The Chevrolet Suburban does 16.9 mpg combined (14.9 city, 20.3 highway), which works out to about $2,272 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 23 mpg while 5L 8-cyl Hybrid does 13.5 — a difference of $1,174 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Chevrolet Suburban engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Chevrolet Suburban ranges from 23 down to 13.5 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $1,174 a year across 5 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 | 21 / 26.7 | 2021–2026 | $1,670 | |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 15.4 / 21.4 | 1984–1991 | $2,194 | |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 14.7 / 20.2 | 2001–2026 | $2,299 | |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 11.7 / 16.6 | 1992–2000 | $2,824 | |
| 5L 8-cyl Hybrid | 12 / 15.5 | 1984–1985 | $2,844 |
What that actually costs
The Chevrolet Suburban burns a gallon every 16.9 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 710 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.189 |
| Fuel per year | $2,272 |
| Fuel over five years | $11,360 |
| Against other V8 cars | −$113 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $4,012 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Chevrolet Suburban gives up 5.4 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 20.3 out there against 14.9 in town, a 36% drop worth $685 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 | 14.9 mpg | $2,577 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 20.3 mpg | $1,892 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.4 mpg (36%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Suburban changed over the years
The Suburban peaked in 2021 at 20.5 mpg (18.5 city, 23.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1995 at 13 — 7.5 mpg apart, or $1,081 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 20. 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 | 18 / 23 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2025 | 18 / 23 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2024 | 18 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2023 | 18 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2022 | 18 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2021 | 18.5 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2020 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2019 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2018 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2017 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2016 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2015 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2014 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2013 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2012 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2011 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2010 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2009 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2008 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2007 | 14 / 19 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2006 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2005 | 14 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2004 | 14 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2003 | 12 / 17 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2002 | 13 / 17 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2001 | 13 / 16 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2000 | 12 / 17 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 1999 | 12 / 17 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 1998 | 12 / 17 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 1997 | 12 / 17 | 1 | $2,743 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 51 EPA ratings of the Chevrolet Suburban — 5 engines across 1984–2026. 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 $4,012. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Chevrolet Suburban get?
16.9 mpg combined on average — 14.9 in the city and 20.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2026.
How much does a Chevrolet Suburban cost in fuel per year?
About $2,272 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $11,360 over five years, or 0.189 dollars a mile.
Which Suburban engine is the most economical?
The 3L 6-cyl at 23 mpg, against 13.5 for the 5L 8-cyl Hybrid — a difference of about $1,174 a year.
Is the Suburban good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world Suburban 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 Suburban is $4,012 against the $2,272 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 23 and 13 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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