If fuel costs matter to you, the good news is that used trucks are far more efficient than they used to be. The bad news is that mileage still varies wildly by size, engine, and drivetrain.

The most fuel-efficient used trucks today are led by compact hybrids, followed by a short list of efficient midsize gas trucks and light-duty diesels. So, what used trucks have the best gas mileage within their category?

The hybrid top picks

If your goal is the highest possible gas mileage available from a used pickup, you should strongly consider a hybrid.

The four-wheel drive Ford Maverick Hybrid (2022+) is the clear standout. EPA ratings put it near 38 mpg combined, with city mileage in the low-40s and highway mileage in the mid-30s (depending on the configuration). No other pickup comes close to this level of efficiency.

Stepping up in size, the 4WD Toyota Tacoma Hybrid (2024+ i-Force Max) delivers about 23 mpg combined. In the full-size category, the Ford F-150 Hybrid (PowerBoost, 2021+) also lands around 23 mpg combined, which is unusually good for a half-ton truck with this much capability. However, some owners' forums cite the F-150's failure to meet its highway numbers due to its aerodynamics.

The gas-powered leaders

If you want good mileage without going hybrid, several gas pickups still perform well.

The non-hybrid Ford Maverick 2.0-liter turbo remains one of the most efficient gas trucks available, reaching the mid-20s combined and roughly 30 mpg on the highway in front-wheel-drive trims. The Hyundai Santa Cruz (2.5-liter gas) posts about 23 mpg combined in FWD form and frequently appears on the “best mpg” lists.

Among midsize trucks, late model Nissan Frontiers (2WD V6) get around 21 mpg combined, putting them near the top among conventional midsize pickups.

Don’t forget about diesel

For drivers who rack up highway miles, light-duty diesels are worth considering. The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon diesel (2016-2022) deliver roughly 20 city mpg and up to 30 highway mpg, though some emission system failures have been reported.

In the full-size segment, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel and the 3.0L Duramax Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500 typically post low-20s around the city and high-20s to low-30s out on the highway, with combined ratings up to 26 mpg.

City vs. highway: Why your driving matters

For most non-hybrid gas and diesel trucks, highway mpg is noticeably higher than in the city, as steady cruising is more efficient than repeatedly stopping and starting. Hybrids, on the other hand, behave differently. Hybrids often show higher city mpg on the EPA test cycle because the electric motor can handle low-speed driving.

Remember, with combined mpg being a weighted average (roughly 55% city and 45% highway), your actual fuel cost will skew toward whichever type of driving you do more.

Need a truck that’s more fuel efficient?

If you need a newer pick-up with greater mpg, let Credit Acceptance introduce you to a few of the over 15,000 dealers in our nationwide dealership network. We can even pre-qualify you for auto financing on our website, providing you with the maximum monthly payment you might qualify for.

Note: The EPA fuel-economy ratings cited above come from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s FuelEconomy.gov database.