Are there any fuel-efficient trucks? If you compare these trucks to others on the market, they are relatively efficient, making it easy to drive them every day.
Typically, when you purchase a truck, you already understand the compromise in fuel mileage. Trucks are large, capable, and powerful, but as a class, they are not efficient. You’ll generally spend a lot more money filling up a truck with gasoline than a car or SUV, and a diesel-powered truck is even more expensive to fuel up than a gas-powered model. That said, there are some fuel-efficient trucks that give you a good balance for your daily driving needs.
What are the best gas mileage trucks?
Looking for a pickup that’s easy on gas? If you want or need to drive a truck but also want to squeeze the most mileage out of a tank of gas that you can, you’ll want to look for some of the most fuel-efficient trucks on the market. When you have the right combination of pickup truck mpg and power, you’ve got a vehicle that can get things done. We break down the top fuel-sipping trucks of 2026, from the hybrid Ford Maverick to the surprisingly efficient Ram 1500.
Ford Maverick Hybrid
The Ford Maverick Hybrid is in its fifth year, which doesn’t seem possible, and if you want the pickup with the best overall fuel mileage rating, it’s the truck for you. The Maverick Hybrid returns 38 mpg combined from the 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid setup, which sends power to the front wheels through a CVT. Considering this setup, the Maverick Hybrid might not have the power and capability you want in a pickup truck, which might lead you toward one of the other models on the list.
Ram 1500
Among the most fuel-efficient trucks, the half-ton Ram 1500 is hard to beat. It has the size, capability, and power to get a lot of truck stuff done, even with the Pentastar V6 under the hood. Ram provides you with an impressive and upscale interior design that has been a class leader for several years. You won’t have the top-end power of a Ford F-150, but you will have the efficiency desired and plenty of power to get things done. The Ram 1500 comes in either RWD or 4WD, to give you the desired driving system, and the RWD model returns 22 mpg combined.
Toyota Tacoma Hybrid
The Toyota Tacoma Hybrid is one of the most fuel-efficient trucks on the market, and it’s the most efficient midsize truck in its class. This pickup returns 23 mpg combined and offers you the benefits of an impressive hybrid powertrain that makes it more compelling. With the hybrid powertrain, the Tacoma provides a smoother and more comfortable ride, giving you a torque-heavy system that makes for faster takeoffs, better off-road capability, and improved fuel mileage compared to the turbo-four engine. The latest version of the Tacoma Hybrid is much more refined on the road than it used to be, making it a good choice when you want a midsize truck that’s efficient and fun.
Hyundai Santa Cruz
The other compact truck on the list is the Hyundai Santa Cruz, which is more powerful than the Maverick Hybrid, but that comes at a price. That price is fuel efficiency, which reaches 25 mpg combined for this little truck. Still, driving the Santa Cruz is a smooth and enjoyable experience that makes the little pickup feel more like a crossover SUV. The Santa Cruz uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, giving you a more traditional driving feel compared to the CVT and hybrid setup of the Maverick Hybrid.
What about electric trucks?
There are several electric pickup trucks on the market today, and if you’re compelled to choose one of them, you can certainly enjoy impressive driving on any road. Electric trucks have faster acceleration and takeoff than traditional models, and they don’t require gasoline to operate, which is great for some drivers. These trucks pale in comparison to traditional trucks in terms of towing and hauling, but if you don’t have to pull a load far, an electric truck could be a good choice.
When you’re looking for one of the most fuel-efficient trucks on the market, you’ve got to understand that you’ll be shopping for smaller pickups or models with the base engine. That could mean losing some towing and payload figures in the process. The right truck for you is out there; you simply have to figure out which one hits all the right notes.
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