6.2L Gas or 3.0L

[Atlas]

I'm biased - I went with the 3.0. Imo noise and speed are for sports cars, not pickups. The 3.0 pulls and gets excellent mileage. I don't have many miles on it yet, but I've towed a trailer loaded to 7k with it for a few hundred miles, and the engine/trans were right at home. Pretty happy with my choice so far.

 

I do like the 6.2. I have the LT1 version in a 6th gen Camaro. It's been a good engine so far, but again, noise and speed - THAT it does do. It pulls like a freight train - but at high RPM. I've just never been a big noisy V8 guy with trucks, that's for muscle cars IMO.

[oncewas]

I can't compare the 6.7 never had one but I had a 5.3L and pulled my 6000lb camper with it to Nova Scotia and got 7-8mpg at the best of times and that was driving 60-65mph. So I traded it in on a new 3.0L and took my camper out west to Wyoming then down to I-10 and home. If i watched my speed I'd get 13-14 MPG but most of the time I just drove the posted speed and still got better than the gaser at 10-12mpg and that was doing 75 most of the time. And when not pulling the trailer I'd get 29-30mpg. For me the choice was easy, just depends on what you want your vehicle to do.

[SIXFOUR]

I would choose the 6.2L. My reason is the horsepower and torque. I do not pull a trailer most times, but use the bed for transportation of various cargo weight and sizes. I know the 3.0 has great HP and torque numbers also, but my preference is a naturally aspirated gasoline motor with performance to press me back into my seat. 

Before owning this 6.2L, most of my previous GM trucks(and several F body's, had 5.7L powerplants. I have owned and driven numerous 6.6L duramax rigs, but not the 3.0L. 

For me the final awnser is the 6.2L mostly for the incredible performance. I find numerous reasons to have to drive this 6.2L Denali, because she is a beast. I know Pontiac use to build Excitement, but GM put the WHOAH in the 6.2L.

[Gangly]

I would love to try out the 3.0L, but it does not fit my driving style, to the point where I believe it would actually be detrimental to the 3.0 diesel engine.  Although most of my miles are highway miles, the drive from my house to my office is about 3-5 minutes MAX.  I make that trip 3 times a day if I’m not on the highway, and each time I make that trip the diesel would never get a chance to warm up before shutting it back down again, and that’s HARD on a diesel engine.

 

Again, I would love to give the 3.0 a try, but I believe my incredibly short daily commute would kill it over time.

[Port Tack Farm]

I have the 3.0 diesel with max tow and love it.  I average 25 mpg running around town doing errands on a mix of roads.  Around here, diesel is cheaper than premium gas as long as you fill up in town and avoid filling up on the interstate, and that's comparing premium at Costco which is cheaper than typical gas stations vs diesel at most stations.  So far I've towed a 2800 lbs trailer loaded with my 7000 lbs tractor, etc. without issue, granted this was sticking to two lane highway and I got 18 mpg doing it over a 50+ mile stretch.  I was more concerned about stopping than accelerating and with the brakes on the trailer it was fine.  I don't tow heavy often, maybe a couple times a year with the trailer and tractor over that same stretch of road.  I considered getting a 2500 but decided i didn't want to drive it everyday so the 1500 with the 3.0 liter diesel was a compromise that's worked out really well so far.