Works hard + Saves fuel = 2025 Chevrolet Silverado with 3.0L Duramax

It was an interesting comparison.

Two new full-sized Chevrolet pickup trucks. One week with a pure electric pickup, the Chevrolet Silverado EV, followed by one with a diesel.

Both were driven more than 800 kilometres to/from and through the city, the majority on the highway. The electric truck had a lot going for it – a more modern interior, a load of extra features thanks to the available electricity and a lower operating cost.

It might well have been the clear winner, had it not been for factors outside of the vehicle itself.

Electric vehicles require extra commitment and patience

There were four stops to recharge the batteries.

Two of them required more than an hour sitting while plugged into a 50 kWh Flo station.

Another was at a PetroCan site that was not working and the fourth at a new 180 kW NS Power site where, once again, waiting was the problem – 22 minutes in line before I got to plug in and receive a much faster charge.

That’s a total of almost five hours for less than 800 kilometres of distance.

One week and another 800 kilometres later, I pulled into the same PetroCan station, but this time at the diesel pump.

Eight minutes later, I drove away with a full tank and more than 1,000 km of range. Winner!

Unless you have access to a Level 2 home charger and can plug in overnight, and the infrastructure improves both in terms of reliability and availability, electric vehicles require extra commitment and patience.

I say that after driving – and enjoying – more than a dozen different electric vehicles.

The Silverado with the 3.0L I6 diesel engine is the clear choice if you care about operating costs or capability

Diesel pickups make perfect sense, especially if you are concerned about operating costs and the ability to do some serious work.

I just finished a week with a brand new full-zoot Chevy Silverado High Country pickup with a 3.0 litre inline six-cylinder under the hood.

The 2025 Silverado is available with four, six and eight-cylinder engines.

Upper trim levels – the ones people actually buy – come with either a 5.3 or 6.0 litre V8. The tester, in High Country trim comes with the 5.3 V8 as standard equipment.

The 3.0-litre Duramax diesel is a $1,195 option.

The numbers show the diesel is the clear choice if you care about operating costs or capability.

Fuel mileage of the Chevrolet Silverado High Country with the 3.0L Diesel

Natural Resources Canada rates the High Country with the 5.3 V8 at 15.2 litres/100 km in the city and 12.4 on the highway. It rates the diesel at 10.7 and 9.3 respectively.

The combined ratings are 13.9 for the V8 and 10.1 for the diesel. That’s a 30% difference.

Factoring in the higher cost of diesel fuel nationally, Natural Resources Canada says the operating costs per year for the 5.3 V8 is $4,309 while the diesel comes in at $3,030.

It doesn’t take an advanced degree in math to see the $1,195 added cost for the diesel is recovered within the first year.

Now let’s factor in the difference in power and performance between the Silverado with the 3.0L diesel and the Silverado powered by the 5.3 V8

Power is defined as torque – a measured quantity. Horsepower is the result of a calculation based on torque.

Torque gets you up to speed and determines hauling ability.

Horsepower helps to reach and maintain high speed.

Bull dozers and big tractor trailers boast massive amounts of torque and very little horsepower. Think of it this way – torque gets you off the line and up to speed while a horsepower determines how much you can exceed the legal speed limits.

Brag about horsepower, use torque.

The 5.3 litre V8 produces 383 lb. ft. of torque, peaking at 4,100 rpm. The smaller diesel belts out 495 lb. ft. of torque at 2,750 rpm. The optional 6.0-litre V8 also trails the diesel with 460 lb. ft. and you must rev the engine to 4,100 to achieve that.

A simple prod of the right-side pedal and you know right away this is a diesel.

And modern diesels are clean and quiet in addition to efficient – and available on 7 of 10 Silverado models

The diesel has more power than the biggest V8 and better fuel economy than the base four-cylinder model. You don’t have to opt for the high-end trim levels to get the diesel. It is available on seven of the 10 Silverado trim levels.

Supremely quiet cruising along at barely above idle, there is little sense this same drivetrain can make little work out of towing something substantial – while sipping fuel.

The 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew High Country equipped with the 3.0L diesel engine provides the power to work hard with the fuel mileage of a mid-size SUV.

FACTS & FIGURES – 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew High Country 4WD

PRICE

Base: $84,399

As tested: $103,533 including freight

SAFETY

Enhanced automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, following distance indicator, LED headlights with automatic high beams, HD surround vision, trailer blind side zone alert, front and rear park assist, Stabilitrak with trailer sway control

INFOTAINMENT

30-cm colour touchscreen, Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Premium with built- in Google compatibility, including nav, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bose premium sound system, OnStar basics, Vehicle data plan for WiFi-in-vehicle aps, satellite radio, wireless charging

STANDARD EQUIPMENT

Auto locking rear differential, trailering package with hitch guidance, trailer brake controller, keyless open, lock and start, universal home remote, 120-volt outlets in instrument panel and cargo bed, heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats, driver seat and mirror memory, adaptive cruise control, spray-on bedliner, auto-dimming power folding and heated mirrors, power sliding rear window

OPTIONS

Midnight edition (black badges, exhaust tips, front recovery hooks, power retractable assist steps,) $2,750; Technology package (rear camera mirror, 33-cm multicolour heads-up display), $1,620; High Country Premium package, (power sunroof, all-season tires, all-weather floor liners), $870; 22-in multi-spoke gloss black wheels, $4,190; SuperCruise, $2,495; tri-fold hard tonneau cover, $1,395; 3.0 litre Duramax diesel engine, $1,195; adaptive ride control, $1,080; multi-flex tailgate, $325

MECHANICAL

Turbocharged 3.0-litre diesel V8, 305-horsepower, 495 lb. ft. of torque. 10-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel-drive with two-speed transfer case, NRCan rating (litres/100km city/highway):10.7/9.3

DIMENSIONS

Length, 5,890-mm; wheelbase, 3,745-mm; width, 2,063-mm; weight, 2,533-kg

COMPETITION

Ford F-150 Platinum, GMC Sierra Denali, Ram 1500 Limited