Powered by big, burly V8s and traditional turbo diesel engines, the pickup truck segment had a reputation for gas-guzzling. This was purely down to the performance required by these workhorses to get the job done. However, in today’s market scenario, fuel efficiency in trucks is as important as in other smaller cars due to the ever-increasing gas prices. Truck buyers are also making fuel efficiency a priority when shopping for a capable pickup truck.
As a result, automakers have sought ways to make their trucks thriftier by fitting them with efficient turbocharged gasoline, diesel, and hybrid powertrains. On top of that, other automakers have turned to fully electric trucks that don’t run on gasoline power, such as the Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 Lightning, GMC Hummer EV, Tesla Cybertruck, and the Chevy Silverado EV.
However, due to the limited range of these EVs, gasoline-powered trucks are still the most reasonable option, at least for now. Gone are the days when full-size pickup trucks equated to single-digit fuel-consumption numbers. Here are 10 surprisingly fuel-efficient pickup trucks in 2023.
10 2023 Toyota Tacoma – 21 MPG
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The Tacoma has been a staple in the US automotive industry since 1995. Its perfect blend of reliability and capability makes it a solid choice for many looking for a mid-size pickup truck. It also packs modern features and an array of standard safety systems.
The base 159 hp four-cylinder engine produces 180 lb-ft of torque, enough for a 3,500-lb maximum tow capacity. While it’s a bit under-powered for a pickup truck, it rewards you with more miles per dollar. With a fuel economy of 20 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway, and a combined 21 mpg, the 2023 Tacoma is one of the best fuel-efficient trucks you can buy.
9 2023 Toyota Tundra Hybrid – 22 MPG
Toyota redesigned the Tundra in 2022 for the first time in fourteen years, where it received several upgrades, including an all-new hybrid powertrain, a refined suspension system, and an upgraded infotainment system. The full-size pickup truck gets power from a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that combines with an electric motor to crank out 437 hp and 583 ft-lb of torque via a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Surprisingly, the larger and heavier Tundra Hybrid is more economical than its smaller sibling, the Toyota Tacoma. It gets a fuel economy of 20 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg overall. On top of its impressive fuel efficiency, the Tacoma can pull up to 12,000 lbs with the proper towing gear.
8 2023 Ford Ranger 2WD SuperCab – 23 MPG
Over the years, Ford has developed a reputation for producing reliable, durable, high-performance trucks, and the 2023 Ranger SuperCab is no exception. The mid-size truck is among the best performance-oriented trucks, offering excellent value for money.
Under the hood, the Ford Ranger SuperCab features a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine rated at 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Both rear-wheel- and four-wheel-drive models deliver reliable fuel economy, but the former comes out on top. It boasts 21 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway and an impressive 7,500-lbs maximum towing capacity.
7 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz – 23 MPG
There are divided opinions on whether the Hyundai Santa Cruz qualifies as a proper pickup truck. It lacks the angry-looking and over-sized characteristics of a typical American truck. It is more of a Hyundai Tucson compact SUV equipped with a truck bed. After all, both models share the same powertrains and platform.
Unlike its body-on-frame rivals like the Tacoma and Gladiator, the Santa Cruz’s unibody underpinnings and lower center of gravity help it ride and handle better. On top of that, it enjoys impressive fuel economy from its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, rated at 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. It gets an estimated 22 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined.
6 2023 Jeep Gladiator EcoDiesel – 24 MPG
The 2023 Jeep Gladiator combines the off-road supremacy of the legendary Wrangler with the utility, versatility, and capabilities of a pickup truck. Although this comes at the expense of the truck’s on-road drivability, you get to enjoy decent fuel economy, especially in the diesel-powered Gladiator.
The optional 3.0-liter turbo diesel V6 engine produces 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque via an eight-speed automatic, giving the EcoDiesel Gladiator a maximum payload capacity of 6,500 lbs. Although this diesel V6 will cost you an extra $4,000, it rewards you with an impressive fuel economy of 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.
5 2023 Ford F-150 Hybrid – 25 MPG
The Ford F-150 evolved to become America’s best-selling full-size pickup truck, thanks to the various trims and numerous engine options available for selection. For the 2023 model year, Ford introduced a new hybrid powertrain that represents the best of both worlds.
It rivals the massive power figures produced by other hybrids like the Toyota Tundra, and gets better fuel economy than the Ram 1500 Diesel and the Tundra Hybrid. The 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine pairs with an electric motor to deliver 430 hp and 570lb-ft of torque via a 10-speed automatic transmission, capable of towing up to 12,700 lbs. In rear-wheel drive mode, the F-150 Hybrid has an EPA rating of 25 mpg in both city and highway driving and 23 mpg across the board in four-wheel drive mode.
4 2023 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel – 25 MPG
No truck has better gas mileage than the 2023 Ram 1500 Diesel in the entire Jeep and Ram truck lineup. The Ram 1500 is also the most luxurious and most comfortable full-size pickup truck you can buy. Unfortunately, the American automaker will drop the fuel-efficient 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 from the lineup after the 2023 model year.
The turbo diesel engine sends 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque to the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, good for a maximum tow capacity of 9,600 lbs. The EPA estimates that the rear-drive truck nabs 21 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and a combined 25 mpg.
3 2023 Chevrolet Silverado Diesel – 26 MPG
Like most American trucks, the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado features various engine options, but the Duramax 3.0-liter turbo diesel inline-six offers the best fuel economy. With the help of a 10-speed automatic transmission, the engine cranks out 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque and can tow up to 13,300 lbs.
According to the EPA, the full-size truck throws down a solid 24 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. With all-wheel drive, its rating drops to 22 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, which is still impressive. For reference, the uniquely small gas-fed 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine has a combined rating of 20 mpg.
2 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 Diesel – 26 MPG
In a competitive world of full-size pickup trucks, the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 emerges on top when it comes to fuel economy, thanks to the second-generation 3.0-liter Duramax turbo diesel engine. Here’s a humdinger; this engine is more efficient than the smaller Canyon inline-four diesel.
The fuel-sipping Sierra diesel has an EPA fuel economy of 24 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined when driving in rear-wheel drive mode. The Duramax engine produces 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque via a 10-speed automatic transmission. GMC sweetens the pot with an impressive tow capacity of up to 13,000 lbs.
1 2023 Ford Maverick Hybrid – 37 MPG
The 2023 Ford Maverick Hybrid wins the award for the most fuel-efficient truck. Introduced in 2022, this new kid nails nearly 40 mpg combined, thanks in part to the truck’s size and hybrid engine. Like the Hyundai Santa Cruz, the Maverick features a lightweight, unibody construction that gives the truck nimble handling.
Under the hood, a 2.5-liter inline-four engine and an electric motor combine to deliver 191 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels via a continuous variable automatic transmission. The truck achieves 42 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 37 mpg combined. Unfortunately, the Maverick Hybrid’s fuel efficiency comes at the cost of a limited 2,000-lbs tow capacity. If you need a towing capacity of up to 4,000 lbs, you’ll have to trade your hybrid powertrain for the optional 250-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an all-wheel drive powertrain.
Sources: Fueleconomy.gov, Ford, GMC, Chevrolet, Ram Trucks, Hyundai, Toyota, Jeep