With big burly V8s and potent turbo diesel engines under the hood, the pickup truck segment used to gloss over fuel efficiency in the past, purely because of the performance required for work. However, in the current market scenario with high gas prices, fuel efficiency is as important as ever. And several customers are now considering it a high priority when shopping for full-size pickup trucks. Several manufacturers have already started focusing on all-electric options like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T.
But, because of the limited range on offer, these trucks cannot be considered as a replacement for work trucks, at least for now. So, a lot of manufacturers offer diesel powertrains that offer plenty of torque and towing capability while providing decent mileage compared to a similarly specced gas engine. But as battery technology improves, expect a lot more all-electric options in the future that can match or even pass comparable gas and diesel specced full-size pickup trucks. Let's take a look at some of the full size trucks offering best gas mileage.
2022 Ford F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid- 25 MPG Combined
Unlike the all-electric Lightning model, the Ford F-150 Powerboost Hybrid is a lot easier to live with thanks to the full-hybrid powertrain. Dubbed the PowerBoost, the powertrain includes a 3.5L twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine and a 47 hp electric motor mounted to the automatic transmission, sapping power from a 1.5 kWh battery. Together this duo churns out 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque. Regenerative braking is also included to boost efficiency even further. Towing capacity stands at 12,000 pounds, which is on par with the gas powertrain. The F-150 PowerBoost provides a range of nearly 700 miles on a tank; significantly higher than the all-electric model.
2022 Toyota Tundra Hybrid – 20 MPG Combined
With the latest generation Tundra, Toyota has introduced the iForce Max powertrain to improve efficiency. The truck gets a twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 engine and a 48-hp electric motor to help the engine fill gaps during gear shifts and boost efficiency. A large hybrid battery underneath the rear seats powers the electric motor. Together this duo churns out producing 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. Performance also gets a noticeable boost thanks to the electric motor. However, the Tundra Hybrid is not as efficient as the competition, returning around 20 MPG combined. Towing capacity stands at 12,000 pounds and the Tundra Hybrid can travel just over 700 miles on the highway.
2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Diesel – 27 MPG Combined
Diesel has always stood for efficiency and it's not surprising to see some Duramax engines on this list. And the 2022 Sierra 1500 gets the 3.0L Duramax Turbo diesel inline-6 as an option. It churns out 277hp and while the power figures don’t seem that impressive, 461 lb-ft of torque is plenty enough to help move the truck with authority and it can tow 13,200 pounds. EPA estimates stand at 24 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway, the highest among full-size pickup trucks. And it even manages to trump full-hybrid offerings in the segment. 4WD models return slightly less MPG figures but still remain surprisingly efficient for the performance on offer. Expect a range of over 700 miles on the highway.
2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Diesel – 27 MPG Combined
Sharing the same Duramax engine with the GMC Sierra 1500, the 2022 Silverado 1500 Diesel offers a different styling with different features. However, the powertrain remains identical and the 3.0L inline-6 turbo diesel produces 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. For better efficiency, the 2WD models return an impressive 23 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway. 4WD models are slightly limited to 30 MPG on the highway. The Silverado 1500 also offers a towing capacity of 13,200 pounds. Like the GMC Sierra 1500, the Silverado 1500 also offers a similar range since they are nearly identical.
2022 RAM 1500 EcoDiesel – 27 MPG Combined
Another diesel entrant on this list is the RAM 1500. When you opt for the Ecodiesel variant, expect to shell out $5,000 over the standard V-6 gas engine. It comes equipped with a 3L TurboDiesel V6 which produces 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque, a notable improvement over the outgoing model. RAM has also tuned the new setup to be more usable with the torque coming in early. Coming to the fuel efficiency figures, the EcoDiesel powertrain will return 22 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway in the 2WD drivetrain config. Moreover, when properly equipped it can tow about 12,560 pounds.
2023 Nissan Titan – 18 MPG Combined
Trailing the pack and coming in at the bottom of the list is the latest Nissan Titan. Still powered by the massive 5.6L V-8 under the hood, the Titan remains one of the last naturally aspirated options in the segment. The performance figures remain the same at 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. Despite the larger engine, the Titan returns an impressive 21 MPG on the highway and 16 MPG in the city. The off-road-focused Pro-4X models are slightly less efficient. Towing capacity is lower on the standard while it can tow up to 9660 pounds with some equipment. And it offers a range of about 468 miles on the highway.
