Does the Chevy Silverado Come with a Diesel Engine?

For years, Chevrolet has been creating new and innovative automobiles for the world, and trucks have been a prominent part of their creations. One such truck is the Chevrolet Silverado, which has been a very popular truck through the years, thanks to its immense power and impressive off-roading and towing capabilities. Many of Chevy’s customers value engine power above all else, so the question to ask now is whether or not the Silverado comes with a diesel engine.

The Chevy Silverado 1500 and the Silverado 3500 have diesel engines. However, the Chevy Silverado only has a diesel engine option with certain trim packages: the LT, LTZ, RST, and the High Country. The Chevy Silverado 3500 has a diesel engine option available for all trim packages.

Now you understand that a diesel engine is an option for the Chevy Silverado, you might want to know a little more about what else you will be getting with a Chevy Silverado. We will go over the pros and cons of both the 1500 and 3500 models, both of which offer diesel engines. Hopefully, this newfound info will help you to decide which truck is perfect for you!

Silverado 1500: Pros and Cons

While the various Silverados are not drastically different, they do still have some differences. The Silverado 1500 came before the 3500, and to this day, it still serves the population extremely well. Here are a few things you ought to know about the Silverado 1500 that will help you decide which truck is best for you:

Pros

We can’t start without mentioning the sheer power of the Silverado 1500. This truck has a powerful V8 engine that enables it to tow immensely heavy loads with little difficulty. It also comes equipped with strong, 20-inch wheels and a trailering package that makes trailering incredibly easy, even for inexperienced drivers.

So, why is a diesel engine an important option? Diesel engines are stronger have better fuel economy than gas engines. The Silverado 1500 gets an impressive 23 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. If you value fuel efficiency above all else, you will not do better than a Silverado 1500.

The cabin is quite spacious and plenty comfortable, as well. Some of the designs are older, but that makes the truck no less effective, nor the cabin any less relaxing and comfortable. Plus, the higher the trim level you pay for, the more luxurious the features will be.

Cons

Unfortunately, the Silverado 1500 has its quirks as well as its strengths. All Silverado trucks were built to withstand even the toughest terrains and the roughest elements that mother nature has to offer. However, though it is indeed capable of doing so, it does not do so with elegance. The ride quality can be extremely harsh in a 1500 model.

In addition, the Silverado 1500 has somewhat outdated materials and technology systems. This may not seem like a huge deal, but the problem is that its competitors are ahead of them in the tech game. The driver assists are not poor, but they could easily be upgraded.

Silverado 3500: Pros and Cons

Not to be left behind or outdone, there is the Silverado 3500. This truck is, like its predecessor, an extremely powerful vehicle that has plenty of off-roading and towing capabilities as well as new and improved technology. There are plenty of pros and cons to the 3500 that are important to know, and here are a few of them:

Pros

Just as with the Silverado 1500, we should talk about the 3500’s power and towing capabilities. The 3500 is powerful enough to tow up to 36,000 pounds and freeload up to 7,500 pounds. This means you cannot only tow a camper or trailer or anything else you may fancy, but you can also load your truck up with all the heavy gear you want. That right there can be extremely hard to come by.

If a diesel engine is what you are after, then you will not be disappointed with the 3500. As mentioned earlier, the 1500 does have diesel engine options with some of its trim packages, but the 3500 has diesel engine options with all of the trim packages. This gives you a larger variety to choose from, which a lot of people value.

The Silverado 3500 is, in a word, enormous, so it makes sense that it has power behind it. Thankfully, a lot of space comes with that power and makes it a lot easier for passengers to be comfortable in it. There are more than 40 inches of legroom in the back row and several inches of head and shoulder room up in the front as well. If comfort is what you’re going for, you cannot do much better than the 3500.

With all that legroom, adults will fit perfectly fine in the back without being uncomfortable. Additionally, with that much room, you won’t have any trouble fitting car seats for your little ones in the back either. These can be tricky, so it’s nice when you have a car big enough to accommodate all of them.

Cons

Sadly, there are quite a few cons to be considered here as well. First of all, there’s the price. The starting price is usually $36,000, and that’s without any kind of trim. Trims will add on to the price tag, so you will have to account for all of that as well. If you have the budget, then go for it by all means, but if you’re looking for something a little less costly, this is probably not the truck for you.

Additionally, the hood of the Chevy Silverado 3500 is bulky and somewhat difficult to see over, so your visibility of the road will be hindered. While being high up has advantages, it can also be unsettling to not be able to see the path ahead of you. Whether this is a huge problem or not, however, is really a matter of personal preference.