Gas prices hit an all-time high in the United States in mid-2022, averaging more than $5 per gallon for the first time. Though prices at the pump have fallen since, they remain at historic highs, topping $3 per gallon every month since June 2021. Higher fuel costs are taking a toll on household budgets – particularly for the millions of Americans who drive vehicles not known for their fuel economy.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, pickup trucks are by far the least fuel efficient vehicles in the United States, with an average fuel economy rating of only 20.1 miles per gallon – compared to an average of 26.4 mpg across all vehicle segments. (Here is a look the 20 most fuel-efficient SUVs.)
But for those looking to save at the pump, and are unwilling or unable to sacrifice the utility of a pickup, some models offer far better fuel economy than others.
Using data from the EPA, 24/7 Wall St. identified the most fuel-efficient pickup trucks. We ranked 15 non-electric pickup trucks by combined fuel economy, considering all available engine and drivetrain packages.
For any vehicle, fuel efficiency is subject to a number of factors. Some of them are contingent on driving habits, but those related directly to the vehicle itself include weight, ground clearance, aerodynamics, drivetrain, and engine size.
Several of the most fuel efficient new trucks on the market have been recently updated or are all-new nameplates. The Ford Maverick, for example, which is capable of a segment-leading combined 37 mpg, was first introduced in 2021 and is available with a hybrid engine. Meanwhile, the Toyota Tacoma, available models of which have not been meaningfully updated since 2016, gets a maximum of 24 mpg on the highway and 21 mpg combined.
Click here to see the most fuel-efficient new trucks this year.
Click here to see our detailed methodology.
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15. Nissan Titan
> Fuel efficiency (MPG): 15-16 city; 20-21 highway; 17-18 combined
> Available engine(s): 8 cylinder; 5.6 liter displacement
> Available drivetrain(s): 4×2 & 4×4; automatic transmission
> Est. annual fuel cost: $3,050 – $3,200
> Model year considered: 2023
> Base MSRP: $39,700
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14. Nissan Frontier
> Fuel efficiency (MPG): 17-18 city; 22-24 highway; 19-20 combined
> Available engine(s): 6 cylinder; 3.8 liter displacement
> Available drivetrain(s): 4×2 & 4×4; automatic transmission
> Est. annual fuel cost: $2,200 – $2,350
> Model year considered: 2023
> Base MSRP: $29,190
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13. Toyota Tacoma
> Fuel efficiency (MPG): 17-20 city; 20-24 highway; 18-21 combined
> Available engine(s): 4 & 6 cylinder; 2.7 & 3.5 liter displacement
> Available drivetrain(s): 4×2 & 4×4; automatic & manual transmission
> Est. annual fuel cost: $2,100 – $2,450
> Model year considered: 2023
> Base MSRP: $27,750
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12. Honda Ridgeline
> Fuel efficiency (MPG): 18 city; 24 highway; 21 combined
> Available engine(s): 6 cylinder; 3.5 liter displacement
> Available drivetrain(s): AWD; automatic transmission
> Est. annual fuel cost: $2,100
> Model year considered: 2023
> Base MSRP: $38,800
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11. Toyota Tundra
> Fuel efficiency (MPG): 17-20 city; 20-24 highway; 19-22 combined
> Available engine(s): 6 cylinder; 3.4 liter displacement
> Available drivetrain(s): 4×2 & 4×4; automatic transmission
> Est. annual fuel cost: $2,000 – $2,350
> Model year considered: 2023
> Base MSRP: $37,865
Source: Courtesy of Chevrolet
10. Chevrolet Colorado
> Fuel efficiency (MPG): 16-20 city; 18-30 highway; 17-23 combined
> Available engine(s): 4 & 6 cylinder; 2.5, 2.8, & 3.6 liter displacement > Available drivetrain(s): 4×2 & 4×4; automatic transmission
> Est. annual fuel cost: $1,600 – $2,050
> Model year considered: 2022
> Base MSRP: $26,135
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9. Ford Ranger
> Fuel efficiency (MPG): 19-21 city; 19-26 highway; 19-23 combined
> Available engine(s): 4 cylinder; 2.3 liter displacement
> Available drivetrain(s): 4×2 & 4×4; automatic transmission
> Est. annual fuel cost: $1,900 – $2,350
> Model year considered: 2023
> Base MSRP: $27,400
Source: Courtesy of GMC
8. GMC Canyon
> Fuel efficiency (MPG): 17-20 city; 24-30 highway; 19-23 combined
> Available engine(s): 4 & 6 cylinder; 2.5, 2.8, & 3.6 liter displacement > Available drivetrain(s): 4×2 & 4×4; automatic transmission
> Est. annual fuel cost: $1,600 – $1,850
> Model year considered: 2022
> Base MSRP: $26,800
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7. Hyundai Santa Cruz
> Fuel efficiency (MPG): 19-21 city; 26-27 highway; 22-23 combined
> Available engine(s): 4 cylinder; 2.5 liter displacement
> Available drivetrain(s): AWD; automatic transmission
> Est. annual fuel cost: $1,550 – $1,600
> Model year considered: 2022
> Base MSRP: $25,700
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Source: Courtesy of Ram Trucks
6. Ram Pickup
> Fuel efficiency (MPG): 10-21 city; 14-29 highway; 12-24 combined
> Available engine(s): 6 & 8 cylinder; 3.0, 3.6, 5.7, & 6.2 liter displacement > Available drivetrain(s): 4×2 & 4×4; automatic transmission
> Est. annual fuel cost: $1,900 – $4,550
> Model year considered: 2023
> Base MSRP: $30,235
Source: Althom / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
5. Jeep Gladiator
> Fuel efficiency (MPG): 16-22 city; 22-28 highway; 19-24 combined
> Available engine(s): 6 cylinder; 3.0 & 3.6 liter displacement
> Available drivetrain(s): 4×4; automatic and manual transmission
> Est. annual fuel cost: $2,000 – $2,350
> Model year considered: 2023
> Base MSRP: $38,775
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4. Ford F-Series
> Fuel efficiency (MPG): 10-25 city; 15-26 highway; 12-25 combined
> Available engine(s): 6 & 8 cylinder, 6 cylinder hybrid; 2.7, 3.3, 3.5, 5.0, & 5.2 liter displacement
> Available drivetrain(s): 4×2 & 4×4; automatic transmission
> Est. annual fuel cost: $1,750 – $3,700
> Model year considered: 2023
> Base MSRP: $34,445
Source: Courtesy of GMC
3. GMC Sierra (tied)
> Fuel efficiency (MPG): 14-24 city; 17-29 highway; 15-26 combined
> Available engine(s): 4,6, & 8 cylinder; 2.7, 3, 5.3, & 6.2 liter displacement > Available drivetrain(s): 4×2 & 4×4; automatic transmission
> Est. annual fuel cost: $1,850 – $3,650
> Model year considered: 2023
> Base MSRP: $37,200
Source: Courtesy of Chevrolet
2. Chevrolet Silverado (tied)
> Fuel efficiency (MPG): 14-24 city; 17-29 highway; 15-26 combined
> Available engine(s): 4, 6, & 8 cylinder; 2.7, 3.0, 5.3, and 6.2 liter displacement
> Available drivetrain(s): 4×2 & 4×4; automatic transmission
> Est. annual fuel cost: $1,850 – $3,650
> Model year considered: 2023
> Base MSRP: $36,300
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Source: Ford Motor Co.
1. Ford Maverick
> Fuel efficiency (MPG): 20-40 city; 24-33 highway; 21-37 combined
> Available engine(s): 4 cylinder & 4 cylinder hybrid; 2.0 & 2.5 liter displacement
> Available drivetrain(s): Front-wheel-drive & AWD; automatic transmission
> Est. annual fuel cost: $1,200 – $2,100
> Model year considered: 2023
> Base MSRP: $22,195
Methodology
To identify the most fuel-efficient new pickup trucks, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on estimated miles per gallon from the Environmental Protection Agency. Trucks are ranked on the highest EPA combined MPG available for each name plate. In the case of a tie, when possible, the truck with the highest combined MPG floor, or the lower estimated annual fuel costs, ranks higher. We considered all small and standard size pickups for the latest available model year in our analysis and did not include electric vehicles.
Though trucks are ranked by the most efficient combination of engine and drivetrain for combined city and highway driving, we also provide the range of fuel efficiency for each nameplate for all models available.
Estimated annual fuel costs are also from the EPA and assume 15,000 miles of driving – 55% city and 45% highway – with fuel costs of $3.42/gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, $3.88/gallon for mid-grade unleaded gasoline, and $4.19/gallon for premium.
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