2012 Chevrolet Tahoe MPG and Fuel Cost
The 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe gets up to 17 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 21 mpg as a hybrid, across 4 EPA-tested versions.
EPA fuel economy
2012 Chevrolet Tahoe · 4 EPA-tested versionsBest gas version
17MPG combined
15 city 21 highway
$3,950 a year to fuel
5.3L 8-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic
Best hybrid version
21MPG combined
20 city 23 highway
$3,200 a year to fuel
6.0L 8-cyl hybrid · 4WD · CVT
Best version costs $4,000 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).
At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $3,200 to $3,950 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2011.
Fewer complaints than a typical Tahoe year
The 2012 drew 7 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 46 for a typical Tahoe 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, 2021, and 2023; best year: 2018. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
Every Tahoe year rankedThe 2012 Tahoe's recalls and problems
Every 2012 Tahoe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | |||
6.0L 8-cyl hybrid · 4WD · CVT Best
EPA listing: Tahoe Hybrid 4WD |
21 mpg | 20 / 23 | $3,200 |
6.0L 8-cyl hybrid · RWD · CVT
EPA listing: Tahoe Hybrid 2WD |
21 mpg | 20 / 23 | $3,200 |
| Gas | |||
5.3L 8-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic
EPA listing: Tahoe 1500 4WD · Flex-fuel (E85) |
17 mpg | 15 / 21 | $3,950 |
5.3L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic
EPA listing: Tahoe 1500 2WD · Flex-fuel (E85) |
17 mpg | 15 / 21 | $3,950 |
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 | 5 years |
|---|---|---|
6.0L 8-cyl hybrid · 4WD · CVT | $3,193 | $15,964 |
6.0L 8-cyl hybrid · RWD · CVT | $3,193 | $15,964 |
5.3L 8-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic | $3,944 | $19,721 |
5.3L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic | $3,944 | $19,721 |
At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.
Does the hybrid pay for itself? See the payback for every model sold both ways.
Chevrolet Tahoe 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. Hybrid: 21 to 22 mpg (2010 to 2013); highest in 2010.
- Best gas version
- Best hybrid version
2012: gas 17 mpg · hybrid 21 mpgTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
| Model year | Best gas version | Best hybrid version |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 17 | 22 |
| 2011 | 17 | 21 |
| 2012 | 17 | 21 |
| 2013 | 17 | 21 |
| 2014 | 17 | – |
| 2015 | 18 | – |
| 2016 | 19 | – |
| 2017 | 19 | – |
| 2018 | 19 | – |
| 2019 | 18 | – |
| 2020 | 18 | – |
| 2021 | 18 | – |
| 2022 | 17 | – |
| 2023 | 17 | – |
| 2024 | 17 | – |
| 2025 | 17 | – |
| 2026 | 17 | – |
Every Tahoe year's ratings in one table
How the 2012 Tahoe compares
2012 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.
| 2012 model | Best combined | Best gas | Fuel / year |
|---|---|---|---|
Chevrolet Tahoe This page Best: hybrid |
21 mpg | 17 mpg | $3,200 |
Best: hybrid |
21 mpg | 17 mpg | $3,200 |
Best: gas |
17 mpg | 17 mpg | $3,950 |
Best: gas |
16 mpg | 16 mpg | $4,200 |
Best: gas |
16 mpg | 16 mpg | $4,200 |
- Chevrolet Tahoe vs Ford ExpeditionMPG, fuel cost, recalls and crash tests side by side
- Chevrolet Tahoe vs Chevrolet SuburbanMPG, fuel cost, recalls and crash tests side by side
2012 Tahoe recalls and complaints
Questions
Does 4WD lower the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe's gas mileage?
No. Versions that differ only in drive share the same combined rating: the 6.0L 8-cyl hybrid gets 21 mpg combined with two-wheel drive and 21 with 4WD.
How much fuel does the 2012 Tahoe hybrid save?
Comparing AWD or 4WD versions at EPA's assumptions (15,000 miles a year, $4.47 a gallon), the hybrid costs $3,200 a year to fuel against $3,950 for the gas model: $750 a year, or $3,750 over five years.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe need premium gas?
No. EPA lists every 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe version on regular gasoline.
How does the 2012 Tahoe's MPG compare with the 2011?
For 2012, the best gas version is rated 17 mpg, the same as the year before and the best hybrid version is rated 21 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.