Up until fairly recently, the maximum horsepower you could get with the 3.0L Duramax inline-six engine was 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. While that does either outshine or remain competitive with the aforementioned Ford Super Duty and Ram EcoDiesel engines, the 2023 model year saw quite the increase. Now, these Duramax engines are able to max out at 305 horsepower and 495 pound-feet of torque.
GM has also been able to massively increase the engine’s towing capabilities, increasing its maximum weight from 9,500 pounds in a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 to a whopping 13,300 pounds. The one place this newest iteration took a tiny step back was in its highway mileage, though the combined mileage ultimately remained consistent, with an average of 26 mph for a 2WD model. From just about every metric, it stands as the powerhouse among diesel engines.
You won’t be able to get this engine on base models of the Chevy Silverado 1500 or GMC Sierra 1500, but certain packages have the Duramax either standard or an option, such as the Silverado RST or Sierra AT4. These will tend to be packages intended to up performance, improve off-roading, or designed for hauling, where diesel fuel is more practical.
It should be noted that diesel engines have started drifting away as companies continue to favor investing in electric vehicle technology and hybrid drivetrains. For example, Ram ceased production on its EcoDiesel engine, so if you have your sights set on a truck of SUV with a diesel, it’s a good thing that GM continues to invest in and improve its Duramax. Considering it can power two of the 10 best-selling vehicles in the United States, it behooves GM to keep it up for now.
