The Chevrolet Silverado does 19 mpg combined (17 city, 22 highway), which works out to about $2,021 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 3L 6-cyl does 26.1 mpg while 4.8L 8-cyl does 16.3 — a difference of $885 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Chevrolet Silverado engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Chevrolet Silverado ranges from 26.1 down to 16.3 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $885 a year across 7 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3L 6-cyl | 23.1 / 30.3 | 2020–2026 | $1,471 | |
| 6L 8-cyl Hybrid | 20.4 / 22.6 | 2009–2013 | $1,811 | |
| 2.7L 4-cyl | 18.9 / 22.1 | 2019–2026 | $1,892 | |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 15.9 / 21.9 | 2007–2026 | $2,087 | |
| 5.3L 8-cyl Hybrid | 16.9 / 21.1 | 2004–2018 | $2,098 | |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 15.5 / 20.7 | 1999–2019 | $2,194 | |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 14.4 / 19 | 1999–2006 | $2,356 |
What that actually costs
The Chevrolet Silverado burns a gallon every 19 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 632 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.168 |
| Fuel per year | $2,021 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,105 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$91 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,394 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Chevrolet Silverado gives up 5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 22 out there against 17 in town, a 29% drop worth $514 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 | 17 mpg | $2,259 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 22 mpg | $1,745 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5 mpg (29%) | Typical for its type |
How the Silverado changed over the years
The Silverado peaked in 2020 at 22.7 mpg (20 city, 26.7 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2003 at 16 — 6.7 mpg apart, or $708 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 21. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 19 / 23.3 | 3 | $1,829 | |
| 2025 | 18.7 / 23.7 | 3 | $1,829 | |
| 2024 | 19 / 23.7 | 3 | $1,803 | |
| 2023 | 20 / 24 | 3 | $1,770 | |
| 2022 | 19.3 / 24.7 | 3 | $1,803 | |
| 2021 | 20 / 26.3 | 3 | $1,722 | |
| 2020 | 20 / 26.7 | 3 | $1,692 | |
| 2019 | 17.7 / 22.3 | 3 | $2,021 | |
| 2018 | 17.3 / 23.7 | 3 | $1,949 | |
| 2017 | 17.3 / 23.7 | 3 | $1,949 | |
| 2016 | 17.3 / 23.3 | 3 | $1,949 | |
| 2015 | 17 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2014 | 17 / 23 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2013 | 16.7 / 21.7 | 3 | $2,053 | |
| 2012 | 16.7 / 21.7 | 3 | $2,053 | |
| 2011 | 16.7 / 21.7 | 3 | $2,053 | |
| 2010 | 17 / 21.3 | 3 | $2,021 | |
| 2009 | 17 / 21 | 3 | $2,098 | |
| 2008 | 15 / 20 | 2 | $2,259 | |
| 2007 | 15.3 / 19.3 | 3 | $2,259 | |
| 2006 | 15 / 19 | 3 | $2,299 | |
| 2005 | 15 / 19 | 3 | $2,299 | |
| 2004 | 15 / 19 | 3 | $2,356 | |
| 2003 | 14 / 19 | 2 | $2,400 | |
| 2002 | 14 / 18.5 | 2 | $2,400 | |
| 2001 | 14.5 / 19.5 | 2 | $2,327 | |
| 2000 | 14.5 / 20 | 2 | $2,327 | |
| 1999 | 14.5 / 20 | 2 | $2,327 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 76 EPA ratings of the Chevrolet Silverado — 7 engines across 1999–2026. 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 $3,394. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Chevrolet Silverado get?
19 mpg combined on average — 17 in the city and 22 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1999–2026.
How much does a Chevrolet Silverado cost in fuel per year?
About $2,021 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,105 over five years, or 0.168 dollars a mile.
Which Silverado engine is the most economical?
The 3L 6-cyl at 26.1 mpg, against 16.3 for the 4.8L 8-cyl — a difference of about $885 a year.
Is the Silverado good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world Silverado 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 Silverado is $3,394 against the $2,021 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 27 and 16 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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