One of the challenges associated with comparing fuel economy numbers amongst trucks is that heavy-duty trucks are exempt from requirements to publish EPA mileage numbers. However, there’s always the assurance of real-world highway data to fall back on when making an argument in favor of diesel trucks being more fuel-efficient than their gas counterparts.
When you are searching for new Chevrolet trucks near Van Buren, for instance, you might want to think about the data gathered by drivers actually testing these models in real-time on highways across every state.
Here’s an overview of why diesel trucks take the crown of being the most fuel efficient option of their kind.
You can’t expect pretty numbers
Let’s start with a reality check. If you are driving a six or seven liter truck along the highways of America you can’t expect the best fuel economy numbers around.
It stands to reason that a big heavy truck with a large engine, regardless of whether it is powered by a diesel or gas engine, is going to be more likely to gulp fuel rather than sip it.
Having said that, the numbers consistently show that a diesel truck will deliver better fuel economy than a gas-powered truck. On average, if a diesel truck is managing to return a figure of about 18 MPG, a gas-fed model is likely to be behind that performance level and managing more like 15 MPG.
Bear in mind that these are average figures. However, managing to deliver about 20% better fuel economy with a diesel truck is worth shouting about.
Performance and fuel economy combined
What you want from your truck is the best possible performance and the most attractive fuel economy numbers possible, in the circumstances.
You already know that filling up your truck, or any vehicle given the price of fuel right now, is going to involve an element of financial pain these days, but that extra 20% of fuel economy achieved with a diesel engine will quickly add up to some significant cost savings over the lifetime of your truck ownership.
Chevy fares well
As you might expect from a brand that has been around for so long and is a trusted name in the truck sector, Chevrolet does well when it comes to finding truck models that deliver the best fuel economy.
You can’t really expect to exceed 20 MPG, even allowing for advancements in engine technology, but the Silverado 2500 HD managed to get 19 MPG over a 75-mile test carried out by “Car and Driver” magazine.
You have to keep an open mind about these numbers, overall. Trucks are designed for endurance, and hauling huge loads with aplomb. You can’t get a workhorse like that and still demand incredible MPG figures.
At the end of the day, choosing a model that fares well in MPG testing is still a smart move. Over a 50,000 mile cycle, you will burn 625 gallons of fuel less than some of the more gas-guzzling models out there. That represents a huge saving worth talking about, which is why diesel takes the crown for being the most economical option.
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