner, all-weather mats, Android Auto and Apple Car Play, Bose premium sound, power up and down tailgate (Seriously, you push a button and the tailgate opens and closes on its own. Game changer!) and the air-conditioned front seats. We are in Texas after all. We were also partial to the North sky Blue Metallic paint job on the LTZ we drove.
One huge difference in the two trucks we drove (aside from the engine!) was the bed length. The Diesel LTZ had a regular bed, while the High Country sported the short bed. We preferred the longer bed. It was a lot more practical. Unless you’re strapped for space in your garage I have no idea why you’d choose an extra short bed on a pickup. There. I said it.
What Do You Think? Chevy Silverado Diesel or Gas?
With so many options from the engine to performance and appearance, the Silverado really is a build-your-own truck. How would you customize your 2020 Chevrolet Silverado?
Disclaimer: Chevrolet sent me these trucks, one each week for two weeks so that I could drive them each for a week and compare them and how they would work for a family like ours. All opinions are my own.
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