Chevy's 2019 Silverado with 4-cylinder engine rated at 21 mpg combined

DETROIT -- The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado with a new four-cylinder engine will achieve an EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined, or 20 city/23 highway.

The ratings, for rear-wheel-drive models, are not much better than the fuel economy of the redesigned pickup's 5.3-liter V-8 engine, which offers 19 mpg combined (17 city/23 highway), according to the EPA's website.

The 2019 Silverado 4x4 models with the four-cylinder engine will achieve 20 mpg combined, or 19 city/22 highway.

The fuel efficiency of the Silverado's 2.7-liter turbo engine, which is standard on midlevel LT and RST models, is in line with other entry-level truck engines from Ford Motor Co. (3.3-liter V-6) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (3.6-liter V-6 with a light hybrid system) that offer 22 mpg combined. Those engines, however, offer up to 25 mpg highway.

The engine, according to GM, offers 14 percent more torque and 13 percent better city fuel economy. It is rated at 310 hp and 348 pound-feet of torque and is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

"It's fun to drive every day -- quick from the start, and pulling hard under acceleration," Tim Asoklis, chief engineer for the Silverado, said in a statement Wednesday.

The four-cylinder engine, as reported, will offer maximum towing capacity of 7,200 pounds and a 2,280-pound maximum payload. The payload is up to 600 pounds better than comparable models from Ford and Ram, but the tow rating is up to 200 pounds less.

The Silverado LT starts at $38,395 with the four-cylinder engine with a double cab and standard bed. The same RST model starts at $40,295. It's $2,400 more for each of the models with a short bed and crew cab, which makes up a majority of U.S. pickup sales. All pricing includes shipping.

The 2019 Silverado will be offered in eight trims paired with six engine/transmission combinations. Models with V-8 engines are already on sale.

The four-cylinder models are expected to begin arriving in dealers by the end of the year.

It's unclear whether the redesigned GMC Sierra, the Silverado's sibling, will offer the same fuel economy. Some of the V-8 models in the Sierra offer slightly different fuel efficiency compared to the Silverado.