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A comparison reported by The Drive says GM’s most efficient gasoline-powered full-size SUVs are rated at 17 mpg combined, the same figure reported for the 2010 model year. The rating applies to the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban and GMC Yukon with the 5.3-liter V8; the figures do not mean every version or engine gets the same mileage.
GM’s most efficient gasoline-powered full-size SUVs are rated at 17 mpg combined, the same figure reported for the 2010 model year, according to a comparison published by The Drive. The number applies to the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon when equipped with the available 5.3-liter V8; it is not a rating for every engine or configuration.
The comparison says the three SUVs returned to 17 mpg combined in 2025 after receiving higher combined ratings in some intervening years. They were rated at 18 mpg in 2015 and from 2019 through 2021, and at 19 mpg from 2016 through 2018. The figures cited are EPA-style combined fuel-economy ratings, not a guarantee of what an individual owner will achieve in everyday driving.
The Drive also compared GM’s full-size pickups, which it says improved from 18 mpg to 20 mpg over the same broad period. It attributes that difference to the availability of base versions with smaller engines. That pickup comparison is separate from the SUV figures and does not establish how much any particular buyer’s truck will save.
The report identifies a diesel engine as an alternative for SUV shoppers seeking better fuel economy: GM introduced the Duramax inline-six in 2021. But the article cautions that fuel economy alone does not settle the cost question. Diesel prices and a buyer’s driving needs affect whether the diesel’s mileage advantage makes financial sense.
What 17 MPG Means for SUV Buyers
The comparison highlights a practical trade-off for people shopping for large, V8-powered SUVs: the reported best combined gasoline rating has not risen above its 2010 figure in the model-year comparison, despite years of vehicle development. For buyers, fuel costs can be a substantial part of owning a large SUV, so the EPA rating offers a useful basis for comparing versions before purchase.
However, the figure should not be treated as proof that every aspect of these vehicles has stood still. Fuel economy is one measure, and the source does not assess changes in power, safety, emissions, comfort or equipment. The model-year ratings also do not account for a specific owner’s route, driving habits, load or local fuel prices. The report’s narrow finding is about the listed combined mileage rating, not the overall quality or capability of the SUVs.
The comparison also makes engine choice relevant. A diesel model may post different fuel-economy figures, while a smaller-engine pickup may have a different rating from a V8 version. Shoppers should compare the specific vehicle configurations they are considering and calculate fuel costs using prices in their area rather than assuming that a higher mileage rating automatically means lower total spending.
GM full-size SUV fuel economy 17 mpg
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How the Model-Year Figures Compare
The Drive’s report frames the SUV figure as a comparison between the 2010 and 2025 model years. It says the most efficient gasoline engine available for the named GM SUVs in the comparison is the 5.3-liter small-block V8, and gives 17 mpg as their combined rating at both ends of the period. It also records higher ratings in several intervening years, including a peak of 19 mpg from 2016 to 2018.
Those intervening results matter: the figures do not describe an unbroken period of exactly 17 mpg. The report’s point is that the 2025 rating matches the 2010 figure, after ratings rose and later fell. The source links the return to 17 mpg after 2021 with the introduction of GM’s Duramax diesel, but it does not establish that the diesel launch caused the change in gasoline ratings.
The data source cited by The Drive, Modelyears.com, has limits. The report says its dataset omits models introduced or discontinued during the comparison period, does not consistently connect models across name changes, and lacks some vehicles without a stated explanation. It also cannot make direct comparisons where a model switched powertrains, such as the Toyota Sienna becoming hybrid-only. The comparison is therefore a selected data set, not a complete account of every vehicle’s fuel-economy history.
““Anything that was introduced or discontinued between 2009 and 2026 is missing””
— The Drive, describing Modelyears.com data
Limits of the Mileage Comparison
The supplied report does not detail the precise vehicle configurations, test procedures or underlying records for every model year, beyond identifying the 5.3-liter V8 as the most efficient gasoline engine in the SUV comparison. It also does not provide real-world test results, owner fuel-use data or a full breakdown by trim and drivetrain. Actual mileage can vary by configuration and driving conditions.
It is also unclear from the comparison why the SUVs’ ratings rose to 19 mpg in 2016–2018 and later declined to 17 mpg. The report notes the timing of GM’s diesel introduction but does not demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship. Its dataset has gaps, and the supplied material does not include a response from GM explaining the changes or commenting on the comparison.
What to Check Before Buying
Buyers can compare the official fuel-economy rating for the specific model year, engine and configuration they are considering, rather than relying on a broad nameplate comparison. They can then estimate fuel spending with their expected annual mileage and current local gasoline or diesel prices. The supplied report does not announce a new rating or a scheduled update to the figures.
The Drive says GM has a new family of V8 engines that could reach SUVs in the near future, but the source provides no confirmed model, timing or fuel-economy rating for those engines. Until GM publishes details and official ratings, any effect on future SUV mileage remains uncertain.
Key Questions
Which GM SUVs are included in the 17 mpg figure?
The comparison covers the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon, using the most efficient gasoline engine listed: the 5.3-liter V8. The figure is not a rating for every engine or configuration.
Does 17 mpg describe every model year since 2010?
No. The report says the SUVs were rated at 18 mpg in some years and 19 mpg from 2016 through 2018 before returning to 17 mpg in 2025. The comparison says the 2010 and 2025 figures match.
Did GM’s full-size pickups have the same result?
No. The Drive reports that GM’s full-size pickups improved from 18 mpg to 20 mpg over the period it compares, with smaller engines available in base versions. Those figures are separate from the SUV comparison.
Would a diesel SUV necessarily cost less to run?
Not necessarily. The report points to GM’s Duramax inline-six as a diesel option but cautions that fuel prices affect the cost-per-mile calculation. Buyers need to compare local diesel and gasoline prices and their own driving patterns.
Are these real-world fuel-economy results?
No. The article discusses model-year combined fuel-economy ratings, not a test of real-world driving. Actual mileage can differ with vehicle configuration, routes, driving habits and load.
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