Do suburbans use a lot of gas?
Yes, Suburbans are known to have relatively high fuel consumption compared to many other vehicles on the road. As large, heavy-duty SUVs, Suburbans are designed for hauling and towing, which requires powerful engines that tend to be less fuel-efficient.
Understanding Suburban Fuel Efficiency
The Chevrolet Suburban is a full-size SUV that has been in production since the 1930s. It is one of the largest and most capable SUVs on the market, with seating for up to nine passengers and the ability to tow heavy loads. However, this size and capability comes at a cost in terms of fuel economy.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average fuel economy for a 2-wheel drive Suburban is 15 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. For a 4-wheel drive model, the ratings drop to 14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway.
These figures are significantly lower than many smaller SUVs, crossovers, and even some full-size pickup trucks. For comparison, a Ford Explorer has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, while a Ford F-150 pickup can achieve up to 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.p>
Factors Affecting Suburban Fuel Consumption
There are several key factors that contribute to the Suburban's relatively high fuel usage:
- Size and Weight: The Suburban is a massive vehicle, measuring over 17 feet long and weighing between 5,500 and 6,000 pounds. Larger, heavier vehicles require more energy to accelerate and maintain speed, resulting in lower fuel efficiency.li>
- Engine Power: To handle the Suburban's size and weight, as well as its towing and hauling capabilities, it is equipped with a powerful V8 engine. While this provides ample performance, V8 engines tend to be less fuel-efficient than smaller, more efficient engines found in many other SUVs.
- Aerodynamics: The Suburban's boxy, upright design is not optimized for aerodynamics, which can negatively impact fuel economy at higher speeds. More streamlined vehicle shapes tend to be more fuel-efficient.li>
It's important to note that actual fuel consumption can vary depending on driving conditions, driving style, and other factors. Owners who prioritize fuel efficiency may be able to achieve slightly better real-world mileage than the EPA estimates.
Improving Suburban Fuel Economy
While the Suburban's fuel efficiency is not its strongest suit, there are some steps owners can take to help improve its gas mileage:
- Choose the Right Engine: Opting for the smaller, more efficient engine options (if available) can provide a modest boost in fuel economy compared to the larger, more powerful V8 engines.
- Drive Conservatively: Avoiding aggressive acceleration, maintaining steady speeds, and minimizing unnecessary idling can all help improve the Suburban's real-world fuel efficiency.
- Use Fuel-Saving Features: Features like cylinder deactivation, which can shut off some cylinders under light load conditions, can help improve fuel economy in certain driving situations.
- Consider Alternatives: For those who don't require the Suburban's full-size capabilities, a smaller SUV or crossover may be a more fuel-efficient option.
While the Suburban's fuel consumption is higher than many other vehicles, it remains a popular choice for those who need its combination of size, power, and capability. By understanding the factors that impact its fuel efficiency, Suburban owners can make informed decisions to help maximize their vehicle's gas mileage.
How many miles can a Suburban go on a tank of gas?
A Chevrolet Suburban's range on a tank of gas varies significantly, but it can be up to 728 miles for a modern diesel model on the highway, while gasoline models are typically in the 400–550 mile range. The specific mileage depends on the model year, engine, and driving conditions, with modern gasoline V8s around 550 miles, modern diesel versions exceeding 700 miles, and older or city-driven models having a shorter range.
Estimated range by engine and model year
- Modern Diesel (e.g., 2023–2025): With a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel, the Suburban can achieve up to 728 miles of highway driving on a single tank.
- Modern Gasoline (e.g., 2023–2025): Models with a V8 engine can have a range of over 550 miles on the highway.
- Older Models (e.g., 1998): An older Suburban with a 42-gallon tank could get around 400–450 miles, though this was heavily dependent on driving conditions.
- City vs. Highway: You will get significantly fewer miles on a tank in stop-and-go city traffic compared to highway driving. For example, one user estimated around 300 miles for 80% city driving, while another noted their mileage drops from over 20 mpg to under 15 mpg in city conditions.
Factors that affect range
- Engine: The type of engine (diesel vs. gasoline, specific V8 size) makes a big difference.
- Driving Conditions: Highway cruising is far more fuel-efficient than city driving.
- Speed: Driving at higher speeds, especially over 60 mph, can dramatically decrease your range.
- Vehicle Load: Carrying heavy loads or towing can significantly reduce fuel economy.
- Maintenance: Proper tire inflation and keeping up with maintenance can help maximize your miles per gallon.
How much does it cost to fill up a Suburban?
Filling up a Chevrolet Suburban can cost anywhere from approximately $100 to over $115, depending on the model year, fuel tank size (around 24-28 gallons for most), and current gas prices. For example, a 2024 model is estimated at $103, while a 2019 model filling up at the national average would be around $80. Prices will vary depending on your location and the price of fuel at the pump.
Factors that affect the cost
- Fuel tank size: Most Suburbans have a fuel tank capacity of about 24–28 gallons. A larger tank requires more gas and will cost more to fill.
- Fuel economy: The vehicle's miles per gallon (MPG) affects how much fuel is needed to go a certain distance, but the price is determined by the gallons it takes to fill the tank.
- Fuel grade: Premium fuel is more expensive than regular gasoline.
- Location: Gas prices vary significantly by state, and even by city. California, for example, typically has higher gas prices than the national average.
- Current gas prices: The price of gas fluctuates, so the exact cost to fill up will change over time.
Why is my Suburban using so much gas?
The fuel pump can become clogged or malfunction. A bad fuel pump can lead to a rough running engine because it is not getting enough fuel. This will lead to a decline in gas mileage. If this issue is not addressed it will lead to a rough, idle, sputtering and stalling.
Is a Chevy Suburban good on gas?
No, Suburbans are not "good on gas," but fuel efficiency can be surprisingly decent, especially with modern engines, the diesel option, and highway driving. The Suburban's fuel economy is generally comparable to other large SUVs, with the diesel engine offering the best mileage (around 212121 city/272727 highway mpg). For the gasoline V8s, expect closer to 151515 city/19−2019 minus 2019−20 highway mpg.
Gasoline engines
- 5.3L V8: An EPA-estimated 151515 city/202020 highway mpg for 2WD2 cap W cap D2𝑊𝐷 and 151515 city/191919 highway mpg for 4WD4 cap W cap D4𝑊𝐷.
- 6.2L V8: An EPA-estimated 141414 city/202020 highway mpg for 2WD2 cap W cap D2𝑊𝐷 and 141414 city/181818 highway mpg for 4WD4 cap W cap D4𝑊𝐷, but it requires premium fuel, which increases running costs.
- Real-world performance: Some real-world tests have shown slightly better results, with one test seeing 21.421.421.4 mpg on the highway, though this was with the premium 6.2L engine under ideal conditions.
Diesel engine
- 3.0L Duramax Turbo-Diesel: This is the most fuel-efficient option, with an EPA-estimated 212121 city/272727 highway mpg.
- Real-world performance: Real-world testing has shown the diesel engine can achieve even better highway results, with some reports of around 272727 mpg.
- Benefits: In addition to better fuel economy, the diesel engine offers more torque and a longer driving range, estimated at up to 728728728 miles on a single tank.
