2011 Chevrolet Suburban MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2011 Chevrolet Suburban is rated 12 to 17 mpg combined across 4 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 5.3L 8-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic.

EPA fuel economy

2011 Chevrolet Suburban · 4 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

17MPG combined

15 city 21 highway

$3,950 a year to fuel

5.3L 8-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic

Best version costs $7,750 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.47 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 30, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $3,950 to $5,600 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2010.

Fewer complaints than a typical Suburban year

The 2011 drew 13 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 32 for a typical Suburban year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.

Years to avoid: 2015 and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Suburban year ranked The 2011 Suburban's recalls and problems

Every 2011 Suburban 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
5.3L 8-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic Best EPA listing: Suburban 1500 4WD · Flex-fuel (E85)	17 mpg	15 / 21	$3,950
5.3L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Suburban 1500 2WD · Flex-fuel (E85)	17 mpg	15 / 21	$3,950
6.0L 8-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Suburban 2500 4WD	12 mpg	10 / 16	$5,600
6.0L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Suburban 2500 2WD	12 mpg	10 / 16	$5,600

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.47 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
5.3L 8-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic	$3,944	$329	$19,721
5.3L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,944	$329	$19,721
6.0L 8-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic	$5,587	$466	$27,937
6.0L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic	$5,587	$466	$27,937

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

Chevrolet Suburban MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 17 to 19 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); highest in 2016. Diesel: 23 mpg (2021 to 2026).

Best gas version
Best diesel version

2011: gas 17 mpg · diesel not offered

Show as a table

Chevrolet Suburban best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best diesel version
2010	17	–
2011	17	–
2012	17	–
2013	17	–
2014	17	–
2015	18	–
2016	19	–
2017	19	–
2018	19	–
2019	18	–
2020	18	–
2021	18	23
2022	17	23
2023	17	23
2024	17	23
2025	17	23
2026	17	23

Every Suburban year's ratings in one table

How the 2011 Suburban compares

2011 full-size SUVs 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.

2011 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Chevrolet Tahoe Best: hybrid	21 mpg	17 mpg	$3,200
GMC Yukon Best: hybrid	21 mpg	17 mpg	$3,200
Chevrolet Suburban This page Best: gas	17 mpg	17 mpg	$3,950
Ford Expedition Best: gas	16 mpg	16 mpg	$4,200
Toyota Sequoia Best: gas	16 mpg	16 mpg	$4,200

Chevrolet Tahoe vs Chevrolet SuburbanMPG, fuel cost, recalls and crash tests side by side

2011 Suburban recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 235 owner complaints for the 2011 Suburban.

Most-reported area: air bags (102 complaints, 43%).

See the 2011 Suburban recalls and problems

Questions

Does 4WD lower the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban's gas mileage?

No. Versions that differ only in drive share the same combined rating: the 5.3L 8-cyl gets 17 mpg combined with two-wheel drive and 17 with 4WD.

Does the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2011 Chevrolet Suburban version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2011 Suburban's MPG compare with the 2010?

For 2011, the best gas version is rated 17 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 29, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.47, midgrade $5.07, premium $5.48, diesel $6.38 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Oct 2, 2026 and complaint file dated Oct 2, 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.