I agree, XRP,
My wife has the 4.8 in her '00 extracab 4x, and it really moves out (when needed), and averages 18 mpg. Its still a 250hp or so engine. Unlike the other brands we test drove, it can highway pass more easily without needing to kick down a gear. It can chug up modest grades and hold speed at 1200 rpm. If I towed over 3500# often with it, I may prefer the 5.3, but my 6.5 td does our towing.
I like the way the new chevy engine is layed out clean, alum heads and cast oilpan. Its not like the old days where the AClines, heater, tranny cooler, etc all overlapped each other into a nasty, hard-to-service mess. Couldn't be more happy with it after two years now.