The new, 2021 model-year line of General Motors full-size SUVs are more efficient in the city than the previous-generation models they replace, but less efficient on the highway.
GM published fuel economy figures for the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban and 2021 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL this week, revealing the impressive EPA city mileage ratings for the full-size SUVs. When equipped with the 5.3L L83 V8 engine, the 2021 Tahoe is rated at 16 mpg city, 20 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined in both 2WD and 4WD guise. The larger 2021 Suburban, meanwhile, has the same fuel mileage ratings in 2WD form, but falls to 15 mpg city, 19 mpg highway and 17 mpg combined when equipped with 4WD.
| Model | City (MPG) | Highway (MPG) | Combined (MPG) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe 2WD | 16 | 20 | 18 |
| 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD | 16 | 20 | 18 |
| 2021 Chevrolet Suburban 2WD | 16 | 20 | 18 |
| 2021 Chevrolet Suburban 4WD | 15 | 19 | 17 |
| 2021 GMC Yukon 2WD | 16 | 20 | 18 |
| 2021 GMC Yukon 4WD | 16 | 20 | 18 |
| 2021 GMC Yukon XL 2WD | 16 | 20 | 18 |
| 2021 GMC Yukon XL 4WD | 15 | 19 | 17 |
The outgoing, 5.3L V8-powered 2020 Tahoe, for comparison, was rated at 15 mpg city and 22 mpg highway for a combined rating of 18 mpg. When equipped with 4WD, those numbers fall to 15 mpg city, 21 mpg highway and 17 mpg combined. The 2020 Suburban with the 5.3L V8 and 2WD received EPA ratings of 15 mpg city, 22 mpg highway and 18 mpg highway, while 4WD models were rated at 14 mpg city, 21 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined.
Similarly, 2021 Tahoe models with the 6.2L L87 V8 engine are rated at 15 mpg city, 20 mpg highway and 17 mpg combined in 2WD form, while the 2021 Suburban with 2WD nets figures of 14 mpg city, 20 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined. Both SUVs boast 14 mpg city, 19 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined for 4WD models. The outgoing 2020 Tahoe with the 6.2L V8 and 2WD was rated at 14 mpg city and 23 mpg highway for a combined rating of 17 mpg, while 4WD models returned 14 mpg city, 22 mpg highway and 17 mpg combined. Meanwhile, the 2020 Suburban with the 6.2L V8 and 2WD received ratings of 14 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and 17 mpg combined, while 4WD models were rated at 14 mpg city, 20 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined.
| Model | City (MPG) | Highway (MPG) | Combined (MPG) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe 2WD | 15 | 20 | 17 |
| 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD | 14 | 19 | 16 |
| 2021 Chevrolet Suburban 2WD | 14 | 20 | 16 |
| 2021 Chevrolet Suburban 4WD | 14 | 19 | 16 |
| 2021 GMC Yukon 2WD | 15 | 20 | 17 |
| 2021 GMC Yukon 4WD | 14 | 19 | 16 |
| 2021 GMC Yukon XL 2WD | 14 | 20 | 16 |
| 2021 GMC Yukon XL 4WD | 14 | 19 | 16 |
All ratings for the 2021 GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL are identical to the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban. This was also true for the 2020 model-year Chevrolet and GMC models.
While the new 2021 model-year General Motors full-size SUVs are less efficient on the highway than the models they replace, they have gained efficiency in city driving scenarios and are also quite a bit bigger. Engine stop/start, Dynamic Fuel Management and a new 10-speed automatic transmission all work to improve the new models’ city fuel efficiency. The highway mileage dipped due to added weight from new technologies, such as rear-seat infotainment, and a heavier independent rear suspension.
The new 2021 GM models trail the Ford Expedition in fuel economy, though only slightly. The 2021 Ford Expedition is rated at 17 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined in 2WD form and 16 mpg city, 21 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined with 4WD. The Expedition is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more GMC Yukon news, GMC news, Chevrolet Tahoe news, Chevrolet Suburban news, Chevrolet news, and 24/7 GM news coverage.
Comments
I literally just read conflicting numbers elsewhere on the wold wide web.. who’s are true EPA estimates?
In any case, GM V8s have historically not tested well on the EPA cycle and real world numbers are better
I agree with that. I would also add that the Ford’s eco-boost engines tend to do worse in real world numbers.
100% Agree with you steak
Still waiting anxiously for the EPA and towing figures for the 3.0 liter inline 6 Duramax diesel engine.
Whoa whoa whoa… the decrease in fuel economy on the highway has nothing to do with weight. Remember physics, objects in motion will stay in motion. Increased weight would affect city…. not highway. I have no idea what is going on here as these new SUV’s also feature active air suspension to reduce drag, on top of a slippier exterior, DSF and 10 speed. I will reserve my expectations until I see real world economy, but we do know the new ranger spawned a lawsuit because ford was over reporting economy and Chevy classically undereports. Are they trying to “nerf” the gas economy ratings while still providing good real world numbers to promote the suburban diesel, which might get as high as 35 on the epa loop?
In your physics thinking you are neglecting things like friction with the road, which increases with weight.
The ‘objects in motion stay in motion’ law is true in a perfect frictionless wold. Weight does have an effect at steady state speeds, it increases the rolling resistance of your tires. Plus I think the EPA highway test isn’t 100% steady speed, but I’m not sure on that.
Additionally, at constant speed weight will also hurt you on any hills as the engine has to drag that much more weight up the hill (and you don’t gain all of that energy back on the downward side of the hill because of friction and wind resistance and speed limits). I don’t know if EPA tests include any sort of incline/decline testing though.
“The highway mileage dipped due to added weight from new technologies, such as rear-seat infotainment, ” 😂😂😂
That’s hilarious!
But true. Just ditch your MIL and you can save over 200 pounds!
And MIL stands for ?
What is a MIL? A couple of little tiny LCD screens integrated into the seat backs don’t add up to 200 LBS and neither does a hunk of cheap plastic sitting in an overhead compartment. This makes no sense!
That is “Mother In Law” and a joke!
Engine stop/start (a very light hybrid mode) does help save gasoline because it reduces idle time engine running. But if the A/C compressor is still belt driven, the engine will only stop when the interior has reached a constant temperature and only needs the fans blowing. Hybrids have electric A/C compressors. All of the engine bay accessories are electric so there are no belts or pulleys. Under idle conditions, the engine runs to charge the battery and stops while the entire car is running on electric power.
If GM uses electric A/C compressors with the engine start/stop systems, and reduce engine accessories to electric versions, then their large SUVS and trucks can get much higher MPG ratings.
They could have sloped the front of the grill a bit more for better aero, but I’m sure the real world numbers will be good.
Lets address the real elephant in the room…..
THE FREAKIN THINGS ARE HUGE!!!!
Vehicles in general are getting too big!
That’s the point, that’s why you have the smaller CUVs and pickups. I just wish for a SS sized rwd sedan with EV/4/6/8 cly for city slickers and people who need a hotrod with more room then a Camaro. The trucks handle families and trailers.
These thing should have been fully aluminum especially since we don’t have the bed issue
@Khaled
I totally agree with you on that. That was the only option GM had in my opinion to get better MPG’s from these new ones as they are much bigger than the last Gen is.
Sorry for this rant, but … Is it just me, or is GM purposely trying to be outsold by Ford in every vehicle category? Except perhaps vehicles the size of the Spark. I’ve owned GM vehicles of one form or another all my life, but I have to say that it seems like someone at the company is actually trying to lose business, sales, and technology. Although they have never really followed the voices calling out for them to build their “car show” vehicles. People have complained about the Camaro for years and years, but those in charge are more worried about what THEY think the car should be, rather than the people buying it, which is why sales will continue to fall until they decide to stop making them again. The drivetrain technology in the volt would be great for trucks/large SUVs if they could use it … oh yeah, GM ditched that revolutionary technology too. People who look at sticker prices and fuel ratings on the window don’t care if real world numbers are better than what they see on the sticker, they will instead believe what they see written on it. GM will lose ground to the blue oval boys because someone at GM has decided to sabotage the company in an effort to become “Tesla 2.0” and produce only all electric vehicles or gas only vehicles. I know my loyalty to GM is in question now based upon what the company has done over the past few years to increase profits while decreasing vehicle quality. Paint scratches easier, warranties are challenged more/cover less, and things that used to be included with a vehicle purchase no longer are. I own a 2018 Volt, and because it’s out of the 3/36 b2b warranty already, I have to pay out of pocket for a vehicle update! SERIOUSLY!? They want ME to pay for a programming update THEY deem is necessary. Could you imagine if you had to pay for an update on your phone or computer every time it needs an update after you already paid for the device? I’m sorry GM, but you’re losing ground to other brands because they’re listening to the customer and not backing out on what should be warranty coverage repairs and/or included with the car as long as you own it. I was originally interested in the diesel version of one of the GM triplets (Cadillac too is the same as these) but not with the luck I’ve had recently with my GM vehicles. Best of luck in your downfall GM … it’s been a nice run.
@Paul
Well I do not think GM is trying to be Tesla per say. They just know they need to Switch into being an EV Auto maker as the World is doing so in a much faster clip then we are here in the States.
I do agree with you that it is insane if GM is trying to Charge you extra Money for Software update. This is why (Unfortunately for Legacy Auto Makers) Tesla is so far ahead of them. They do software upgrades at a faster clip than even Apple and Google do for their Phone Software.
Young kids I talk to could care less about Vette and or pretty much any amazing ICE vehicle. They think Tesla is where it is at. They will grow up to wanting a Tesla just like I grew up wanting a Ferrari. Only difference is that a Tesla is much more attainable for people.
Then go buy another brand. For me I can’t afford repairs on a ram or asking price of a f150, Chevy trucks are still cheaper, the traverse is still the nicest vehicle in it’s class and the discounts on the Malibu make it impossible for me to buy a camery. That’s why I keep buying GM. I cant beat the price.
Once again this makes no sense. The weight increase on these was slight because they saved weight in the frame and body panels just as they did in the trucks with the only real weight adder being the IRS. That does not add up to a gain in city MPG and up to 3 lost on the highway. Then you have the new 10 speed transmission, Dynamic cylinder activation technology that is supposed to increase mileage by 7 or more percent, slight increases in aerodynamics and a smarter AWD technology and air suspension that is supposed to aide mileage. And did city MPG really go up? Lets note that only the 2020 model year 5.3 equipped Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban were mysteriously downgraded to 15/21 with the most common AWD setup with all other years being rated for 16/22 or 17/23 with RWD! What made the 2020 model year drop mileage on the same identical vehicles? The EPA is playing some kind of game here or GM’s engineers are seriously going downhill!