Considering 2012-2015 Suburban, have a few questions

Grit dog wrote:
One of these days, Imma slow down to a snails pace and see if the mpg claims, like mid 20s mpg in a V8 Chevy Sub is a reality or pride of ownership claim.

Remember, your mama said, most men lie about 3 things.
The size of the fish they caught.
Gas mileage of their truck.
And the size of their weiner!

When I have time and I am not working, I will post the picture of the DIC showing my pride of ownership. Not all destinations can be achieved by driving 75mph + on a freeway. Some are actually done on roads with a speed limit of 55mph, therefore obtaining excellent fuel economy at 60mph isn’t so far fetched.

One of these days, Imma slow down to a snails pace and see if the mpg claims, like mid 20s mpg in a V8 Chevy Sub is a reality or pride of ownership claim.

Remember, your mama said, most men lie about 3 things.
The size of the fish they caught.
Gas mileage of their truck.
And the size of their weiner!

We have 127k miles on our 2011 when we bought it new in Oct 2011. It has taken our family from Michigan to Florida twice and many other places east of the Mississippi River. It has been the cheapest vehicle to own/operate excepting fuel. Almost no non-wear items replaced unless I "upgraded" by choice. Search for how many HD trucks are out there with 200, 300k miles. The engine/trans are very robust.

12mpg in mixed daily driving Summer
11mpg in mixed daily driving Winter

15-17mpg non-towing highway
7-8mpg towing the TT at 70mph


I'd love to replace it with a 2021 Suburban Duramax, but our needs for 3 rows of seats and towing are getting less frequent as our children age and start driving themselves. We have also been very happy with a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse that we leased for non-towing travel and now have a 2020 Buick Enclave. They ride so much better and use about 40% less fuel.

I have a 2009 2500 Suburban. It gets around 14 mpg running "empty" which is just a driver and some tools in the back. When I pull my boat I have my family of 5 in side and the boat and trailer weigh about 6,500 pounds total. I get about 10 MPG with the boat. This is generally all highway and interstate driving. I use cruise control the vast majority of the time and set it to the speed limit when not towing. When I am towing I set it to 65 even though the speed limit is 70.
My Suburban has 3.73 gears in it. I really wish it had 4:10. Not that it tows bad now but in rolling terrain like we have in VA and WV it seems like I'm always either downshifting to go up a hill or downshifting going down a hill to keep it at the cruise control speed. I've found that if i lock out 6th gear it maintains speed both up and down hills a lot better.

What are you looking to tow? How many people are in your family?

The 2008-2013/14 2500 Suburban/Yukon XL with the 6.0/3.73 with the 6 speed might get you 17mpg not towing on the highway. My Express with the 3.42 would get 18mpg all day long on the highway and over 20mpg at 60 mph.

I budget for 20mpg with the Suburban in my signature for highway driving. At 60mph I will easily get mid 20’s with our truck.

If you are looking at the 1500, I would highly recommend getting a 2015 or newer. My 2017 Suburban with the 3.08 tows as good or better than my 2012 Yukon XL with the 3.42. The bump in HP and Torque between 2014 and 2015 makes a difference. My 2012 also was not as consistent with fuel mileage and I would say it averaged 17mpg at best on the highway.

Grit dog wrote:
LOL. Mid teens, bobtail, highway cruising IS stellar for a 6.0 gasser.
Anything over that, you're dreaming and less than 15mpg is where it will be for combined, city/highway.

That I believe, but also considering the 1500/5.3/3.42

Grit dog wrote:
There isn't a suburban out there that gets 20mpg unless it's downhill!

I guess it depends on how you drive it. When I say 20 MPG, I'm talking filling up and jumping on the highway,prob cruise 65 ish.

Really the only reason I threw that in there was we rented a 2015 to go to the beach and it would get 20 on the highway all day long.

I just don't know how the pre 2015s were with AFM. I'm fine with mid teens for the 6.0 2500.

gmcman wrote:


I know these aren't meant for stellar MPG's, but the high teens, low 20's is also welcome.

LOL. Mid teens, bobtail, highway cruising IS stellar for a 6.0 gasser.
Anything over that, you're dreaming and less than 15mpg is where it will be for combined, city/highway.

2002 Tahoe 5.3, about 14-15 mpg strictly highway, 13-14mpg combined.
2016 Silverado CC 4wd 5.3 (basically a 1/2 ton burb with a bed) 16-17 highway bobtail, if I drove slow, 70mph or so.

There isn't a suburban out there that gets 20mpg unless it's downhill!

11 or 12 mpg in town 14 to 15 hwy. 6.0 loves gas

Lwiddis wrote:
GM discontinued the 2500 3/4 Ton versions of both Suburban and Yukon XL models after the 2013 model year.

Yes, meant to include this will be a used vehicle search.

GM discontinued the 2500 3/4 Ton versions of both Suburban and Yukon XL models after the 2013 model year.