Midsize and Half-Ton Trucks With the Worst Fuel Economy

While things have been getting better over the years in terms of pickup fuel economy, trucks still generally aren't known for their fuel-sipping abilities. Sure, a slew of hybrid and electric models are coming soon, but for now most trucks swill the dino juice like it's going out of style. Since one of the most asked questions about trucks is about fuel economy, we figured what better time than now to take a look at the worst of the worst, the bottom 10 when it comes to fuel efficiency.

This list is comprised of 2020 and 2021 model year midsize and half-ton pickups— essentially, trucks that you could buy new today. The fuel economy number we're using for comparison is the city/highway combined figure as provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Trim level variations will affect real-world fuel economy. And as always, your mileage may vary. [Related: Trucks That Get the Best Gas Mileage in 2020]

Honestly, this one surprised us a bit. We sure didn't expect the burly and boxy Jeep Gladiator to top the list. At 19 mpg combined for both manual and automatic transmission-equipped 3.6L V-6 trucks, Gladiator is the best of the worst. Unfortunately, this is the best gasoline fuel economy to be had from Gladiator.

GMC's Canyon also impresses with a combined 19 mpg from 3.6L V-6-equipped trucks. These trucks can get as high as 23 mpg combined when equipped with the 2.8L Duramax diesel engine.

Equipped with a 3.5L V-6 engine and choice of either an automatic or manual transmission, the off-road-focused TRD Pro Tacoma clocks in with an EPA-rated 18 mpg combined. At 21 mpg combined, the standard 2.7L I-4 Tacoma is less than impressive, however the TRD Pro shines bright at 18.

Another off-road-oriented pickup in the top half of our list is the 2021 Nissan Titan PRO4X . Fitted with a 5.6L V-8 engine and nine-speed automatic transmission, this rugged Titan checks in with 17 mpg combined. This is only 1 mpg off of the standard Titan's 18 combined.

Ram's 1500 pickup was all-new for 2019 and came with quite the improvement in overall fuel economy. Unsurprisingly, the standard 5.7L Hemi V-8-equipped trucks rank lowest in overall fuel economy with a combined rating of just 17 mpg. Adding eTorque bumps that up to 19 mpg combined, while opting for the eTorque-equipped 3.6L V-6 nets 22 mpg.

If we told you that in 2021 you could buy a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup with the company's 4.3L V-6 engine, would you be surprised? This engine has soldiered on for decades and now features direct fuel injection and cylinder deactivation. Even more surprising is that this base V-6 is rated lowest of Chevrolet's current engine options.

The desert off-road-focused Colorado ZR2 is offered with a choice of either a 2.8L Duramax diesel engine or a 3.6L V-6. When fitted with the gasoline V-6, the midsize truck posts a respectable 17 mpg combined. While 17 mpg isn't terrible, it sure isn't great for the midsize truck class.

In its most basic form, the 2020 Ford F-150 with the 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 is capable of 19 mpg combined. However, the high-output 450-hp version of the twin-turbo V-6 comes in with a rating of 16 mpg combined. This is actually pretty stout when you consider the 35-inch tires, added weight, and lack of aerodynamics that come with the off-road warrior.

This one hurts. Toyota's 2021 Tundra half-ton pickup is rated at just 14 mpg combined for its only engine option, a 5.7L V-8. Adding insult to injury, opting for a two-wheel-drive Tundra only nets a 1-mpg increase to 15 combined. Rumor has it a new Tundra is coming soon, hopefully with a more efficient engine.

Really, is anyone surprised by this one? A 705-hp supercharged V-8 engine, 35-inch tires, and lifted suspension combine to give the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX one of the worst EPA combined fuel economy ratings for gasoline-powered pickups of all time. We kind of think this one is worth it, though…