Diesel pickups are torque-filled towing monsters with good fuel economy ratings. But which diesel pickup trucks get the best mpg? Well, your fuel average depends on factors like vehicle condition, maintenance schedules, terrain, and style of driving. But when it comes to best-case scenarios, these diesel pickup trucks give the best gas mileage:
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Chevrolet Colorado
The currently offered GMC Colorado Duramax is available with a 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel 4-cylinder engine. The truck produces 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, and shifting occurs through a 6-speed automatic transmission. The maximum towing capacity is 7,600 pounds and the maximum payload is up to 1,496 pounds. The two-wheel-drive option gives out 20 mpg in the city, 30 on the highway, and 23 overall. The four-wheel-drive gives a slightly lower 22 mpg combined. The starting price is $37,770.
GMC Canyon
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The GMC Canyon has the same Duramax engine as its aforementioned cousin and a similar 6-speed gearbox. The fuel economy is also the same for both the rear and four-wheel drive variants. However, the maximum towing capacity and payload are greater with values at 7,700 pounds and 1,499 pounds respectively. Naturally, the starting price is also more at $38,900.
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited EcoDiesel comes with the third generation of the EcoDiesel 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6, which makes 260 hp, with 442 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard, along with four-wheel drive. The Jeep gives 25 mpg combined: 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The towing capacity and payload are lower, at 3500 pounds and 1,280 pounds respectively. Prices start at a much higher $49,690.
Ford F-150
The only Ford entry here, the Ford F-150 Diesel pickup truck has a 3.0-liter Power Stroke V-6 diesel engine that produces 250 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. This power is transmitted via a 10-speed automatic gearbox. The towing capacity is up to 11,500 pounds and the maximum payload at 2,020 pounds. The diesel F-150 gives out 25 mpg combined with 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. It is priced at $47,415 minimum.
Dodge Ram 1500
Here to defend the Jeep’s honor is its older brother, the Dodge Ram 1500 with an EcoDiesel engine. It is powered by a 3.0-liter V-6 engine that delivers 260 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque and comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The real-wheel drive Dodge Ram 1500 has a combined mpg of 26, with an estimated 22 mpg for the city and 32 mpg for driving on the highway. The towing capacity can go up to 12,560 pounds. You can get all of this for just $38,930!
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GMC Sierra 1500
The preferred engine in the GMC Sierra is the 3.0-liter inline-6 diesel. Coupled with a 10-speed automatic, it produces 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The maximum towing capacity is 9,100 pounds, and the maximum payload is 1,830 pounds. The truck has a combined mpg of 26 with rear-wheel drive: 23 in the city, and 30 on the highway. The four-wheel-drive variant gives up to 24. You can get one for as low as $46,080.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 also has the same turbodiesel 3.0-liter V-6 Duramax engine as the Sierra, but it produces 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. This beast also utilizes a 10-speed automatic transmission, so the maximum towing capacity is 9,300 pounds, and the maximum payload is 1,870 pounds. With rear-wheel drive, the truck gets 27 mpg combined, 23 mpg in the city, and 33 mpg for highway driving. The four-wheel-drive variant gives up to 25 mpg combined. Prices start at $43,840, and this is the mpg MVP of pickup trucks!
Max Anthony
Max is a gizmo-savvy guy, who has a tendency to get pulled into the nitty gritty details of technology and cars. He attended UT Austin, where he studied Information Science. He’s married and has three kids, one dog and a GMC truck and a Porsche 911. With a large family, he still finds time to share tips and tricks on cars, trucks and more.
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