"Best" year suburban for gas mileage

[bp71k5]

maybe "least worse" is a better title. I'm looking at buying a suburban for a road trip out to Texas and back. About 4000 miles. Are the later vortec models any more fuel efficient? I suppose if I could find one with a 5.3, it might be.

I know it's a gas hog, but figure if I can pick one with a slight difference, the savings might be noticeable over 4000 miles.

 

[jekquistk5]

Anything with a 6.2 and the 6l80 gets better mileage. My 08 suburban with the 5.3 got about 17-18 on the highway. I hear the 6.2's get about 20. That being said i've been looking at 2500 suburbans with 6.0.

 

[bp71k5]

Anything with a 6.2 and the 6l80 gets better mileage. My 08 suburban with the 5.3 got about 17-18 on the highway. I hear the 6.2's get about 20. That being said i've been looking at 2500 suburbans with 6.0.

Super happy with 17. I'm planning on 12 at the moment with a 5.7 that they used in 1999 and earlier models

 

[jekquistk5]

Yah I plan on 15-16 with the 6.0 2500s

 

[bp71k5]

Talking to the guy about this one. Says it has the 5.4L motor so I'm not sure until I get there whether it's a 5.3 or 5.7.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/6203664333.html

 

[jekquistk5]

Talking to the guy about this one. Says it has the 5.4L motor so I'm not sure until I get there whether it's a 5.3 or 5.7.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/6203664333.html

That would be a 5.7 don't think the 5.3's came in gmt400 platform.

 

[bp71k5]

That would be a 5.7 don't think the 5.3's came in gmt400 platform.

You were correct. Not a bad truck, but the AC wasn't working.

Picked up this one tonight instead.
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/6206345228.html

 

[Blue85]

Supposedly the displacement on demand models get a couple more MPG, but then you're into late-model SUV prices. If MPG is key, stay away from any 350 and get a 5.3 and a tall gear. A 4.8 MIGHT do better, but I've never seen a Suburban with one. You want your cruise speed to fall under 2000RPM. Avoid the Denali because the AWD takes more gas. Avoid the 2500 because the weight, higher stall torque converter, bigger transmission and lower gears make high MPG impossible. My '05 1500 still gets 20MPG on the highway with 5.3/3.42 and 265/70/17. But that's a real 70MPH, not the normal speed in a 70MPH zone. A clean MAF, good front O2 sensors and tire pressure are all important.