Largely because of the strength and refinement of the new EcoTec3 V-6, sales of V-6 Silverados account for 20 percent of light-duty pickup sales, up from about 5 percent for the previous model.
1) Purpose built for pickup use, with class-leading standard torque and towing
The Silverado standard 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 has one purpose – providing budget-conscious pickup customers a great standard engine. Its large 4.3-liter displacement provides class-leading torque (305 lb-ft) and available towing (7,600 lbs.) for a standard V-6, while its aluminum cylinder heads and block saves weight. Its ability to operate on four cylinders under lighter loads helps improve fuel efficiency.
2) For many returning customers, comparable performance with much better economy
The average age of a full-size pickup on the road is about 10.4 years. Owners of these trucks coming back into the market will find Silverado’s new EcoTec3 V-6 performs comparably to the V-8 engines powering many of their trucks, and with significantly improved fuel economy.