This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.

Key takeaways

  • Returns 40% worse combined MPG than the average car in the Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD class for the 2004 model year (16.6 MPG class average).
  • The most efficient car in the Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD class for the 2004 model year is the Ford Ranger Pickup 2WD at 21 MPG.
  • EPA estimates this car costs around $11,500 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.

Fuel economy at a glance

These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.

Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).

Combined MPG 10 MPG
City MPG 9 MPG
Highway MPG 11 MPG
Annual fuel cost $4,450
Tailpipe CO₂ 703 g/mi
Fuel type CNG

How the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG compares

The 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG returns 10 combined MPG. Cars in the Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD class for the same model year average 16.6 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 40%.

The most efficient car in the Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD class for the 2004 model year is the Ford Ranger Pickup 2WD at 21 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.

For broader context, the average new car of the 2004 model year (across all classes) returns 18.4 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2004 model year is on its own page.

2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG
10 MPG
Class average, 2004
16.6 MPG
Class best, 2004
21 MPG
Average new car, 2004
18.4 MPG

Annual fuel cost across driving patterns

The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for compressed natural gas, which is $2.96/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.

The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 1500 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Driving pattern Estimated annual fuel cost
Light driver, 7,500 miles per year $2,225
Average driver, 15,000 miles per year $4,450
Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year $7,417

Year-over-year MPG for the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG

The EPA has rated the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG across 2 model years, from 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG through 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.

Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 9 MPG.

Year Combined MPG Open year page
2005 9 MPG 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG
2004 10 MPG this page

Compare against other Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD for 2004

If you are cross-shopping the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.

The Ford Ranger Pickup 2WD leads this group at 23 MPG, 13 MPG ahead of the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG.

Specifications

The 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG runs a 6-liter 8-cylinder engine paired with a automatic 4-spd, sending power through rear-wheel drive.

Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.

Vehicle class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD
Engine
6L 8-cylinder
Transmission
Automatic 4-spd
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel type
CNG
Annual petroleum use
0.1 barrels per year

Common questions about the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG.

  • Is the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG fuel efficient?
    Not particularly. The 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG returns 10 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD class for the same model year by about 40%.
  • What MPG does the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG get?
    The EPA rates the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG at 10 combined MPG, 9 MPG in city driving, and 11 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is.
  • How much does it cost to fuel a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG per year?
    The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $4,450 for the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade.
  • What fuel does the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG use?
    The EPA lists the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG as running on natural gas. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity.
  • How much CO₂ does the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG emit?
    Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 703 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 10,545 kilograms of CO₂.
  • What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG?
    City driving returns 9 MPG and highway driving returns 11 MPG, a gap of 2 MPG. The two figures are close enough that the car will hold its rated efficiency well across most driving patterns.
  • What engine is in the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG?
    The 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG has a 6-liter 8-cylinder engine.
  • What transmission and drivetrain does the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG have?
    The 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG comes with a automatic 4-spd transmission and rear-wheel drive.
  • How does the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG compare to the best car in its class?
    The most efficient car in the Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD class for the 2004 model year is the Ford Ranger Pickup 2WD at 21 combined MPG. The Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG returns 10 MPG, a gap of 11 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
  • How much more does the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG cost in fuel compared to an average car?
    The EPA estimates that over five years, the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CNG will cost about $11,500 more in fuel than an average new vehicle of the same model year. The difference accumulates because the car uses more fuel per mile, not because of any one-off charge at the dealership.

Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.