The pickup truck, once reserved for the wide-open spaces of the country or work sites has morphed into a "Jack of all trades" that now fits in on country, city, and suburban roads alike. Occasionally, it even replaces the SUV as a hard-working family vehicle. As pickup trucks are growing in popularity for daily driving, shoppers are looking for features like ride comfort, modern tech, and passenger room. Additionally, fuel efficiency is an important consideration for choosing a truck as a daily driver. Compact trucks offer good gas mileage for lugging the kids to school or towing the boat on the weekend. These 4 pickup trucks top the list with the best MPG for everyday driving.
1. 2019 Ford Ranger
Arriving on the scene in 2019, the new Ford Ranger was welcomed with open arms by pickup truck shoppers. It provides the convenience of a compact truck without sacrificing towing or payload capacities thanks to its powerful engine. User-friendly tech and segment-leading fuel efficiency will give you added confidence that this truck is a great choice for your everyday vehicle. The Ford Ranger's interior is basic and utilitarian but its outstanding Ford Sync 3 infotainment system is user-friendly and offers connectivity to both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Under the hood, the Ford Ranger has a 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine which is good for 270 horsepower and a best-in-class 310 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged engine is powerful enough to provide 7,500 pounds of towing power and up to 1,860 pounds of payload. Along with the brawn, the Ranger offers up surprisingly fuel-efficient MPG ratings to take the top spot among compact trucks. 2WD models get 21 city/26 highway/23 combined and 4WD models get 20 city/24 highway/22 combined.
MPG: 21 City / 26 Highway / 23 Combined
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2. 2019 Honda Ridgeline
The 2019 Honda Ridgeline may not be the most rugged truck on the market, but it compensates for its lack of burliness with its exceptional daily driver capabilities and fuel efficiency. Unlike body-on-frame trucks that can tow more weight, the Ridgeline's max towing capacity is 5,000 pounds. If this isn't a deterrent, the Ridgeline has a lot to offer. In addition to top reliability ratings and safety scores, the Ridgeline provides a smooth, SUV-like ride thanks to its unibody construction.
The sole engine option is a 3.5-liter V6 that offers up 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque for responsive and quick acceleration. When it's time to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and take a road trip, you'll be especially impressed with the Ridgeline's strong MPG ratings. Going with the 2WD model gets you the MPG of 19 city/ 26 highway/ 22 combined and the AWD offers just slightly lower numbers at 18/25/21.
MPG: 19 City / 26 Highway / 22 Combined
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3. 2019 GMC Canyon
While the Ford Ranger has lackluster interior style, and the Honda Ridgeline is limited in towing capacity, the 2019 GMC Canyon provides a well-rounded package. It offers solid towing and hauling capacities, a smooth drive, an upscale interior, and good fuel efficiency. The Canyon also has more engine options than the first two trucks on the list. The standard engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine good for 200 horsepower and 191 lb-ft of torque. Additionally, you can choose from a 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel that makes 186 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque and a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque.
Towing and hauling capacities will depend on the engine you choose. The 4-cylinder can tow up to 3,500 pounds, the V6 can tow 7,000 pounds. Models with the turbodiesel engine have the highest towing capacity: 7,700 pounds and the highest payload at 1,605 pounds. For fuel efficiency, the base engine gets 20 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway while the V6 gets 18 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway. The turbodiesel is the most efficient with 20 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway.
MPG (base engine): 20 City / 26 Highway / 22 Combined
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4. 2020 Chevrolet Colorado
On paper, the Chevrolet Colorado is very similar to its GM sibling, the GMC Canyon. You'll get the same engine options, towing capacity and MPG ratings. A few key differences include the trucks' interiors and starting prices. The Chevy Colorado's interior is not as upscale as the GMC Canyon's and the starting price of the 2020 Colorado is significantly lower than the 2020 Canyon ($21,300 vs. $29,100). Customization is another benefit for Chevy Colorado buyers thanks to a variety of trims available for everyday driving or the occasional adventure. For example, the rugged Colorado ZR2 is optimized for off-roading capability.
Identical to the GMC Canyon, the Colorado's standard engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that gets 20 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. The V6 gets 18 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway and the turbodiesel offers the top ratings of 20/30 MPG city/highway.
MPG (base engine): 20 City / 26 Highway / 22 Combined