How to Get the Best 0 to 60 Times with the Four-Cylinder 2019 Silverado

Every possible drivetrain configuration of the turbocharged Silverado is tested, including sport mode and traction control.

The folks at TFLTruck recently got their hands on a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado with the new turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Along with their normal testing, the team put the new Chevy to the test to see how quickly they could get the big truck with a tiny engine to sprint from 0 to 60. This is the only half-ton truck on the market powered by a four-cylinder engine, so many people have wondered how it will perform in such a large vehicle.

As we see in the video above from the TFLnow YouTube channel, the turbocharged four-cylinder Silverado moves out pretty well, but you need to push a few buttons to get the best performance numbers.

Half-Ton Turbo-Four

While some people may scoff at the idea of a half-ton truck with a four-cylinder engine, skeptics should focus more on the power numbers and less on the number of cylinders. The turbocharged 2.7-liter I4 in the new Silverado offers 310 horsepower and 348 lb-ft of torque, with that power being sent to the wheels by means of an 8-speed automatic transmission. For comparison, the 5.3-liter V8 in the 2013 Silverado offered 315 horsepower and 335 lb-ft of torque, so it wasn’t long ago that V8 engines were delivering similar power to the new Chevy turbo-four.

In the long run, this small engine was introduced for its ability to yield solid fuel economy numbers, but as the video above shows, it is far from slow.

0 to 60 Testing

In the video above, the team from TFLTruck tests the new Silverado 1500 with the turbocharged I4 in rear-wheel-drive mode, along with four-wheel-drive high and auto modes. The driver also makes runs with and without Sport mode, as well as running with and without traction control.

On the first run, the truck is in rear-drive mode, without Sport mode with traction control on, and it turns in a respectable 8.07. When he switches to four-wheel-drive with the hopes of better launch traction, the truck slows down to 8.62 seconds, at which point he switches to four-wheel-drive auto mode. This four-wheel-drive mode is a touch quicker, running an 8.29.

Next, he engages Sport mode, starting with the truck in rear-wheel-drive mode. Oddly, the Silverado takes 8.63 seconds, so it was significantly slower in Sport mode. At that point, he turns off traction control and he immediately learns that it launches with more engine speed, allowing the big Chevy to get to 60 in 7.85 seconds.

The test driver then switches to four-wheel-drive high with the traction control off and Sport mode engaged. This allows the hardest launch forces with the most engine speed, leading to a run of 7.84 seconds and on the final run, all of the settings are the same and on this attempt, the Silverado gets to 60 in 7.66 seconds.

So if you want to go drag racing with your 2019 Chevrolet Silverado with the turbocharged four-cylinder engine, you want to launch in four-wheel-drive high with Sport mode on and traction control off.

Crank up your speakers and enjoy!

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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