Truck Gas Mileage

Reader Contribution by Todd Kaho
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Will pickup truck gas mileage ever get significantly better? Why can’t they build a truck that gets 40 mpg? 

Trucks are designed to carry and tow heavy loads, so they must be heavier and stronger than passenger cars. Weight is a primary component in the fuel economy equation: The higher the weight, the lower the fuel economy. Aerodynamic drag is also a big factor in the highway fuel economy of pickup trucks. A pickup’s inherent boxy shape is utilitarian, but adds considerable wind resistance.

Today’s full-size pickup trucks are more efficient than trucks of just a few years ago, but it’s still not uncommon for a truck to deliver mpg only in the mid-teens. The best overall full-size pickup fuel economies can be found on the Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid and the GMC Sierra Hybrid. These trucks use mild-hybrid technology to achieve low-20s truck mpg.

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