If you had to choose...

[AllTerrain13]

Dude if you are not getting over 20mpg you are dogging it way too much. Ease up on the right foot man.....

Haha! Did I say miles per gallon? I meant smiles per gallon! [emoji16]. I came out of a 3.5 Ecoboost and do not miss that setup!

 

OP if you need torque or do a lot of around town driving (stop light to stop light) I would go 6.2. You will probably see better fuel economy vs the 5.3 around town but I am sure the 5.3 shines on highway driving. The 5.3 may be improved if the rear end ratio is 3:42 or lower.

[GMC-AT]

I had a 2014 5.3 w/ 3:42...now have the 6.2 w/3:23 ..... my 6.2 get's slightly better MPG in city and highway.

[redwngr]

16 Denali 5.3 is NOT a flex fuel engine, (meaning it doesn't have the E85 goodies), so the E85 arguments do not apply to the trucks the OP is considering.

 

 

The '15 I ordered was a 6.2.

The '16 I ordered is a 5.3 NHT.

No regrets.

 

When loaded up to go somewhere, both trucks will arrive in the same amount of time.

 

The 6.2 has a nicer rumble (to my ear) when first started.

 

 

I'd own a 1500 Denali, if they were factory available with tow mirrors.

[Knightfall]

I'd just rather have an off road styled-truck than a luxury one. More useful features and looks better in my opinion. But then again, my next truck will probably be an extended cab work truck with the only 2 options being V8 and 4x4.

[RHStansbury]

Just when I thought I had it all figured out I went and test drove an LTZ Z71 with the 6.2...need to put a couple more bucks into the piggy bank, or hope for some serious January incentives. What a truck!

[Nwatson99]

I would like to try E85 but at the moment there are zero stations in my state that offer it. Bummer.

Trust me, karnut must be running some miracle E85 that is only treated in his state

Here E85 weakens your vehicle and it darn sure does not boost horsepower

Here E85 you get less miles per gallon of that junk

Here E85 has caused chattering, pinging, and knocking in engines when they went from gas to it.

I would not run it if I got it free for life.

 

 

RHstansbury

6.2L with the color, interior, and bed length you want.

Do not settle for less or any other.

[RHStansbury]

 

 

RHstansbury

6.2L with the color, interior, and bed length you want.

Do not settle for less or any other.

After tonight, it looks like a loaded black LTZ Z71 CCSB with the 6.2 is the goal.

 

The dealer was great, got to my number on a 5.3, but there were a couple of other things I'd asked for that they couldn't do. Unfortunately, the 6.2 is new on their lot and there wasn't a tag available. If there had been, y'all would be seeing the pictures by now.

[jimmyboy8301]

Just when I thought I had it all figured out I went and test drove an LTZ Z71 with the 6.2...need to put a couple more bucks into the piggy bank, or hope for some serious January incentives. What a truck!

6.2 is a beast!!

 

 

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[Rawyzf]

Trust me, karnut must be running some miracle E85 that is only treated in his state

Here E85 weakens your vehicle and it darn sure does not boost horsepower

Here E85 you get less miles per gallon of that junk

Here E85 has caused chattering, pinging, and knocking in engines when they went from gas to it.

I would not run it if I got it free for life.

 

 

Check my Dyno charts, E85 is no joke.

 

How can you say any of that, it's mostly bologna besides the less mpg.

 

E85 is cheaper, and as long as it's 25% cheaper than 87octane, you're breaking even with 25% less mpg. I know it's at least 35% cheaper than premium, so it's well worth it to run it.

 

E85 is 100+ Octane, and if you're pinging on it, you're pinging worse on regular and need to adjust your tune.

 

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[Rawyzf]

Baseline

Tune on 91

Tune on E85

 

 

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[Donstar]

Just when I thought I had it all figured out I went and test drove an LTZ Z71 with the 6.2...need to put a couple more bucks into the piggy bank, or hope for some serious January incentives. What a truck!

You are facing a tough decision and I recommend taking more time to shop around. Many people will argue the merits of the 6.2 or high trim levels but it is you who has to make the payments. Last year when I drove home with a SLE my family and neighbors thought I'd bought the best truck they'd ever seen. Their reaction would have been no different than if I paid 30K more for my truck! If you are willing to break from the two choices you originally posted, then there are many other combinations available to you. Take a base model c/w 4.3 for a serious test drive and then work your way "up" from there. You may find a new "sweet spot" between plain and top of the line that appeals more to your finances and tastes. (IMO)

[KARNUT]

You must be insane, the 14 and up yellow cab 5.3s gain 25 HP on E-85. You really should do your homework before you post. That's just 40HP less than the 6.2. on cheaper fuel, and you have fuel choices.?

Trust me, karnut must be running some miracle E85 that is only treated in his state

Here E85 weakens your vehicle and it darn sure does not boost horsepower

Here E85 you get less miles per gallon of that junk

Here E85 has caused chattering, pinging, and knocking in engines when they went from gas to it.

I would not run it if I got it free for life.

 

 

RHstansbury

6.2L with the color, interior, and bed length you want.

Do not settle for less or any other.

[07Softail]

I will tell you if the 6.2 was offered in a RCSB I would buy it in a New York second!

 

RT

[Rawyzf]

I will tell you if the 6.2 was offered in a RCSB I would buy it in a New York second!

 

RT

If the 6.2 was offered in a LT in 2015, I would have one as well. However, with what I have done, I have to be pretty close to 6.2 numbers.

 

RT, you have the Maggie installed, right?

 

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[RHStansbury]

You are facing a tough decision and I recommend taking more time to shop around. Many people will argue the merits of the 6.2 or high trim levels but it is you who has to make the payments. Last year when I drove home with a SLE my family and neighbors thought I'd bought the best truck they'd ever seen. Their reaction would have been no different than if I paid 30K more for my truck! If you are willing to break from the two choices you originally posted, then there are many other combinations available to you. Take a base model c/w 4.3 for a serious test drive and then work your way "up" from there. You may find a new "sweet spot" between plain and top of the line that appeals more to your finances and tastes. (IMO)

 

I'm coming from a 2012 Z71 Tahoe with every option, so I am a bit spoiled to begin with. This is a want, not a need, so I am going to be picky and get exactly what I want before I pull the trigger. At this point, if neither dealer I'm dealing with moves tomorrow, I'll just wait and see what the January incentives are.