A truck that can haul and tow heavy loads shouldn't have to demand heavy prices at the pump: A buyer's guide to trucks with the best gas mileage.
With gas prices well over $3 per gallon, it's not surprising that so many shoppers look at the gas mileage of a vehicle before buying. Trucks are larger vehicles that typically get fewer miles to the gallon than cars, but you can still find the best gas mileage for trucks. Determining the exact rate of different trucks with the best gas mileage is easy because manufacturers list that information with the other features of the vehicle.
Before you look at the gas mileage of a truck, you need to understand what gas mileage means. This term basically refers to the number of miles that a vehicle can go on a single gallon of gas. Manufacturers differentiate between city and highway miles because vehicles get better gas mileage on the highway. When driving on city streets, you make frequent stops and starts, which reduce the fuel efficiency of the truck.
Trucks get more miles per gallon on the highway because the vehicle drives smoothly for a set period of time. It is important to keep in mind that your truck might experience higher or lower rates than those listed by the manufacturer depending on when you put fuel in the truck, the air in your tires and even the time of day.
Chevy Silverado
Chevrolet gets high reviews because the company has several trucks with good gas mileage. The Silverado C15 2WD six-speed model gets an average of 15 miles per gallon in the city and 20 on the highway, while the E85 model gets 15 mpg in the city and 17 on the highway. Chevy also makes nine other Silverado models with similar gas mileage, including two hybrid models that get up to 23 mpg on the highway.
Ford F-150
A truck-buying guide might mention the Ford F150, which gets 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway. Like Chevy, Ford makes several models of the F150 with similar mileage ratings.
GMC Sierra
The GMC Sierra gets 20 mpg on the highway and 15 in the city, while the GMC Sierra Hybrid can get 23 mpg on the highway and 20 in the city. When you read through a buyer's guide, you might notice that many truck manufacturers now sell hybrid vehicles. Though these trucks cost a little more upfront, you can save money on gas because the trucks use less fuel.
Get price quotes on trucks with the best gas mileage!
Looking at the fuel efficiency of a vehicle isn't the only thing you should consider before making a purchase. You might want to look at the horsepower of the truck, what the interior looks like, the sticker cost and the size of the bed. Use Buyerlink to find local price quotes and set up test drives to see for yourself the best truck gas mileage of the year.