2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is rated 17 to 20 mpg combined across 14 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 4.3L 6-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic.

EPA fuel economy

2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · 14 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

20MPG combined

18 city 23 highway

$3,100 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score4/10

4.3L 6-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic

Best version costs $4,500 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.00 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Nov 12, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $3,100 to $3,650 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2015.

More complaints than a typical Silverado 1500 year

The 2016 drew 177 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 176 for a typical Silverado 1500 year.

No Silverado 1500 year stands out enough to avoid; best year: 2018. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Silverado 1500 year ranked The 2016 Silverado 1500's recalls and problems

Every 2016 Silverado 1500 version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
4.3L 6-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic Best EPA listing: Silverado C15 2WD · Flex-fuel (E85)	20 mpg	18 / 23	$3,100
5.3L 8-cyl mild hybrid · RWD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Silverado 15 Hybrid 2WD	20 mpg	18 / 24	$3,100
4.3L 6-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Silverado K15 4WD · Flex-fuel (E85)	19 mpg	17 / 22	$3,300
5.3L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Silverado C15 2WD	19 mpg	16 / 23	$3,300
5.3L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85) EPA listing: Silverado C15 2WD · Flex-fuel (E85)	19 mpg	16 / 23	$3,300
5.3L 8-cyl mild hybrid · 4WD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Silverado 15 Hybrid 4WD	18 mpg	16 / 21	$3,450
5.3L 8-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Silverado K15 4WD	18 mpg	16 / 22	$3,450
5.3L 8-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85) EPA listing: Silverado K15 4WD · Flex-fuel (E85)	18 mpg	16 / 22	$3,450
5.3L 8-cyl · RWD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Silverado C15 2WD	18 mpg	16 / 22	$3,450
5.3L 8-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic · Cab Chassis EPA listing: Silverado K15 Cab Chassis 4WD	17 mpg	15 / 19	$3,650
5.3L 8-cyl · 4WD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Silverado K15 4WD	17 mpg	15 / 21	$3,650
5.3L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic · Cab Chassis EPA listing: Silverado C15 Cab Chassis 2WD	17 mpg	15 / 20	$3,650
6.2L 8-cyl · 4WD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Silverado K15 4WD	17 mpg	15 / 21	$3,650
6.2L 8-cyl · RWD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Silverado C15 2WD	17 mpg	15 / 21	$3,650

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.00 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
4.3L 6-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,000	$250	$15,000
5.3L 8-cyl mild hybrid · RWD · 8-speed automatic	$3,000	$250	$15,000
4.3L 6-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic	$3,158	$263	$15,789
5.3L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85)	$3,158	$263	$15,789
5.3L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,158	$263	$15,789
5.3L 8-cyl mild hybrid · 4WD · 8-speed automatic	$3,333	$278	$16,667
5.3L 8-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85)	$3,333	$278	$16,667
5.3L 8-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic	$3,333	$278	$16,667
5.3L 8-cyl · RWD · 8-speed automatic	$3,333	$278	$16,667
5.3L 8-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic · Cab Chassis	$3,529	$294	$17,647
5.3L 8-cyl · 4WD · 8-speed automatic	$3,529	$294	$17,647
5.3L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic · Cab Chassis	$3,529	$294	$17,647
6.2L 8-cyl · 4WD · 8-speed automatic	$3,529	$294	$17,647
6.2L 8-cyl · RWD · 8-speed automatic	$3,529	$294	$17,647

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 18 to 21 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); highest in 2019. Hybrid: 21 to 22 mpg (2010 to 2013); highest in 2010.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2016: gas 20 mpg · hybrid not offered

Show as a table

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2010	18	22
2011	18	21
2012	18	21
2013	18	21
2014	20	–
2015	20	–
2016	20	–
2017	20	–
2018	20	–
2019	21	–
2020	21	–
2021	21	–
2022	20	–
2023	20	–
2024	20	–
2025	19	–
2026	20	–

Every Silverado 1500 year's ratings in one table

How the 2016 Silverado 1500 compares

2016 full-size pickups covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2016 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Ram 1500 Best: diesel	24 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Ford F-150 Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 This page Best: gas	20 mpg	20 mpg	$3,100
GMC Sierra 1500 Best: gas	20 mpg	20 mpg	$3,100
Toyota Tundra Best: gas	17 mpg	17 mpg	$3,650

2016 Silverado 1500 recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 14 safety recalls and 802 owner complaints for the 2016 Silverado 1500.

Owners most often describe shaking or vibration (108 complaints, 13%), then brake failure (73). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 5 stars.

See the 2016 Silverado 1500 recalls and problems

Questions

Does 4WD lower the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500's gas mileage?

Yes. On versions that differ only in drive, 4WD lowers the combined rating by 2 mpg: the 5.3L 8-cyl mild hybrid gets 20 mpg combined with two-wheel drive and 18 with 4WD.

Does the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2016 Silverado 1500's MPG compare with the 2015?

For 2016, the best gas version is rated 20 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Nov 4, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.00, midgrade $4.61, premium $5.01, diesel $6.13 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Nov 12, 2026 and complaint file dated Nov 11, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.