GM 2.7 Turbo vs EcoBoost: The Ford vs Chevy Battle Continues
When it comes to the increasing move towards smaller displacement turbocharged engines, particularly in pickups and SUVs, Ford’s EcoBoost engines have taken much of the spotlight.
But GM has also been hard at work introducing turbocharged engines to its lineup, including a brand new 2.7L turbocharged four-cylinder that debuted in the 2019 Silverado as an alternative to the naturally aspirated V6.
Given the on-going fight between Ford and GM, we thought now would be a good time to take a quick look at the GM 2.7 turbo engines and see how it compares to its two closest EcoBoost rivals from Ford.
Chevy 2.7L Turbo: The Basics
When Chevy introduced the 2.7L turbo in the 2019 Silverado, the marketing stressed the superiority of the turbo four over the 4.3L V6. With 310 horsepower and an even more impressive 348 pound feet of torque on tap, the 2.7 not only handily outperformed the 4.3 V6, it also outperforms many V8s from not too long ago.
Of course the move to a turbo engines wasn’t just to improve horsepower and torque, it was also to improve fuel economy with Chevy claiming a 13% increase in city fuel economy when compared to the 4.3 V6—at least in terms of EPA ratings.
Not only that, but modern turbocharged engines are known for having more torque down low when compared to naturally aspirated engines, and in a full-size pickup that is a big deal.
Interestingly, GM has also used the 2.7 turbo engine in the Cadillac CT4V performance sedan where its been re-tuned to make an even more impressive 325 horsepower and 380 pound feet of torque. That goes to show that while the engine was developed for truck use, it should have potential in other segments as well.
Chevy 2.7L Turbo vs Ford 2.3L EcoBoost
When compared to the Ford EcoBoost, there are actually two different engines the 2.7 turbo should be compared to, with the GM engine straddling the difference between the two. First is the 2.3 Ford EcoBoost four-cylinder engine.
If you needed a refresher on the 2.3 EcoBoost, it powers a variety of Ford cars and trucks including the Ranger pickup, the Explorer SUV, the Mustang and the lower trim versions of the upcoming Ford Bronco 4x4.
While it has the same number of cylinders as the 2.7, the 2.3’s smaller displacement naturally means less power and torque. In the Ranger, for example the 2.3 makes 270 horsepower and 310 pound feet of torque, down 40 horsepower and nearly 40 pound feet from the larger Chevy engine.
On the other hand, because its in smaller, lighter vehicles the 2.3 doesn’t need to make as much power, and Ford has larger EcoBoost engines to power its full size offerings like the F-150.
Chevy 2.7 Turbo vs Ford 2.7 EcoBoost
Looking at pure displacement vs displacement, the 2.7 Ford EcoBoost is a natural rival for Chevy’s own 2.7, but there are some major differences—among them the number of cylinders, with Ford’s 2.7 being a V6 rather than an in-line four.
The Ford EcoBoost 2.7 also has two turbochargers rather than one, and in the current F-150 it makes 325 horsepower and 400 pound feet of torque. As you can see, the horsepower figures aren’t too far apart but the Ford V6 has a significant advantage in torque.
Whether its Ford or GM, it’s been fascinating to watch the options for turbocharged gasoline pickup engines to grow and grow alongside their proven V8 and turbodiesel counterparts. This battle just seems to be getting started.
At the moment, while GM’s 2.7 liter turbo four cylinder hasn’t been around as long or used in as many vehicles as Ford’s EcoBoost engines, it has shown great potential thus far. We’d love to see it not just used in more performance-oriented offerings but also as a crate engine package for restomod projects.
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