The Ford F-250/F-350, Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD/3500HD, GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500HD, and Ram 2500/3500 belong in a separate comparison. Their heavy-duty classifications put them outside the light-duty EPA fuel-economy labeling requirements described in the EPA Fuel Economy Guide.

That means there is no equivalent EPA city/highway/combined table for these trucks. Quoting owner-reported averages beside standardized EPA numbers would make the comparison look more precise than it is.

For an HD purchase, compare fuel logs from trucks with similar engines, axle ratios, tires, trailer weights, terrain, and speeds. Separate empty commuting from towing. A diesel’s higher purchase price, maintenance costs, DEF use, and local fuel price also belong in the calculation; an MPG advantage by itself does not establish the cheapest truck to own.

What the MPG number does—and does not—tell you

Combined MPG is the best single sorting number for mixed driving. EPA combined estimates represent a city/highway mix; they are not the simple arithmetic average of the two displayed figures. A highway-heavy driver may reasonably give more weight to the highway column.

MPG is not a towing rating. The EPA figure describes the rated vehicle under standardized testing, not that truck pulling its maximum trailer weight. A manufacturer’s maximum tow claim may also require a different cab, axle ratio, drivetrain, or package from the truck with its best MPG. Use the specific truck’s towing documentation for that decision.

Equipment can outweigh small differences between engines. In the 2026 EPA listings, a Colorado 2WD returns 21 MPG combined, while the ZR2 Bison returns 16. Both use a 2.7L turbo engine, but they are very different configurations. Tire choice, ride height, and off-road equipment are part of the fuel-economy decision.

Put the difference into dollars

At 15,000 miles per year, a truck averaging 25 MPG uses 600 gallons. One averaging 20 MPG uses 750 gallons. The difference is 150 gallons a year, or $600 at an assumed $4 per gallon. This example uses a hypothetical fuel price, not a current national average.

For different fuel types, calculate each separately: annual miles ÷ MPG × price per gallon. At those same 15,000 miles, 25 MPG on diesel costing $4.50 per gallon costs $2,700, while 24 MPG on gasoline costing $4 costs $2,500. The higher-MPG truck is not always the cheaper one to fuel.

Before you buy

Start with the truck size, drivetrain, payload, and towing capability you actually need. Then compare the EPA labels for those specific trucks. The Maverick Hybrid is the clear fuel-saving choice here for a buyer who can use a compact pickup. Full-size shoppers should compare the 2WD Duramax trucks with the F-150 PowerBoost, then price the configurations and fuel available to them.