The Top Fuel-Efficient Pickup Trucks

In the United States, there was a point where gas prices had hit an all-time high, averaging more than $5 per gallon for the first time. Although prices at the pump have fallen since, and according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration are expected to fall even further in 2024, they remain at historic highs, topping $3 per gallon every month since June 2021. For the millions of Americans who drive vehicles not known for their fuel economy, these higher fuel costs are taking a toll on their household budgets.

The least fuel-efficient vehicles in America are pickup trucks, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, 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 at the 20 most fuel-efficient SUVs.) For those who refuse to exchange their pickup trucks for a more fuel-efficient model, or for those who are unable to sacrifice the utility of a pickup, some models offer far better fuel economy than others.

24/7 Wall St. identified the most fuel-efficient pickup trucks by using data from the EPA. We ranked 15 non-electric pickup trucks by combined fuel economy, considering all available engine and drivetrain packages. With pickups, as with any vehicle, fuel efficiency is subject to several factors. Some of them depend on driving habits, but those related directly to the vehicle itself include weight, ground clearance, aerodynamics, drivetrain, and engine size. 

While there are quite a few new fuel-efficient pickup trucks, there are also several on the market that have been recently updated or are all-new nameplates. The Ford Maverick, for example, capable of a segment-leading combined 37 mpg, was first introduced in 2021 and is available with a hybrid engine. Meanwhile, the Toyota Tacoma, with available models that have not been meaningfully updated since 2016, gets a maximum of 24 mpg on the highway and 21 mpg combined. 

Here are the top fuel-efficient pickup trucks.

See below for our detailed methodology.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on estimated miles per gallon from the Environmental Protection Agency to identify the most fuel-efficient pickup trucks. Trucks are ranked on the highest EPA combined MPG available for each nameplate. 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. In our analysis, we considered all small and standard-size pickups for the latest available model year and did not include electric vehicles. 

Trucks are ranked by the most efficient combination of engine and drivetrain for combined city and highway driving, although 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.