Gas prices are skyrocketing. Here are the most fuel-efficient trucks you can buy right now

From a 38-mpg Ford Maverick hybrid to a Ram 1500 with near-luxury interior quality, the most fuel-efficient trucks you can buy

Tramino / Getty Images

Pickup trucks occupy a difficult position in the conversation about fuel economy. Their size, mass, and aerodynamic profile work against efficiency, and their core purpose — hauling heavy loads, towing trailers, and handling terrain that smaller vehicles cannot — tends to push powertrains toward higher output over lower consumption. For buyers who need a truck’s capabilities, there has historically been no way around the fuel costs those capabilities impose. Gas prices in spring 2026 are trending upward, and the question of which truck costs the least to fuel over time has become more pressing than it was a few years ago.

The market has responded. Hybrid powertrains, turbocharged engines that extract more work from less fuel, and diesel options now appear across the pickup segment in ways they did not a decade ago. Several trucks can now achieve combined fuel-economy ratings approaching 40 miles per gallon. That number would have seemed implausible for a four-door, four-wheel-drive vehicle capable of towing a trailer. Even full-size trucks, traditionally the least efficient category in the segment, now offer hybrid and diesel configurations that meaningfully reduce per-mile fuel costs relative to the purely gasoline powertrains that once dominated the segment.

The 10 trucks below come from U.S. News & World Report’s list of the most fuel-efficient trucks, which identifies the most fuel-efficient pickup trucks available to U.S. buyers across compact, midsize, and full-size segments. The list spans unibody and body-on-frame designs, hybrid and conventional gasoline powertrains, and a wide range of use cases from family daily driver to work truck to trail runner. EPA combined mpg figures are the primary efficiency metric, with ties broken by additional review criteria including safety scores, expert reviewer assessments, and owner satisfaction data drawn from multiple independent industry research sources.

1. Ford Maverick achieves 38 mpg on its hybrid powertrain

The Ford $F Maverick returns 38 mpg combined on its standard hybrid powertrain, the highest fuel economy rating of any pickup truck on this list. The Maverick is also the least expensive truck here, which means buyers who prioritize both fuel efficiency and affordability will find no competing option that matches both criteria. Editor Zach Doell notes that the Maverick’s modest price and compact stature can mislead: the truck drives smoothly enough to serve as a capable daily commuter, and its road manners are genuinely well-balanced thanks in part to a platform with proven history in other Ford vehicles.

The hybrid powertrain is standard equipment on the Maverick, not an optional upgrade, which means buyers receive peak efficiency without a premium surcharge for the technology. A turbocharged EcoBoost gasoline engine is available for buyers who want more power at the cost of some fuel economy. Both configurations come with front-wheel drive as standard, with optional all-wheel drive for buyers who need better traction in adverse conditions.

The Maverick’s efficiency advantage over the rest of this list is substantial. At 38 mpg combined, it sits in a category of its own relative to the next-closest competitors, which return figures in the mid-20s at best. For buyers who do not need the towing and hauling capacity of a full-size truck, the Maverick’s smaller footprint and standard hybrid architecture make it the most cost-effective powertrain option in the pickup segment. A buyer who drives the national average annual mileage will spend measurably less on fuel in a Maverick than in any other truck on this list, and the standard hybrid system requires no extra purchase decision to access the peak efficiency rating. The Maverick’s compact footprint also makes it easier to maneuver and park in urban and suburban environments, giving it a practical advantage in daily use that larger trucks on this list cannot match.

2. Ford F-150 earns a 9.6 rating with a wide powertrain menu

Wirestock / Getty Images

The Ford $F F-150 earns a 9.6 U.S. News rating — the highest among the trucks on this list — and wins the U.S. News Best Full-Size Pickup Truck for the Money award. The F-150’s appeal spans an exceptionally wide range of buyer profiles: a base work truck, a fully equipped family hauler, and a purpose-built trail runner are all available under the same nameplate, giving the F-150 a versatility that few vehicles in any segment can claim. The styling is broadly appealing, the cabin is comfortable, and the range of trim levels and powertrain options gives buyers precise control over their desired configuration.

The base powertrain is a twin-turbocharged V6 that moves the F-150 with urgency and handles most driving tasks without complaint. Ford builds on that foundation with three additional twin-turbo V6 configurations, one of which is a hybrid that improves fuel economy while also adding capability in certain towing scenarios. A naturally aspirated V8 and a supercharged V8 round out the lineup for buyers who want maximum output. This breadth of powertrain options is unusual in the segment and allows buyers to match their specific use case — efficiency-focused commuting or maximum towing — without switching brands.

The F-150’s 22 mpg combined rating reflects the hybrid configuration, which is not the most efficient truck on this list but represents strong performance for a full-size vehicle with the F-150’s capability envelope. Buyers who choose a gasoline-only powertrain will see lower mpg figures, making the hybrid configuration the best choice for those who want to minimize fuel costs in the full-size truck segment. The F-150’s highest rating on this list, its broadest powertrain........

© Quartz