Truck Gas Mileage

Reader Contribution by Todd Kaho
Published on April 3, 2012
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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.

All full-size pickup manufacturers offer 6-cylinder gasoline engines, which naturally deliver better truck gas mileage than 8-cylinder models when empty or lightly loaded. Many truck owners, however, think those don’t have enough power to move big loads. One notable exception is the Ford F-150 with the EcoBoost 6-cylinder engine. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 produces 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. That’s V8 power, yet the EcoBoost F-150 has impressive fuel economy ratings of 16 mpg for city driving and 22 mpg on the highway.

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