2010 Chevy Silverado XFE updated to achieve best-in-class 22 mpg highway
A couple years ago, the battle of the pickup trucks was all about power and towing capabilities. Now, with volatile fuel prices and an increased focus on the environment, fuel efficiency is the new battleground. For the 2009 model year, the GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado XFE took fuel economy up a notch by hitting 21 mpg in highway driving. Ford's new SFE F-150 matched the Silverado's 15/21 numbers. The Blue Oval dropped the SFE for 2010, but kept the improved fuel economy.
General Motors is firing the latest salvo in the new fuel economy war by upping the EPA numbers on the XFE Silverado and Sierra to 22 mpg in highway driving. The move also improves the combined fuel economy of the GMT900 trucks from 17 to 18 mpg. That number now matches the highway fuel economy of the Silverado hybrid, but without the really expensive battery pack.
Chevrolet spokesperson Brian Goebel told Pickuptrucks that the increased fuel economy is due several engineering improvements. The XFE's 5.3L V8 now has variable valve timing, optimized shift pattens in its 6-speed transmission, and Active Fuel Management, which enables the truck to run on four cylinders at cruising speeds.
[Source: Pickuptrucks]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
paulwesterberg 6:07PM (7/31/2009)
So what is the city mileage? Does the combined mileage still allow it to qualify as a clunker?
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oollyoumn 9:24PM (7/31/2009)
I have owned about 8 GM vehicles, none of which ever achieved their rated MPG, some missing by nearly 20%. Many of my other vehicle regularly surpassed the EPA rating, one by more than 20%. From what I can find these test are preformed by the manufacturer using EPA guidelines. The EPA only audits about 10% and these, and all audits are paper audits. Clearly there is room to fudge these numbers. I also found that if you go to your dealer or even write GM about missing you mpg numbers by 20% they will tell you "your mileage may vary" and basically they don't care.
These numbers are about as meaningful as a debt owed by GM two months ago.
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Snowdog 9:36AM (8/01/2009)
Which is why I prefer Consumer Reports testing and numbers. They have their own city and highway testing done on a track and in the real world. Not sitting on a Dyno and not accepting the manufacturer numbers. You also don't benefit as much from tricks to "game" the test (like the GM manual transmissions gated to go in high gear if you don't floor it).
CR city loop is harsher than the EPA numbers, the highway test a bit easier.
Jimmy 9:05AM (8/01/2009)
oollyoumn: the 2008 EPA figures are a much better estimate of "real world" fuel economy.
Are these changes going into the Tahoe XFE as well ?
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ebow 11:23AM (8/01/2009)
I think this site should try to pioneer the popular usage of gallons per 100 miles as an alternative to mpg. You could put the gp100m figures in parentheses so that we could learn that the Silverado's overall fuel economy improved from 5.88 gal/100mi to 5.56. I guess we need a concise abbreviation first, though.
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tomW 11:56PM (8/01/2009)
The EPA highway test (major component of EPA hwy FE) has an average speed of 48 mph. I don't see (m)any Chevy Silverado owners achieving 22 mpg.
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yorkydee 5:59PM (8/02/2009)
Still not good enough! They can do way better than 22mph. The technology is there.
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