We are living in an age where fuel prices are soaring and people are greatly concerned about the amount of money spent on fuel. Keeping with the sentiments of the time, vehicle fuel efficiency has garnered a lot of attention; a factor which was easily dismissed in favor of better designs and top of the line accessories till yesterday has now become a crucial constraint when buying vehicles. If you have recently visited an auto show, you will find vehicle manufacturers falling over each other trying to tout the fuel efficiency of their products to potential customers. So, if you are also in the market for a truck that offers superlative fuel economy; here is separating the top pick up performers from the gas guzzlers

2009 Ford Ranger Pickup 2WD: With a city mileage of 21 and a highway mileage of 27; this is one of the most fuel efficient small pick ups in the market today. The 4 cylinder, 2.3 liter engine and a manual 5 speed transmission offer superior performance without breaking the bank. Available in 3 trims, the compact 2WD offers value for money whether you buy the XL, XLT or Sport. In the 2010 version of the model, you can take your pick between manual or automatic transmission. This rear wheel driven pick up can take you 400 miles once the 19.5 gallon tank is topped of. The safety features of the 2WD are at part with other Ford offerings and include 2 staged frontal air bags along with side seat air bags, 4-wheel ABS braking and Roll stability control.

2009 Mazda B2300: This 2 door, 3 seat pick up offers superior fuel efficiency; the standard 2.3 L engine with 4 cylinder engine in this truck can give you 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. The B2300 is available in two trims from the M5 to the A5; the manual transmission of the M5 offers a slightly better highway mileage of 26 mpg. This pickup has been very well received and is known for its economical and efficient performance across a range of driving scenarios.

2010 GMC Canyon: The GMC Canyon is a 2 door, 3 seat pick up that is available in 14 trims starting with the Work Truck 4×2 Standard Cab which comes equipped with a 2.9 L, 4 cylinder engine that can give an in city mileage of 18 mpg and 25 mpg while on the highway. The automatic transmission range starts with the SLT 4×4 CRew Cab ISC Heavy-Duty; this pick up has a 3.7 L , 4-cylinder engine that gives a in city mileage of 17 mpg and can easily do 23 mpg on the highway. The GMC Canyon is equipped with curtain 1st and 2nd row airbags along with StabiliTrack stability control.

2009 Chevrolet Silverado 15 Hybrid 2WD: The half ton, 5 seater Silverado 1500 with its 4 doors is available in 4 trims. The range starts with the 1HY 4×2 and goes up to 2HY 4×4. Well known for its fuel efficiency, the Silverado 1HY 4×2 is offered with a 8 cylinder 6 L engine can give you in city mileage of 21 mpg and highway mileage of 22 mpg. The 2HY 4×4 offers the same mileage but comes equipped with standard automatic transmission. The safety features of the vehicle include overhead and side seat mounted airbags, 4-wheel ABS anti lock brakes and Proactive Roll Avoidance Stability control.

2010 GMC Sierra 1500 Hybrid: The GMC Sierra is another fuel efficient offering from General Motors; available in 4 trims ranging from 3HA 4×2 to 3HB 4×4; this 4 door, 5 seater pick up offers impressive performance at cost effective rates. The manual transmission range that starts with the 3HA 4×2 has a standard 8 cylinder 6 L engine that offers a mileage of 21 mpg in the city and does 22 mpg on the highway. The 3HB 4×4 also comes equipped with a 6L, 8-cylinder engine that offers mileage which is at par with the 3HA 4×2; however, you get a 5 speed automatic transmission with this model. The Safety features on the Sierra include ABS and driveline traction control along with side seat mounted and overhead airbags. The pick up has been given the “Best Overall Values of the Year” award in the Full Size Pickup category.

2010 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500: The Avalanche with its standard 8 cylinder, 5.3 L powerful engine offers a highway mileage of 21 mpg and can give you 15 mpg in the city. Available with a standard automatic transmission, the Avalanche is offered in 6 trims starting at the LS 4×2 and going up to LTZ 4×4 with the same engine configuration. The Avalanche is available with standard safety features; however, the low in city mileage has failed to impress several customers.

2010 Chevrolet Colorado: The half ton Colorado with 2 doors and 3 seat is another pick up that offers very good highway mileage but fails to deliver in the city. Although not a gas guzzler, Colorado’s in city performance stands at a mere 18 mpg as opposed to the superlative 25 mpg that you can get from this truck on the highway. The Chevrolet Colorado is available in a wide range of 16 trims; so, you get everything from the Work Truck 4×2 to the 2LT 4×4 Crew Cab. The Work Truck 4×2 Standard Cab is available with a standard 4 cylinder 2.9 L engine; which should have ideally given better overall mileage. The 2LT Crew Cab 4×4 comes with a slightly more powerful 3.7 L engine with 5 cylinders and automatic transmission. This model can just do 16 mpg in the city as opposed to the 21 mpg performance on the highway. This vehicle is offered with standard safety features and is well known for the increased roominess that it provides.

While most vehicle manufacturers are striving to offer increased fuel efficiency, there is certainly no dearth of gas guzzlers either. Some of the vehicles that you should stay away from if fuel economy is important to you include the 2009 Hummer which offers a dismal 13 mpg in the city, the Nissan Titan at 12 mpg and the Toyota Tundra also at 13 mpg.

Author Bio: Leo Ferrusi is an automotive writer at MilesGallon.com where he explores new and old ways you can improve the gas mileage of your vehicle. Find out the real mpg of your vehicle using this handy gas mileage calculator and find out how a truck bed cover can improve your mpg

Category: Automotive
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