Most Fuel Efficient Trucks: Which One Is the Best?
John Goreham is a life-long car nut and recovering engineer. John’s focus areas are technology, safety, and green vehicles. In the 1990s, he was part of an academic team that built a solar-electric vehicle from scratch. His was the role of the battery thermal control designer. After earning his engineering degree, John also completed a marketing program at Northeastern University. For 20 years, he applied his engineering and sales talents in the worlds of semiconductor manufacturing, biopharmaceutical production, and automotive electronics supply chain. Always a writer, John has published numerous articles in technical journals such as Chemical Processing Magazine. In 2008 he retired from that career and dedicated himself to chasing his dream of being an auto writer. In addition to online publications such as Car Talk, John’s work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers, and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites.
Pickup trucks in America serve many roles. They can be family vehicles, commuter vehicles, all-purpose vehicles, off-roaders, utility, and towing vehicles.
Within that “big tent” of truck shoppers are many who need or want a fuel-efficient truck.
Let’s examine some of the latest pickup truck models notable for their fuel efficiency.
Check out all our picks for the best trucks >>
Table of Contents
Most Fuel Efficient Trucks Comparison
| EPA Fuel Economy | Annual Fuel Cost | Potential Savings | |
 | |||
RAM 1500 HFE EcoDiesel | 26 MPG (Diesel) 22 MPG (Hybrid) | $1,850 $1,950 | $1,250 $1,750 |
Chevrolet Silverado | 21 MPG (Gasoline) 27 MPG (Diesel) | $2,050 $1,750 | $2,250 $750 |
Savings based on fuel costs over 5 years compared to average new vehicle
Ford F-150 PowerBoost (F-150 Hybrid)
The new Ford F-150 PowerBoost combines a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a full hybrid drivetrain to create a truck that is not just good on paper, but good on the road and the job. The PowerBoost F-150 offers an incredible 430 horsepower and 570 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s the most torque ever for any F-150.
The 4X2 PowerBoost F-150 is rated at a maximum of 12,700 pounds of conventional towing with Ford’s towing package and can handle a maximum payload of 2,120 pounds. Those are numbers that any tradesperson can appreciate.
The standard F-150 PowerBoost also offers Pro Power Onboard. This standard built-in generator provides 2.4 kilowatts of power at outlets in the cabin and cargo box. The optional 7.2-kilowatt output provides enough juice to power a construction site.
The 4X2 PowerBoost F-150 earns a 25 MPG rating, the industry’s best gasoline MPG in a full-size truck, and among the lowest in annual fuel cost of any pickup. The Ford F-150 is also known for its strong reliability ratings. However, we find the 24 MPG in 4X4 PowerBoost trucks the most interesting option. Both top Ford’s diesel F-150 offering.
Ford F-150 PowerBoost Features
- 24 MPG in a 4X4 configuration
- Uses gas, not diesel
- Most torque of any F-150 model
- Built-in generator with two output options
- Hybrid drivetrain never needs to be plugged in
Current Ford F-150 Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Ford | F-150 | $492/month for 48 months, $4,075 due at signing | 1/2/24 | ||
| 2024 | Ford | F-150 | ||||
| 2023 | Ford | F-150 Lightning |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Ford deals here.
RAM 1500 HFE EcoDiesel
Ram now offers those looking for fuel-efficient trucks a wide range of choices, including hybrid and diesel trucks. Ram calls its frugal trucks HFE, as in High Fuel Efficiency. The Ram 1500 4X2 HFE EcoDiesel delivers an impressive 33 mpg. That translates to a $1,850 annual fuel cost with today’s fuel prices.
Ram also offers hybrid full-size trucks in both 4X2 and 4X4 configurations with both six and eight-cylinder engines. We like Ram’s approach here. Instead of just one halo truck with which the brand can grab headlines, the company offers fuel-efficient versions of many of its trucks, including V8s and 4X4s. These powertrains decrease fuel usage even for owners who cannot compromise other truck requirements.
RAM 1500 HFE EcoDiesel Features
- Hybrid and diesel options
- Wide range of mileage-maximized options
- V8 hybrid options
- Many 4X4 options
Current RAM 1500 Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's RAM deals here.
Chevrolet Silverado (2.7-Liter Gas and 3.0-Liter Diesel)
Chevrolet offers two fuel-efficient trucks. Those looking for a low-cost work truck may wish to consider the Silverado equipped with the 2.7-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine. With a respectable 9,600-pound towing rating, this truck offers a relatively low annual fuel cost of $2,050. Being turbocharged means that all of the truck’s torque is available under 2,000 RPMs, which is where we all spend most of our time when driving. Chevy’s approach is a real-world way to provide a business owner with a low-entry cost and still deliver great fuel efficiency using America’s least-expensive fuel.
Chevy’s most fuel-efficient truck is the Silverado with its 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine. With an annual fuel cost of $1,750, it matches the Ford F-150 in this regard. The Silverado earns a 27 MPG Combined rating, the highest on our list. It also boasts a 648-mile range between fill-ups. GM says the Silverado’s 9,300-pound towing capacity and a max payload of 1,870 pounds satisfy the towing needs of about 90 percent of full-size truck customers. That is a huge part of the truck-buying population.
Chevrolet Silverado Features
- Low up-front cost for Chevy’s 2.7-liter turbo-equipped trucks
- Best in class annual fuel cost (tied with Ford) for diesel
Current Chevrolet Silverado Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Chevy deals here.
Energy Efficient Trucks to Look Out For
2022 will be an exciting year for energy-efficient pickup trucks. The Rivian T1T adventure truck began deliveries in June 2021. Tesla says that its Cybertruck will soon be available with its futuristic looks and amazing performance (though we’ve heard that for two years). GM has a new brand of trucks in its Hummer line on the way, and Ford’s all-electric F-150 is not far behind.
It won’t be long before the idea of “MPG” has been replaced with a focus on electricity costs per year and range specifications as trucks begin the slow migration to electric powertrains.
What will future battery-electric trucks offer owners?
The performance will be enhanced in every measurable way. Also, annual energy costs will drop by roughly 70%. Maintenance needs will be reduced. Towing capacity will go up, but towing range will go down. It will take some adaptation on the part of owners, but it is very rare that a work vehicle will cover more than 300 miles in one day. If you think about it, that is five hours of highway driving. After an initial period of adjustment, we predict most truck owners will love electric trucks.
What to Consider in a Fuel Efficient Truck
The tricky thing about pickup truck fuel efficiency numbers, particularly the MPG numbers, is that the most fuel-efficient trucks are almost always two-wheel drive (rear-wheel drive). And a 4X2 truck is not exactly in line with the other needs of many truck owners.
One other consideration is that a truck that is “fuel-efficient” may not also be “fuel-economical.” MPG numbers are a little bit misleading when diesel enters the equation. Sure, diesel offers more miles per gallon, but in many cases, the gallons cost more.
