Talking about the “best” of anything can lead to quite the slippery slope. Thankfully, fuel economy is a rather straightforward subject thanks largely to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA issues a fuel economy rating for all light-duty vehicles and publishes them in the form of city, highway, and combined mileage. Everyone of driving age should be familiar.

For the 2021 model year we are diving into each truck model with an EPA fuel economy rating to determine which trucks have the best fuel economy. For the sake of our comparison, we’re looking at the EPA combined fuel economy rating because most people don’t spend the entirety of their driving time purely in either city or highway scenarios. These figures are provided by the EPA, so they also don’t take into account cab configuration, trim level, available options, or axle ratios. Although we’ve worked hard to provide the most consistent competition possible, your mileage may still vary.

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  |   002 2021 Chevrolet Colorado Zr2

2021 Chevrolet Colorado Fuel Economy

Chevrolet’s Colorado midsize pickup is available with three engine options: a 2.5L I-4 gasoline engine, a 3.6L V-6 gasoline engine, and a 2.8L I-4 Duramax diesel engine. Naturally, the 2.8L Duramax diesel achieves the best gas mileage with 23 mpg combined and an impressive 30 mpg on the highway for two-wheel-drive models.

23 mpg comb – 2.8L I-4 Duramax Diesel 2WD
22 mpg comb – 2.8L I-4 Duramax Diesel 4WD
22 mpg comb – 2.5L I-4 2W
21 mpg comb – 2.5L I-4 4WD
21 mpg comb – 3.6L V-6 2WD
19 mpg comb – 3.6L V-6 4WD
19 mpg comb – 2.8L I-4 Duramax Diesel 4WD ZR2
17 mpg comb – 3.6L V-6 4WD ZR2

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  |   003 2021 Chevrolet Silverado Turbo

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Fuel Economy

For the 2021 model year the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 half-ton pickup is offered with the choice of five drivetrains. These include a 3.0L I-6 Duramax diesel option, a 2.7L I-4 turbocharged gasoline engine, a 4.3L V-6, a 5.3L V-8, and a 6.2L V-8. Diesel engines tend to rule the roost when it comes to fuel economy, and the 3.0L Duramax hits a high of 33 mpg highway. The closest gasoline engine is the 2.7L I-4, which does 23 mpg highway.

27 mpg comb – 3.0L I-6 Duramax Diesel 2WD
24 mpg comb – 3.0L I-6 Duramax Diesel 4WD
21 mpg comb – 2.7L I4 2WD
20 mpg comb – 2.7L I-4 4WD
19 mpg comb – 5.3L V-8 2WD
19 mpg comb – 5.3L V-8 4WD
18 mpg comb – 6.2L V-8 4WD
18 mpg comb – 6.2L V-8 4WD
17 mpg comb – 4.3L V-6 2WD
17 mpg comb – 4.3L V-6 4WD

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  |   004 2021 Ford F150 Lariat Powerboost Hybrid

2021 Ford F-150 Fuel Economy

Ford’s F-150 half-ton pickup is all new for the 2021 model year. Also new is the addition of the company’s PowerBoost hybrid V-6. The 3.5L PowerBoost V-6 is rated at a best of 25 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. This is among the best all-around ratings for all half-ton trucks. Ford’s 3.0L PowerStroke diesel V-6 does a best of 27 mpg highway. Also available are a pair of EcoBoost V-6 engines, a 3.3L naturally aspirated V-6, and a 5.0L V-8.

25 mpg comb – 3.5L PowerBoost V-6 2WD
24 mpg comb – 3.5L PowerBoost V-6 4WD
23 mpg comb – 3.0L PowerStroke Diesel V-6 4WD
22 mpg comb – 2.7L EcoBoost V-6 2WD
21 mpg comb – 2.7L EcoBoost V-6 4WD
21 mpg comb – 3.3L V-6 2WD
20 mpg comb – 3.3L V-6 4WD
20 mpg comb – 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 2WD
20 mpg comb – 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 4WD
20 mpg comb – 5.0L V-8 2WD

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  |   005 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor Lariat

2021 Ford Ranger Fuel Economy

Since its reintroduction, Ford’s Ranger midsize pickup has offered just one drivetrain: a 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. On the highest end, a two-wheel-drive Ranger boasts 26 mpg on the highway.

23 mpg comb – 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 2WD
22 mpg comb – 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 4WD
19 mpg comb – 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 4WD Tremor

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  |   006 2021 Gmc Canyon At4 Off Road Performance Edition

2021 GMC Canyon Fuel Economy

Much like its Colorado cousin, the GMC Canyon is offered with the choice of three engines, including two gasoline and one diesel option. Fuel economy ratings are also the same as the Colorado, with a two-wheel-drive Duramax model achieving 30 mpg on the highway.

23 mpg comb – 2.8L I-4 Duramax Diesel 2WD
22 mpg comb – 2.8L I-4 Duramax Diesel 4WD
22 mpg comb – 2.5L I-4 2WD
21 mpg comb – 2.5L I-4 4WD
21 mpg comb – 3.6L V-6 2WD
19 mpg comb – 3.6L V-6 4WD

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  |   007 2021 Gmc Sierra 1500 Elevation

2021 GMC Sierra 1500 Fuel Economy

Because the GMC Sierra shares its drivetrain with the Chevrolet Silverado, it also shares the same engine options and fuel economy ratings. The best highway fuel economy comes from two-wheel-drive models with the 3.0L Duramax diesel, which achieves 33 mpg on the highway.

26 mpg comb – 3.0L I-6 Duramax Diesel 2WD
24 mpg comb – 3.0L I-6 Duramax Diesel 4WD
21 mpg comb – 2.7L I-4 2WD
19 mpg comb – 2.7L I-4 4WD
19 mpg comb – 5.3L V-8 2WD
18 mpg comb – 5.3L V-8 4WD
17 mpg comb – 6.2L V-8 2WD
16 mpg comb – 6.2L V-8 4WD
17 mpg comb – 4.3L V-6 2WD
17 mpg comb – 4.3L V-6 4WD

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  |   008 2021 Jeep Gladiator Willys

2021 Jeep Gladiator Fuel Economy

Jeep introduced its Gladiator midsize pickup in 2020 with just one engine option, a 3.6L gasoline V-6. For 2021, the 3.0L EcoDiesel V-6 joined the lineup of four-wheel-drive, crew-cab-only pickups. EcoDiesel Gladiators enjoy a rated best of 27 mpg on the highway, while 3.6L V-6 models are rated at 23 mpg highway. Rubicon models drop one mpg of highway rating.

24 mpg comb – 3.0L EcoDiesel V-6 4WD
19 mpg comb – 3.6L V-6

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  |   009 2021 Nissan Titan

2021 Nissan Titan Fuel Economy

Nissan gave the Titan half-ton pickup a mild refresh for the 2021 model year, which included the addition of a new nine-speed automatic transmission. With the new transmission came slight improvements in fuel economy for the single-engine-option Titan, now rated at up to 21 mpg on the highway for both two- and four-wheel-drive trucks (excluding the Pro4X model).

18 mpg comb – 5.6L V-8 2WD
18 mpg comb – 5.6L V-8 4WD
17 mpg comb – 5.6L V-8 4WD Pro4X

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  |   010 2021 Toyota Tacoma Trail Edition

2021 Toyota Tacoma Fuel Economy

When Toyota introduced the all-new Tacoma in 2016, many were shocked to find out that the new engine options didn’t bring huge improvements in fuel economy. Lagging behind the midsize competition slightly, the best fuel economy the Toyota Tundra achieves from its two engines is 24 mpg highway with the 3.5L V-6 and automatic transmission.

21 mpg comb – 2.7L I-4 2WD
20 mpg comb – 2.7 I-4 4WD
21 mpg comb – 3.5L V-6 2WD
20 mpg comb – 3.5L V-6 4WD
18 mpg comb – 3.5L V-6 4WD (Manual Transmission)
18 mpg comb – 3.5L V-6 4WD TRD Pro (Manual Transmission)

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  |   011 2021 Toyota Tundra Trd Pro

2021 Toyota Tundra Fuel Economy

Having not had a full revision in more than a decade, Toyota’s Tundra is the longest-running platform currently in the half-ton class. Fuel economy numbers reflect this as even at its very best the Tundra is only capable of an EPA-rated 17 mpg on the highway. Rumor has it a new Tundra is on the way and likely with a hybrid powertrain.

15 mpg comb – 5.7L V-8 2WD
14 mpg comb – 5.7L V-8 4WD

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  |   012 2021 Ram 1500

2021 Ram 1500 Fuel Economy

For 2021, Ram offers the choice of three standard engine options: a 3.0L EcoDiesel diesel V-6, a 3.6L V-6 engine with eTorque, and a 5.7L Hemi V-8 available with or without eTorque. The Ram 1500 TRX is fitted with a 6.2L supercharged Hemi V-8, which has the lowest fuel economy rating of any truck in recent history with a combined rating of just 12 mpg. On the high end, the Ram 1500 equipped with an EcoDiesel V-6 can do up to 32 mpg on the highway.

26 mpg comb – 3.0L EcoDiesel V-6 2WD HFE
26 mpg comb – 3.0L EcoDiesel V-6 2WD
24 mpg comb – 3.0L EcoDiesel V-6 4WD
22 mpg comb – 3.6L V-6 2WD
21 mpg comb – 3.6L V-6 4WD
19 mpg comb – 5.7L Hemi V-8 eTorque 2WD
19 mpg comb – 5.7L Hemi V-8 eTorque 4WD
17 mpg comb – 5.7L Hemi V-8 2WD
17 mpg comb – 5.7L Hemi V-8 4WD
12 mpg comb – 6.2L Supercharged Hemi V-8 4WD TRX