I'll be honest, I was a bit skeptical when I first got behind the wheel of the 2022 chevy silverado 2. 7 turbo . Just like a lot of truck guys, I grew up convinced that if a full-size pickup didn't have at least eight cylinders underneath the hood, it wasn't really a "real" truck. The idea of a four-cylinder powering a massive Silverado felt a little like bringing a knife to some gunfight. But after spending some quality time by it, I realized that my old-school bias was holding me back from some pretty impressive tech.
The 2022 model year was actually a massive turning point for the Silverado. Chevy didn't just give it a facelift; they completely overhauled the 2. 7L engine and, moreover, fixed the interior—which was the one thing everyone had been complaining about for years.
More Than Just a "Small" Engine
If you just look at the displacement, 2. 7 liters sounds tiny for a vehicle this size. However, this isn't the same four-cylinder you'd find inside a Malibu. For the 2022 refresh, Chevy gave this engine a "High-Output" designation, plus they weren't kidding. They beefed up the block and refined the turbo setup to deliver a staggering 430 lb-ft of torque .
To put that in perspective, that's more torque than the 5. 3L V8 offers. Let that sink in for a second. While the V8 might have that classic rumble we all like, the 2. 7 turbo delivers its power much lower in the rev range. You don't have to floor it and wait for the transmission to downshift three times to get moving. You just tap the gas, the turbo spoils up almost instantly, and the truck lunges forward with surprising urgency.
The 2022 Refresh Was obviously a Game Changer
If you're looking at a 2022 chevy silverado 2. 7 turbo , you need to be sure you know which version you're getting. Chevy actually sold two versions of the Silverado that year: the "LTD" (which was basically the old 2021 style) and the "New" refreshed model.
If you get the refreshed version (LT trim and up), you get a cabin that finally feels like it belongs in the 21st century. We're talking about a massive 13. 4-inch touchscreen that's tilted toward the driver and a fully digital gauge cluster. It makes the old interior look like something out of a base-model work truck from 2010. The two. 7 turbo fits this modern vibe perfectly. It feels tech-forward, quiet, and efficient—well, efficient for a brick on wheels.
How It Handles Daily Life
Driving the two. 7 turbo around town is actually a lot of fun. Because the engine is significantly lighter than the V8 or the Duramax diesel, front side end of the truck feels a bit more nimble. It doesn't feel quite as "nose-heavy" when you're taking corners or navigating a tight parking lot.
The 8-speed automatic transmission paired with this engine is normally pretty smooth. There have been some complaints about the sooner versions of this gearbox, but by 2022, Chevy seemed to have ironed out most of the clunky shifts. It's tuned to take advantage of that low-end torque, so it doesn't look for gears as much as you'd expect.
Fuel Economy: The Reality Check
One of the biggest reasons people look at the 2022 chevy silverado 2. 7 turbo is the promise of better gas mileage. While it is better than the V8, don't expect Prius numbers. In the real-world, I found that if you have a light foot, you can easily see 20-22 mpg on the highway.
However—and this is a big however—turbos are thirsty when they're working hard. If you're heavy on the pedal or constantly boosting around town, those numbers will drop quickly. The benefit isn't necessarily a massive jump in MPG, but rather a far more balanced approach to power and consumption. Plus, it's often cheaper to buy upfront than the diesel or the 6. 2L V8.
Can It Actually Tow?
This is the question everyone asks. "Sure, it's fast off the line, but will it pull a trailer? " The short answer is yes. For the 2022 model, the towing convenience of the 2. 7 turbo was bumped up to about 9, 500 pounds (depending on your own specific configuration).
Now, would I want to tow 9, 000 pounds on the Rockies every single day using a four-cylinder? Probably not. That's what the Duramax is perfect for. But for the average guy who hooks up a couple of ATVs, a small motorboat, or an utility trailer for a weekend project, it's sufficient. The truck doesn't feel strained under moderate loads because, again, that 430 lb-ft of torque is doing the heavy lifting. It stays composed, and the cooling system is robust enough that you won't see the temp needle climbing just because you hit a hill.
Addressing the "Four-Cylinder Stigma"
Let's talk about the elephant within the room: the sound. If you buy a truck because you want that deep, guttural V8 growl, the 2022 chevy silverado 2. 7 turbo is going to disappoint you. It sounds like well, a modern turbocharged engine. It's got a bit of a whir into it, and at idle, it's very quiet.
Some people hate that. They feel like a truck should sound "tough. " But honestly, after a long day at work, I kind of appreciated how quiet the cabin was. It's less fatiguing on long highway drives. You don't have that constant drone within the background. It's a trade-off, but for a daily driver, it's a trade-off I'm willing to make.
Reliability Concerns
Could it be going to last 300, 000 miles? That's the million-dollar question. Since this engine is relatively new compared to the ancient (but proven) Small Block V8, some folks are nervous about long-term reliability.
Chevy built this thing with some serious heavy-duty parts, though. They have a fully forged steel crankshaft and toughened internals because they knew it would be under high pressure. By 2022, that they had already been running this engine for a few years in previous models, and haven't seen any massive "sky is falling" type failures. Like any turbo engine, the key is strictly following the maintenance schedule—especially oil changes. Turbos hate dirty oil.
Who Is This Truck For?
After spending time analyzing who actually buys the 2022 chevy silverado 2. 7 turbo , it's clear it hits a sweet spot for a specific kind of owner.
- The Suburban Commuter: If you want a truck for the ride height, the bed space, and the occasional Home Depot run, but you spend 90% of your time in traffic, this is your engine.
- The Tech-Lover: If you want that gorgeous new 13. 4-inch screen but don't want to pay the $60k+ price tag that usually comes with the bigger engines.
- The Weekend Warrior: When you have a small boat or a pop-up camper, this truck will handle it without breaking a sweat.
If you're a commercial hauler or someone who lives to hear their exhaust echo off buildings, you'll probably still want the V8. And that's fine. But for everyone else, the 2. 7 turbo is legitimately a smart choice.
So, What's the Final Verdict?
The 2022 chevy silverado 2. 7 turbo isn't just a "compromise" engine. It's a sophisticated, torquey, and surprisingly capable powertrain that happens to reside in one of the best-looking truck bodies on the market.
It required a minute to get beyond the "four-cylinder" label, but once you feel that torque kick in at 1, 500 RPM, the cylinder count starts to matter a whole lot less. It's snappy, it's modern, and it proves that Chevy's engineers were actually onto something. If you're shopping for an used truck and you see one of these on the lot, don't just walk past it. Get it for a test drive, floor it on an on-ramp, and see if it doesn't change your mind, too. You may just find that you don't miss those extra four cylinders as much as you thought you would.