Real Life MPG 5.3 / 6.2

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

OP
OP
X

xycrazy

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2022
Posts
222
Reaction score
89
These new gens are terrible compared to last. I have a Tahoe Z71 6.2 and it gets about 10-11 city driving and that is driving very conservative. My 6.2 18 Denali XL 4wd got a consistent 17mpg around town. I’m not sure what they did to make the mpg worse then last gen, only thing I can figure is they are way heavier.
WOW! This is shocking. Are you sure that nothing is wrong with your truck? I mean... 5-6mpg less... that's horrible! Can't believe it's just the weight and the added height of the Z71. How much miles do you got so far?
 

RST Dana

Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2018
Posts
1,610
Reaction score
1,411
Location
OH
The real deal is to manually check and not solely believe the vehicle display. I have an fuel app that does it for me. I can look at the logs to compare brands and seasons as well.
 

ChrisG

Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2021
Posts
36
Reaction score
16
My 22 Tahoe RST 4wd gets about 16 ish so far with 3,000 miles, hope it gets better, mostly highway. My 2018 Tahoe was a solid 18 driving same regular routes. I hope my new one improves but my wife says I like driving it fast
 

SSGUNNER

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2021
Posts
344
Reaction score
221
WOW! This is shocking. Are you sure that nothing is wrong with your truck? I mean... 5-6mpg less... that's horrible! Can't believe it's just the weight and the added height of the Z71. How much miles do you got so far?
Maybe the AT tires on the Z71 are under inflated? When i had AT tires on my Hemi I would run them at 39-40 PSI for best mpg.
 

R32driver

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2021
Posts
721
Reaction score
632
We have a 2021 Yukon 5.3 with 4x4 and in the city is about 14-16mpg and the highway is about 20-22 without much effort. If I really lay easy on the pedal, I have seen about 25-26mpg.
Interesting...I've owned a 5.3 equipped vehicle for 10 years now and NEVER have seen over 20 and I drive like a little old lady most the time. I did a 1K mile round trip all highway when we first bought our '21 and both hand calculating and the computer came back at 18.4 mpg
 

EMTPete

Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2015
Posts
51
Reaction score
31
Location
Northern Virginia
I know you are comparing the two gas engines, but I have a ‘21 Yukon 4WD with the 3.0 diesel. On highway road trips I’ll average 26-28mpg at close to 80mph. Mixed driving around town gives me about 23-25mpg. The best I have seen has been 32.5mpg which was a stretch of open road at 50-55mph using adaptive cruise control.
 

Seamus

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2019
Posts
290
Reaction score
388
Location
Palm Beach
The new truck is such an improvment in so many categories. Beautiful highway cruiser. We test drove a '21 Denali 6.2 and were really impressed with the ride and truck. We had a 2017 Denali XL 6.2 which got pretty good mileage. Saw 24 mpg driving nice on hwy often, routinely 21-22 mpg. That generation the 6.2 actually got better mileage than the 5.3. BUT the 2021 mileage was pretty bad. Then we reneted a Suburban for a month w 5.3. Could not wrap my head around that the mileage went down on a new vehicle? Then heard the Denali 6.2 was much worse and took premium also as we know. Dealbreaker for me. Tried to find a 3.0 Denali to no avail at the time, then Covid and the insane market change. So found a 2021 Sierra Denali w/ the 3.0 and the ultimate package and have fallen in love with this motor! Mileage is everything you hear...great. Between the lifters and the mileage, its not even a consideration till we find a deal on a Yukon XL with the 3.0.
 

gregus733

TYF Newbie
Joined
Jan 26, 2022
Posts
8
Reaction score
3
Location
Los Gatos & Nevada City, CA
My 2021 Suburban Z71 4x4 5.3 get 17.5 to 18 mpg. Mostly freeway driving. My last 2020 Sierra Denali 5.3 got 20-22 mpg mostly freeway. I drive moderately, not too conservative but not pushing on the pedal either.
 

Steveo123

Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2017
Posts
35
Reaction score
15
WOW! This is shocking. Are you sure that nothing is wrong with your truck? I mean... 5-6mpg less... that's horrible! Can't believe it's just the weight and the added height of the Z71. How much miles do you got so far?
2k on the odo. Had a 21 Denali XL last year and it got around the same if I remember correctly. My Tahoe does not have the auto stop, not sure how much that would of helped. I looked at my window sticker and it says 14 mpg city so 10-11 in my city with all the traffic seems about right.
 

ljn21

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2021
Posts
209
Reaction score
87
21 Denali 6.2 with 13800 miles, lifetime hand calculated mileage is 16.9 which is probably a 60/40 mix of highway/city. Took a trip last week for 283 miles mostly highway until destination and then back again, 2 adults and 2 kids and probably 90/10 highway/city and hand calculated mileage was 22.9. Pretty pleased with the mileage honestly, considering it’s a huge family and gear hauler.
 
Last edited:

Forum statistics

Threads
132,655
Posts
1,872,217
Members
97,458
Latest member
23Seven
Top