GMC Sierra Denali MPG by year — every rating on record
The GMC Sierra Denali has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 2 model years, from 2002 to 2003. Across those years its best rated version returned 13 mpg (2003) and its thirstiest returned 12 mpg (2002). The EPA record holds 2 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 | 12 mpg | 12 mpg | #16 of 17 (6th pct) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| 2003 | 1 | 13 mpg | 13 mpg | #17 of 18 (6th pct) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The GMC Sierra Denali placed highest in 2002 at #16 of 17, and lowest in 2003 at #17 of 18. It spent 0 of its 2 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 2 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 6.0L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 6.0L 8-cyl | 11 | 15 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $4,800 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 2002 | 6.0L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 6.0L 8-cyl | 11 | 14 | 12 | 958.3 | 24.8 | $5,200 | 740.5833333333334 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 → 2003 | 12 → 13 mpg | +1 mpg | 885 gal |
What Sierra Denali fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2003 GMC Sierra Denali burns 885 to 885 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $2,654 | $2,654 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $3,096 | $3,096 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $3,538 | $3,538 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2003 model year is $4,800 to $4,800 a year in fuel, or $12,750 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Across the 90 nameplates EPA classifies as Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD, the median best combined rating is 19 mpg. At 13 mpg the GMC Sierra Denali is 6 mpg below the median, which is worth about $978 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other GMC nameplates
Every GMC model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.