Most times, when a customer is shopping for a pickup truck, they are looking for one with off-roading, hauling, and towing capabilities. However, fuel efficiency also plays a big part in a person’s decision as you don’t want a thirsty car that will run your gas bill high. Today, we will look at EPA ratings for diesel and hybrid trucks to help determine which one is more efficient.

A background on the EPA and what it does

The Environmental Protection Agency is a federal agency in the United States responsible for safeguarding and protecting the environment and public health. The agency was established in the ’70s and is responsible for enforcing regulations and standards related to water and air quality, chemical safety, and hazardous waste disposal.

The EPA conducts research, provides environmental education, and collaborates with state and local governments to address environmental challenges and promote sustainability. It also plays an important role in ensuring a cleaner and self-sustaining environment for all generations. The agency conducts rigorous testing and assigns MPG ratings that serve as a benchmark for comparing the efficiency of different vehicles and helping consumers make informed choices.

2024 pickup truck mpg: Diesel trucks

Diesel trucks are often on the receiving end of some unfortunate stereotypes. Most people tend to associate diesel trucks with loud noise and dirt and think they are bad for the environment. However, they are more common than most would think, and for good reason. Diesel trucks are very fuel efficient.

Diesel trucks are nearly 20% more fuel efficient at full throttle, so why is that? Unlike gas engines, which use spark plugs, diesel engines rely on compression ignition to get going. The high compression causes the engine to transfer more energy, which results in less work for the engine, translating to better fuel efficiency.

Some of the most common diesel trucks include the Chevrolet Silverado, and GMC Sierra. The Ford F-150 offered a diesel engine but did away with it in 2021 in favor of the eco-friendly PowerBoost hybrid option. According to fueleconomy.gov, the 2024 Chevy Silverado 2WD with a diesel engine is rated at 23 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

The Silverado 4WD is rated at 23 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, while the Mud Terrain Tires 4WD is rated at 21 mpg city and 23 mpg highway.

The diesel powered 2024 GMC Sierra 2WD 3.0-liter engine offers 23 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, while the 4WD provides 23 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. The GMC Sierra Mud Terrain Tires 4WD offers 21 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, while the 4WD AT4X provides 19 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.

The Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon dropped their diesel engine option for the the 2023 model year, and Jeep Gladiator offers a diesel option that will cease production in 2024.

2024 pickup truck mpg: Hybrid trucks

Hybrid electric vehicle technology represents a significant shift towards cleaner, more efficient, and environmentally responsible driving. Because trucks are large, weigh a ton, and have heavy workloads, they require powerful and thirsty engines. To fix this problem and improve fuel economy, automakers introduced hybrid electric vehicle technology.

Hybrid trucks use an electric motor, which runs on energy stored in the battery, and an internal combustion engine, which runs off gasoline. Hybrid trucks are fuel-efficient since they allow drivers to switch back and forth when necessary. However, the 2024 Toyota Tundra hybrid isn’t the most fuel-efficient hybrid truck.

The Toyota hybrid truck has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 20 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. The 2023 Ram 1500 eTorque improves on the highway estimates with 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. A Ford F-150 Hybrid is right on par with that competition, with an EPA rating of 24 MPG city/Highway. The Ford Maverick hybrid is one of the most efficient hybrid trucks out there, with a fuel economy of 42 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.