Earlier this week I calculated our long-term 2007 Chevrolet Silverado's lifetime fuel economy. After 16,000 miles, it's averaging 13.4 mpg. The EPA's (revised for 2008 standards) estimate is 13 mpg city/17 mpg highway. Interestingly, we're getting exactly the same fuel economy as we did from our last full-size pickup, the Nissan Titan...
We got a 13.4 mpg lifetime average on that truck, too.
There's no doubt that thanks to the Silverado's 6.0-liter V8, this is the most capable towing-and-hauling pickup we've ever had in the long-term fleet. But as with the Titan, we're paying for it every time we fill up.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor, Edmunds.com
rick8365 says:
10:24 AM, 06/22/07
This truck needs a 5 or 6 spd trans and cylinder deactivation. My high mileage '76 Ford E150 van with a carburated 351 and a 3 spd auto averaged this kind if mileage when I had it 20 years ago.
bromans says:
11:41 AM, 06/22/07
It's true that the truck's four-speed auto is a bit of a throwback; look for GM's new six-speed to arrive soon. Technically, our Silverado does have cylinder deactivation technology. But as you can see, it makes little real-world difference. -- Brent Romans
billt9 says:
12:06 PM, 06/22/07
You need to find some junk to put that 2,010 lb of payload capacity to work.
What the heck weighs 1,800 lb anyways...
Find 10 of your friends and drive them around in the parking lot.
sddoc07 says:
01:05 PM, 06/22/07
So you're getting well over twice the payload and towing capacity (compared to 1976) and also more payload and towing capacity than a comparable recent model (Titan) for the same gas mileage. Sounds like progress to me. Obviously it could be better, but hey, this is progress isn't it?
rick8365 says:
01:53 PM, 06/22/07
Good point, sdd. That thought did cross my mind (payload) but it still seems like it should be better and the 4 spd seems archaic to me....especially in a brand new design.
altimadude00 says:
01:58 PM, 06/22/07
So comparing the '07 Chevy Silverado with the '05 Nissan Titan, you're getting the same MPG? Nissan didn't (or still doesn't) have cylinder deactivation in their truck engine. If Chevy hadn't put cylinder deactivation in their engine, I wonder how much worse the MPG would be?
That means it's either cheers to Nissan for puting such a fuel efficent engine in their trucks, or geers to Chevy for tacking on technologies that make their engines appear more fuel efficient when they really aren't.
Oh yeah, the Titan still has a five speed auto box in it. Sounds more and more like Chevy blew it on the technology front with their brand spankin' new truck.
greenpony says:
11:53 AM, 06/26/07
I believe four-speed automatics are cheaper (and lighter). If car manufacturers threw top-of-the-line components in all of their vehicles, they would be prohibitively expensive. And maybe their four-speed was better able to handle the power requirements than a five- or six-speed (Mercedes uses a five-speed in place of their seven-speed auto in high torque applications). Perhaps the GM engineers were considering this?
masospaghetti says:
06:16 AM, 06/29/07
While the 6-speed trans would be nice, the actual real-world difference in a torque-rich vehicle like this would be pretty small. Even on smaller vehicles, it's only been able to raise fuel economy by about 5-8%.
To the edmunds editors: It would be great if you also tested some more moderately equipped vehicles instead of a fully-loaded example. Most folks can't afford trucks optioned out like this anyway. How about adding a Silverado (Or Sierra) 2WD, LT, with the 5.3 liter engine, and seeing how that does on fuel economy?
tappnel says:
07:32 AM, 07/ 1/07
Why haven't you compared it to the new Tundra with the 5.7 which has comparable HP and torque ? Just bought myself one and where my 2002 f-150 was getting 15 MPG the Tundra with the 5.7 is getting 17.5-18 MPG , driving the same route back and forth between my jobs as a general contractor .
member12 says:
03:43 PM, 09/16/07
Maybe edmunds should have tested the 5.3L version. I haven't read anything about anyone doing something in this 6.0L Silverado that a 5.3L engine couldn't do.
I am pretty sure they sell more 5.3L engines than 6.0L engines.
I am also a GC. I am about to buy either the 5.3L Silverado or the Tundra. The 5.3L will pull my 5,000 lb trailer with ease and gets 2mpg more than the 6.0L Silverado or the 5.7L Tundra. Then again, the Toyota I test drove was pretty fun.
kinleyside says:
01:21 PM, 09/26/07
I hate to burst everyone's buble, but I just took a 2007 1500 Crew Cab w/ the 5.3L for an overnight test. I drove about 85% highway and 15% city for 105 miles and my average from the trip computer was 12.3 MPG. So everyone knows, I did reset the trip computer when I picked it up. I also, checked tire pressure and it was right at the recomended pressure.
My observation: the cylinder deactivation is really no great advantage. I got about 18 MPG on the highway, but my average was ABSOLUTELY KILLED with about 10 MPG during stop-and-go/city driving. I think this is because you are rarley off the gas pedal long enough for the 4 cylinder mode to engage when driving under these conditions. I tried slow acceleration, coasting through lights, throttle tapping and avoiding LH turns. IMO when driving in town, this truck consumes gas like it has a hole in the tank. No wonder you guys are getting the MPG numbers you have: you guys drive alot in the city!
Personally, I do not believe a 5 or 6 speed tranny w/ this motor would produce a dramatic change in fuel economy. Mine found its way through the gear range and acceleration curve just fine.
Before all the rants and raves, I know it needs to be broke in. Mine had less than 10 miles on it. But still, I was suprised at how bad the 5.3L w/ the engine management system performed. I would probably get the 6.0L. It seems you get about the same MPG and a more potent motor.
What gets me upset is how much Chevy has advertised and bragged about the SUPERIOR fuel economy of this truck. I see the EPA estimates have been reduced for the 2008 model. While this is to be expected, it appears that Chevy has had to make a greater reduction to their EPA numbers for the Silverado than on the Tundra or the Titan. It seems to me, you are going to get about the same average MPG regardless of which truck you buy