The GMC Yukon does 17.8 mpg combined (15.9 city, 20.7 highway), which works out to about $2,157 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 5.7L 8-cyl does 13.7 — a difference of $1,133 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every GMC Yukon engine, compared
Gas mileage on the GMC Yukon ranges from 23 down to 13.7 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $1,133 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 | 21 / 26.7 | 2021–2026 | $1,670 | |
| 6L 8-cyl Hybrid | 20.5 / 22.5 | 2008–2013 | $1,811 | |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 15.1 / 21.1 | 2003–2024 | $2,207 | |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 15 / 20 | 2025–2026 | $2,259 | |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 13.6 / 18.4 | 2000–2008 | $2,494 | |
| 6.5L 8-cyl | 13.4 / 16.8 | 1994–1999 | $2,595 | |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 12 / 16 | 1992–1997 | $2,803 |
What that actually costs
The GMC Yukon burns a gallon every 17.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 674 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.180 |
| Fuel per year | $2,157 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,785 |
| Against other V8 cars | −$228 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,828 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The GMC Yukon gives up 4.8 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 20.7 out there against 15.9 in town, a 30% drop worth $560 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 | 15.9 mpg | $2,415 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 20.7 mpg | $1,855 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +4.8 mpg (30%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Yukon changed over the years
The Yukon peaked in 2021 at 20.5 mpg (18.5 city, 23.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1993 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 | 17.5 / 22 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 2012 | 17.5 / 22 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 2011 | 17.5 / 22 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 2010 | 18 / 21.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2009 | 18 / 21.5 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 2008 | 17.5 / 20.5 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 2007 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2006 | 14 / 19 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2005 | 14 / 19 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2004 | 14 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2003 | 13 / 17 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2002 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2001 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2000 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 1999 | 13 / 17 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 1998 | 13 / 17 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 1997 | 14 / 17 | 1 | $2,560 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 47 EPA ratings of the GMC Yukon — 7 engines across 1992–2026. 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 $3,828. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the GMC Yukon get?
17.8 mpg combined on average — 15.9 in the city and 20.7 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1992–2026.
How much does a GMC Yukon cost in fuel per year?
About $2,157 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,785 over five years, or 0.180 dollars a mile.
Which Yukon engine is the most economical?
The 3L 6-cyl at 23 mpg, against 13.7 for the 5.7L 8-cyl — a difference of about $1,133 a year.
Is the Yukon 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 Yukon figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the GMC Yukon is $3,828 against the $2,157 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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