Pickup trucks are increasingly popular daily drivers, making fuel economy a top priority. Stricter emissions regulations have also pushed manufacturers to improve mpg. Surprisingly, diesel engines currently offer the best fuel efficiency in full-size trucks from Ford, GM, and Ram. While hybrid and electric trucks are on the horizon, diesel remains the reigning champion for fuel-conscious drivers. This article ranks the most fuel-efficient trucks available, based on EPA combined fuel economy ratings for real-world driving scenarios. Note that all listed trucks achieve their best mpg with rear-wheel drive.
2020 Chevrolet Silverado Diesel
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax: Leading the Pack
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax boasts an impressive 27 mpg combined, leading the pack in fuel efficiency. Its EPA ratings break down to 23 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. Powering this efficiency is a 3.0-liter inline-six Duramax diesel engine, generating 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Silverado Duramax can tow up to 9,500 pounds. The Silverado also offers gasoline engine options with four, six, or eight cylinders. Redesigned for the 2019 model year, the Silverado features innovative technology like a “transparent trailer” system and a dedicated towing app. For 2020, it also added adaptive cruise control.
2020 GMC Sierra Denali CarbonPro
GMC Sierra 1500 Duramax: A Close Second
The GMC Sierra 1500 Duramax, mechanically similar to the Silverado, achieves a respectable 26 mpg combined (23 mpg city, 30 mpg highway). It shares the same 3.0-liter Duramax diesel engine and 10-speed automatic transmission, producing identical power and torque figures. However, its towing capacity is slightly lower at 9,100 pounds. Gasoline engine options are also available. While GMC positions itself as a premium brand, the current-generation Sierra differentiates itself with features like the MultiPro tailgate and the CarbonPro carbon-fiber cargo box.
2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel
Ram 1500 EcoDiesel: Power and Efficiency
The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel delivers a balanced 26 mpg combined (22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway). Its Italian-built 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, produces 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. A significant advantage is its 12,560-pound towing capacity, exceeding its Ford and GM competitors. Ram also offers gasoline V6 and V8 engine options. Redesigned for 2019, the Ram 1500 boasts a 12.0-inch touchscreen and independent front and coil-spring rear suspension for a smoother ride.
2020 F-150 Power Stroke Diesel
Ford F-150 Power Stroke: A Solid Contender
Despite its lighter aluminum body, the Ford F-150 Power Stroke achieves 24 mpg combined (21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway for the 2020 model year). Its 3.0-liter Power Stroke V6 diesel engine, coupled with a 10-speed automatic transmission, generates 250 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. It can tow up to 12,100 pounds. The F-150 offers a range of powertrains, including EcoBoost gasoline V6s, a naturally aspirated V8, and a PowerBoost hybrid. While the F-150 was redesigned for 2021, the diesel engine carried over.
2021 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2
Chevrolet Colorado Duramax and Ford Ranger: Midsize Efficiency
The Chevrolet Colorado Duramax achieves 23 mpg combined (20 mpg city, 30 mpg highway), matching its GMC Canyon sibling. Powered by a 2.8-liter four-cylinder Duramax diesel engine, it produces 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, and can tow up to 7,700 pounds. Gasoline four-cylinder and V6 engines are also available.
2020 Ford Ranger
The gasoline-powered Ford Ranger also achieves 23 mpg combined, but with different city/highway ratings (21 mpg city, 26 mpg highway). Its 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four engine and 10-speed automatic transmission deliver 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, enabling a 7,500-pound towing capacity.
Understanding Pickup Truck Size Categories
Pickup trucks are categorized by size, but the terminology can be confusing. “Midsize” trucks are the smallest available new in the U.S., including models like the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, and Honda Ridgeline. “Full-size” or “half-ton” trucks are the most common, encompassing popular models like the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado 1500, and Ram 1500. “Heavy-duty” trucks, often called “three-quarter ton” or “one-ton,” exceed EPA weight ratings for passenger vehicles and are designed for heavy towing and hauling.
