Customers don’t generally look to GMC’s lineup of trucks and SUVs for outstanding fuel economy. However, the brand does offer a few strong options (mainly diesel) for drivers who want to spend a little less on gas. Here’s a look at fuel-efficient possibilities for the GMC Terrain, Canyon, Acadia, and (eventually) Sierra.
2019 GMC Terrain
Photo: GMC
The most fuel-efficient GMC vehicle you can buy is a 2019 GMC Terrain SUV equipped with FWD, a 1.6-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, and a six-speed automatic transmission. This turbo-diesel powertrain, available on SLE Diesel and SLT Diesel trims, allows the Terrain to get 28 mpg in the city, 39 mpg on the highway, and 32 mpg combined.
With AWD, these models get 1 mpg less on the highway. The Terrain’s base engine (a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder) is quite efficient, too. It’s paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and gets 26 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined (or 2 mpg less with AWD).
2019 GMC Canyon
Photo: GMC
GMC’s most fuel-efficient pickup is the 2019 Canyon equipped with FWD and a turbo-diesel engine. On SLT and Denali trims, this 2.8-liter Duramax four-cylinder engine pairs with a six-speed automatic to achieve 20 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. AWD models get 19/28/22 mpg.
The Canyon’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine isn’t too far behind. It gets 20 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined with FWD, or 19/24/21 mpg with AWD.
2019 GMC Acadia
Photo: The News Wheel
A large three-row SUV, the 2019 GMC Acadia posts solid fuel efficiency numbers for its size. When carrying a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, an Acadia with FWD gets 21 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. With AWD, those numbers fall ever so slightly to 21/25/22 mpg.
2019 GMC Sierra
Photo: GMC
The 2019 GMC Sierra isn’t a particularly fuel-efficient truck. At best, it gets 20 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg combined when equipped with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission.
Later this year, the 2019 Sierra is in line to receive a new 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine. Official specs haven’t been released yet. But according to early estimates, this engine could achieve 28 mpg on the highway, giving Sierra buyers a significantly more fuel-efficient option.
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