American trucks aren’t designed to be economical daily drivers, but fuel prices mean their economy can’t be ignored.
All have gas or diesel engines with plenty of torque (and bigger fuel tanks), but which is the most economical American pickup truck money can buy?
To find out, we selected pickup trucks costing more than $100,000 on the VFACTS sales rankings and compared them on fuel consumption.
Some cars have different variations in fuel economy, so we’ve only listed each individual model with the best quoted figure and labeled them where necessary.
Ram Australia does not quote fuel economy figures for the 2500 or 3500 as they are classed as commercial vehicles
The same could be said for the Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500, although we have figures from review this early year.
Click on a car name above to go directly to that car’s information on the page, or keep scrolling to see the full list.
Ram 1500 (excluding TRX)
Five of the six Ram 1500 variants top the list with claimed fuel economy of 12.2L/100km on the combined cycle.
SWB and LWB Big Horn, Laramie, Laramie Sport and Limited are all equipped with a naturally aspirated V8 engine, with a capacity of 5.7 liters, drinking 91 RON gasoline from a 98L tank. They are priced from $119,950 to $156,950 before on-road costs.
These models also feature cylinder deactivation for better fuel economy, along with a 48V mild-hybrid system that is said to fine-tune the engine’s stop-start system.
The range-topping TRX costs $224,950 before on-roads and is powered by a 6.2-litre turbocharged V8 petrol engine. It also consumes 91 RON fuel, but has a 125L tank and a claimed fuel economy of 19.6L/100km.
| Ram 1500 (excluding TRX) | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (confirmed) | 12.2L/100km |
| Fuel quantity | 98L |
| Fuel type | 91 RON |
BUY: Contact dealer about Ram 1500
THAN: Everything Ram 1500
Toyota Tundra LLC
The Toyota Tundra is currently being reviewed by customers in Australia and is only offered in Limited trim. The Australian model’s fuel economy has not been detailed, the US version consumes a total of 12.4L/100km.
It has a 122L fuel tank and is the only car on this list that requires RON 95 gasoline to power the i-Force Max hybrid engine.
That engine is a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6, mated to a generator and a 10-speed automatic transmission. In total, it produces 326kW of power and 790Nm of torque.
Industry pricing guidelines indicated Tundra Limited will cost $145,990 before going on the road.
| Toyota Tundra LLC | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (USA claims) | 12.4L/100km |
| Fuel quantity | 122L |
| Fuel type | 95 RON |
THAN: Everything Toyota Tundra
Ford F-150
All four Ford F-150 variants have a claimed fuel economy of 12.5L/100km on the combined cycle.
Priced from $106,950 to $140,945 before on-roads, the F-150 is powered by a 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 engine that produces 298 horsepower and 678 Nm of torque.
It drinks 91 RON gasoline from a 136L fuel tank for long distances and is the only car on this list with a 5-year, unlimited km warranty.
| Ford F-150 | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (confirmed) | 12.5L/100km |
| Fuel quantity | 136L |
| Fuel type | 91 RON |
BUY: Contact dealer about Ford F-150
THAN: Everything Ford F-150
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium
There are two variants, the Silverado 1500, and the cheaper LTZ Premium is the most efficient. It consumes 12.9L/100km on the combined cycle.
The LTZ Premium costs $130,500 before on-roads, while the ZR2 costs $138,000 before on-roads but consumes a total of 14.5 liters per 100 km.
Both variants are equipped with a 6.2 liter naturally aspirated V8 engine, producing 313kW of power and 624Nm of torque, combined with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Both consume 91 RON petrol from a 91L tank and offer wireless smartphone mirroring as standard.
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (confirmed) | 12.9L/100km |
| Fuel quantity | 91L |
| Fuel type | 91 RON |
BUY: Contact dealer about Chevrolet Silverado 1500
THAN: Everything Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500 LTZ Premium
The Silverado HD 2500 is the first vehicle on this list to run on a diesel engine, but General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) doesn’t give fuel economy numbers.
However, we did have the opportunity to drive the car earlier this year for a while. reviewand during that time we averaged 15.0L/100km with mixed loads and roads.
It costs $163,000 before on-roads and is powered by a 6.6-litre Duramax turbocharged V8 engine producing 350kW of power and 1322Nm of peak torque, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The Silverado HD 2500 has a 136L fuel tank, in addition to an additional 26.5L AdBlue fuel tank.
| Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500 LTZ Premium | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (observed) | 15.0L/100km |
| Fuel quantity | 136L |
| Fuel type | Diesel oil |
BUY: Contact dealer about Chevrolet Silverado HD
THAN: Everything Chevrolet Silverado HD
RAM 2500
The Ram 2500 is classed as a commercial vehicle, which means Ram Australia does not provide fuel economy figures. We also haven’t had a chance to evaluate one, so we don’t have observed numbers to cite either.
The 2500 is offered in Laramie or Laramie Ram Box variants, priced at $172,950 and $175,950 before on-roads, respectively.
Both are powered by a 6.7-litre inline turbo-diesel engine producing 276kW and 1152Nm, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. They drink diesel from a 117L tank.
| RAM 2500 | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (confirmed) | do not apply |
| Fuel quantity | 117L |
| Fuel type | Diesel oil |
BUY: Contact dealer about Ram 2500
THAN: Everything Ram 2500
Ram 3500
Like the 2500, the Ram 3500 is also considered a commercial vehicle and does not have published fuel economy figures.
It’s only available in Australia in Laramie trim, priced at $177,950 before on-roads. It has the same engine as the 2500, but weighs 800kg more and has an increased payload of 873kg.
| Ram 3500 | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (confirmed) | do not apply |
| Fuel quantity | 117L |
| Fuel type | Diesel oil |
