Before, pickup Trucks were one-trick ponies with a bed in the rear, a torquey and sometimes unrefined engine up front, and a passenger cab in the centre. Although it was admired, sheer capability and durability took precedence above fuel economy.
Nowadays, efficiency is the primary concern for almost all purchasers. Nearly all automakers already sell or plan to sell an electric or hybrid truck, and even full-size conventional vehicles are becoming more efficient thanks to new hardware and technology. Nowadays, it’s not unusual to see a turbocharged four-cylinder under the hood of a full-size half-ton truck. In addition, that little engine probably produces more power than a V8 did twenty years ago while using just half as much gasoline.
The efficient Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz lead the assault in the resurgent small truck market. Additionally, there is frequent speculation of upcoming small trucks from Chevrolet, Ram, and possibly Volkswagen.
All of these elements work together to raise the average fuel efficiency score. So, even if it’s still a fractional game, we’ve done the legwork, combed through the most recent EPA ratings, and created a list of the fuel-efficient vehicles currently for sale.
Total- and midsize vehicles and the freshly revitalized compact truck market are on this list. The figures for fuel efficiency are taken from the most current official EPA ratings and reflect each model’s most fuel-efficient iteration. The combined fuel economy number was the primary measure used to build the ranking; in the event of a tie, the city figure decides the victory.
2023 Ford Maverick
Price Starting From $23,690
The Ford Maverick, now in its second year of production, tops the list of the most fuel-efficient trucks in the United States. Although a tiny vehicle, the fuel-efficient hybrid engine beneath the hood gets the most praise.
A Maverick with this equipment gets an EPA-rated 37 mpg combined, 40 cities and 33 highways on its basic hybrid engine. Fans of the Maverick will notice that the city rating is two mpg less than in 2022 when it made its debut. According to Ford, this is because the aerodynamic grille shutters have changed.
The fact that it has seating for five, a functional bed, and the capacity to tow either 2000 pounds with the hybrid model or 4000 pounds with the non-hybrid model makes it fulfil the description, even if some people still reject it as a toy for suburbanites. However, that added towing capability comes at the expense of a thirstier turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with ratings of 26 combined, 23 cities, and 30 highways, which are still outstanding for a truck of any size. The trick is to not see the Maverick as a weak substitute for a full-size truck but rather as a modern twist on a tried-and-true design that offers 90% of the functionality that 50% of truck purchasers want.
While the Maverick generally stays the same for 2023, Ford has developed a new Maverick Tremor model with off-road enhancements to entice consumers who aren’t sure whether to go with this or the Hyundai Santa Cruz or a midsize truck like the Ranger and Toyota Tacoma.
2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Price Starting From $35,600
The 3.0-litre turbodiesel inline-six in the Chevrolet Silverado is a thoroughly contemporary rendition of the oil-burner concept, even if half-ton and midsize diesel trucks appear to be losing favour. It produces 305 horsepower and a crushing 495 pound-feet of torque, significantly increasing over the previous year’s 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft figures. It is powerful, economical, and smooth for a diesel. It can carry a payload of 1,970 pounds and pull up to 13,300 pounds when required. The diesel enables the large Silverado to achieve rear-wheel-drive EPA ratings of 26 mpg combined in 24 cities and 29 highways.
Even with the present price premium for diesel, such sums might mount up for consumers who drive a lot. Even when they have specifications equal to their gasoline counterparts, diesel engines tend to keep that efficiency better while towing. Additionally, it makes fuelling easier for utility firms and those operating heavy equipment off the established route since 90% of the equipment already runs on diesel.
Regarding the Silverado as a whole, a significant redesign for the 2022 model year brought a new interior with improved infotainment and more standard safety features; 2023 sees the power above increase as well as three new colours, Radiant red Tintcoat, Sterling Gray Metallic, and Harvest Bronze Metallic.
Note that the 2023 GMC Sierra diesel has specifications similar to those of the Chevy.
2023 Ford F-150
Price Starting From $34,085
In 2021, Ford sold approximately 600,000 F-series pickup trucks and received several awards. However, the F-150 hybrid model is what got it on this list. With 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet of torque, the twin-turbo V6 and 47-hp electric motor work together to gratify practically any admirer of classic trucks. But the F-150 hybrid is EPA-rated at 25 mpg overall, in the city, on the highway, and combined, owing to the cutting-edge engine hidden behind that class-exclusive, lightweight aluminium sheet metal. Models with four-wheel drive get 23 mpg.
On the highway, the hybrid outperforms the turbocharged 2.7-litre V6, Ford’s smallest conventional gasoline engine, by one mpg (26 vs 25). However, it performs worse in the combined cycle and the city, dropping it to second place in the lineup. Most importantly, its 325 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque aren’t even close to the hybrid’s 430 and 570 pound-feet. The other engines, including the venerable 5.0 V8 and the twin-turbo V6, provide power comparable to the hybrid’s. Still, none of them have the clever onboard mobile electric generator that can produce up to 7.2 kW of A/C in its most powerful configuration.
The F-150 Hybrid is a beautiful option as you go into the future if you’re a die-hard Ford fan and are still on the fence about the new F-150 Lightning EV (or you don’t want to wait or spend over sticker).
2022 Jeep Gladiator
Price Starting From $37,170
Although it may not be the first brand you think of pickup trucks, Jeep has a long history with them—the J10 “Gladiator” operated in several versions from 1962 to 1988. While being predated by the now-collectable Forward Control Jeeps, it was the first consumer vehicle to have a significant influence. Based on the XJ Cherokee, Comanche followed it for seven years, from 1986 to 1992. The Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler, based on the CJ, is the actual progenitor of the modern Jeep Gladiator. The CJ-8, a blip in the history of the Jeep brand, was produced from 1981 to 1986 and sold less than 28,000 cars over those six years.
Thankfully, the Toledo-built Gladiator, which sold just under 100,000 units in North America in 2021, has none of the Scrambler’s public perception or sales problems. Few brand-new trucks can match the Gladiator’s off-road prowess, especially with the additional ground clearance of the Rubicon grade. Still, the diesel model gets an EPA-estimated 24 mpg combined for 22 cities and 28 highways.
The Ram 1500’s 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine, utilized in the Gladiator, may still be used even when diesel fuel is more expensive than conventional gasoline when creeping off-road and in slow-speed urban settings, where torque is king; 442 lb-ft of torque comes in useful. The off-road tuning makes it a touch loud, and the on-road steering feel and handling aren’t spectacular, but it’s still a valuable and spacious daily vehicle.
2023 Ram 1500
Price Starting From $36,820
Although the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel has previously come in as high as second on our list, its availability is only restricted to a few models for 2023. And to make matters worse, it has been formally dropped. Production was supposed to end in January 2023 at our latest check. On the manufacturer’s website, it is still widely available, and a clever shopper may get a great price on any unsold units taking up space on dealer lots.
Given these limitations, the 2023 model achieves 24 combined mpg, 21 cities, and 29 highways. That’s still amazing for a full-size vehicle, and it even equals the 33 mpg highway rating of the considerably smaller Maverick Hybrid.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Price Starting From $25,450
Given its small size and four-cylinder engine options, we anticipated that the Santa would have placed in the top three on this list. Fair enough, the five cars listed above all have hybrid or diesel engines, whereas the Santa Cruz enters with a normally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, front-wheel drive, and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. It achieves EPA fuel-economy ratings of 23 mpg combined, 22 cities and 26 highways when outfitted as it is. Only one mpg is gained by using the all-wheel drive to the town and on the interstate; the key combined statistic stays at 23 mpg.
The standard model only has 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque; the turbocharged version with all-wheel drive offers 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It has greater highway fuel efficiency than the standard engine, which achieves 27 mpg, with ratings of 22 mpg combined and 19 in the city. Regardless of the calculations, the turbocharged version is far more enjoyable to drive, and we’d take the little loss in fuel efficiency over the added power any day.
Overall, the Hyundai Santa Cruz is a very refined and civilized interpretation of the type. The Santa Cruz is a little pickup truck less than 200 inches long. It has the shortest bed on the market and a low load capacity, but it also boasts lots of electronics, bold flair, and a polished interior. Although the bed may be small, the Hyundai is a more livable, functional day-to-day car than typical midsize pickups and can pull as much as or more than its competitors, Ford and Honda.
2022 Ford Ranger
Price Starting From $25,980
Do you remember the Ford Ranger? For the 2019 model year, it returned to the American market after a five-year absence. From 1983 until 2021, it was one of the most well-liked and reasonably priced compact vehicles. The latest Ranger balances functionality and capabilities while keeping the overall design relatively small.
Its rear-wheel drive, ten-speed automatic gearbox, and tried-and-true turbocharged 2.3-litre inline-four provide reliable EPA figures of 23 combined, 21 cities, and 26 highway mpg. It has the same integrated highway ratings as the Santa Cruz mentioned above but loses one mpg in the city rating and is behind it by a small margin. However, the Santa Cruz is primarily aimed at outdoor enthusiasts, while the Ranger focuses more on working folk.
The Ranger sports a class-leading payload capacity, a comprehensive range of active safety systems, and respectable off-road and towing capabilities. The new Tremor package much improves the truck’s off-road capabilities, but it also costs more money and occasionally seems like a cruder machine.
2022 Chevrolet Colorado
Price Starting From $25,735
The Chevrolet Colorado’s second generation iteration will end in 2022. However, the official EPA fuel economy estimates for the new 2023 Colorado are still pending. As a result, we’ll concentrate on 2022 for the time being and update when the official estimate is out. However, we can confirm that the 2.7-litre turbocharged four-cylinder will replace the diesel engine by the end of this year and will be offered in three states of tune.
The 2022 Colorado shares its base and 2.8-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder with the GMC Canyon, making it an attractive option for those purchasing a vehicle before the new-for-2023 model debuts. The GMC lacks a couple of settings that it does, however. Colorado offers a diesel in the off-road-focused extended-cab ZR2 and ZR2 Bison models, which are more capable off-road than GMC’s AT4 model and more visually outgoing. Crew-cab models are generally similar to the Diesel Canyon and share its 23 mpg combined, 20 city and 30 highway fuel economy ratings, and 7,700-pound maximum tow ratings. The ZR2’s combined fuel efficiency figure is just 19 mpg, which is a drawback. The cost of the diesel option varies with trim, from $3,500 to $5,680, much like the Canyon. Diesel Colorados will remain mostly unchanged in 2022.
2023 Toyota Tundra
Price Starting From $36,965
This is weird, I guess. Toyota’s full-size Tundra truck outperforms the smaller Tacoma in terms of fuel efficiency for the first time in recent memory. The new twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 hybrid and ten-speed automated transmission engine are, of course, the cause.
The hybrid engine is the most powerful and fuel-efficient of the three possible types. The rear-wheel drive hybrid is rated for 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, with EPA fuel efficiency ratings of 22 mpg combined, 20 cities and 14 highways. (All-wheel drive variants lose two mpg on the interstate and are connected, as well as one mpg in the city.)
Be aware that according to our Forbes wheels reviewer, the ordinary non-hybrid and hybrid versions struggled to get even 15 mpg in city driving. Its output gain, however, is evident and well exceeds that of the basic SR5 (348 horsepower, 405 lb-ft) and standard (389 horsepower, 479 lb-ft). Therefore, if power is what you’re after, the Tundra hybrid will provide it; any fuel savings are just a perk.
2023 Toyota Tacoma
Price Starting From $27,250
The third-generation Tacoma’s eighth year of manufacturing will be in 2023. The new 2024 model, which might include an electric version, is reportedly undergoing final testing so that alterations could be coming. We still have the beloved Taco to play with in the meantime. That’s not a criticism; the Taco is known for its hardiness, simplicity, and capacity to withstand abuse almost miraculously.
The drawback is that it offers an essential experience and lacks some of its top rivals’ cutting-edge technology and features.
The most fuel-efficient model is the naturally aspirated 2.7-litre four-cylinder with 159 horsepower, a six-speed automatic, and rear-wheel drive, which achieves official EPA figures of 21 combined 20 cities and 23 highway mpg. The 278-horsepower V6 increases driving comfort and makes little demands. It can reach 21 mpg combined, 19 mpg in the city, and even 24 mpg on the interstate.
The current Taco will not last much longer than the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel and the Chevy Colorado, so if the existing model appeals to you, make a transaction right once.
2023 Honda Ridgeline
Price Starting From $38,800
The Honda Ridgeline has carved out a successful niche by straddling the line between compacts like the Maverick and mid-sizers using half-ton truck construction principles. With the Ridgeline, Honda didn’t want to unseat well-established vehicles like the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, and Chevrolet Colorado. Instead, it assumed that existing Honda customers would use the opportunity to acquire a truck as a second vehicle, often swapping out a pickup from a rival manufacturer.
Although that marketing strategy seems to have succeeded, the fuel efficiency is average. Its efficiency, which the EPA rates at 21 combined, 18 cities, and 24 highway mpg, isn’t enough to justify picking it above its rivals. The 3.5-litre V6 engine, on the other hand, comes with all-wheel drive as standard and is paired with a nine-speed automatic gearbox. Its primary attraction is the Ridgeline’s less environmental impact, enjoyable driving experience, and relatively quiet interior.
2023 Nissan Frontier
Price Starting From $29,190
Although the Frontier was rebuilt entirely for 2022, it had a solid physical and spiritual connection to earlier Frontier models. Although the appearance is much more uniform, it is still easy to identify as a Frontier. The most significant power in its class is a standard 3.8-litre, 310-horsepower V6, which can tow up to 6,720 pounds or carry 1,610 pounds of payload.
The rear-wheel drive version’s EPA rating of 20 mpg combined, 18 mpg in the city, and 24 mpg on the highway indicate that the program does not include exceptional fuel economy. Fair enough, the Frontier’s fuel economy is much worse than that of the Tacoma and Ridgeline. The figures are so close together. However, that style, feature richness, or dealer experience may easily overshadow the minor fuel efficiency variations.
