The Chevrolet 3500 does 12 mpg combined (11 city, 16 highway), which works out to about $3,200 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Chevrolet 3500 engine, compared
The Chevrolet 3500 was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6L 8-cyl | 11 / 16 | 2016–2017 | $3,200 |
What that actually costs
The Chevrolet 3500 burns a gallon every 12 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 1000 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.267 |
| Fuel per year | $3,200 |
| Fuel over five years | $16,000 |
| Against other V8 cars | +$815 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $5,100 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Chevrolet 3500 gives up 5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 16 out there against 11 in town, a 45% drop worth $1,091 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 11 mpg | $3,491 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 16 mpg | $2,400 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5 mpg (45%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the 3500 changed over the years
Combined figure across the 2 model years the 3500 was rated in, all of them at 12 mpg.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 11 / 16 | 1 | $3,200 | |
| 2016 | 11 / 16 | 1 | $3,200 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 2 EPA ratings of the Chevrolet 3500 — 1 engine across 2016–2017. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $5,100. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Chevrolet 3500 get?
12 mpg combined on average — 11 in the city and 16 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2016–2017.
How much does a Chevrolet 3500 cost in fuel per year?
About $3,200 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $16,000 over five years, or 0.267 dollars a mile.
Which 3500 engine is the most economical?
The 6L 8-cyl at 12 mpg.
Is the 3500 good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world 3500 figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Chevrolet 3500 is $5,100 against the $3,200 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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