Diesels are all about fuel efficiency, torque and low-maintenance durability, which makes them a great choice for a truck engine. Not for nothing have commercial trucks been almost exclusively diesel-powered for decades. The same virtues that power the business case behind a Kenworth are also at work in diesel-powered pickup trucks.
With the exception of new and small trucks like the Ford Maverick Hybrid, diesel-powered haulers rule the MPG roost in truck-land, and they often come with gobs of towing-friendly torque. Today’s diesels are also quieter, smoother, and more powerful overall than ever before, banishing memories of 1980’s era oil burners, which were noisy, smoky and slow.
In recent years, modern diesels had proliferated in midsize and full-size trucks, but gas prices and emissions regulations seem to have brought that boom to an end. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average cost of diesel fuel (as of January, 2023) was $1.27 a gallon higher than regular gas, offsetting those better mpg numbers. That’s hurt consumer interest in lighter-duty diesel trucks, but increasingly tough emissions regulations are also playing a role. Modern diesels are much cleaner than those of the 1990s, but they still create more tailpipe pollution than gas and hybrid setups.
Ford’s hybrid F-150 displaced that vehicle’s diesel option in 2021, and several diesel-powered choices will also soon depart. The Ram 1500’s EcoDiesel has now been discontinued and so have the diesel engines in the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. That last truck will arrive late this year, and in the meantime, you can still buy a diesel 2022 model, but the window is rapidly closing.
By the end of 2023, this will leave only GM’s full-size entries and the Jeep Gladiator on the market. General Motors is likely to continue offering its full-size diesel pickups for a long time to come and heavy-duty models aren’t going to abandon oil burners, but if you want any of these other models, now’s the time to act.
These are the best diesel trucks for 2023, though our list contains some 2022 models that are still on sale. While the numbered scores reflect each truck’s overall merits, our list order reflects the torque, fuel efficiency and overall performance of each truck’s diesel-powered versions.
- GMC Sierra 1500 Max. Torque: 460 pound-feet, Max. Combined MPG: 26, Max. Tow Rating: 13,200 Pounds
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Max. Torque: 495 pound-feet, Max. Combined MPG: 26, Max. Tow Rating: 13,300 Pounds
- Ram 1500 Max. Torque: 480 pound-feet, Max. Combined MPG: 26, Max. Tow Rating: 12,560 Pounds
- Jeep Gladiator Max. Torque: 442 pound-feet, Max. Combined MPG: 24, Max. Tow Rating: 6,500 Pounds
- GMC Canyon Max. Torque: 369 pound-feet, Max. Combined MPG: 23, Max. Tow Rating: 7,700 Pounds
Why We Picked It
The GMC Sierra, like its Chevy Silverado sibling, got a major interior and tech update last year, with bright new screens and user-friendly, Google-native infotainment software replacing the 2021 model’s dated dashboard and systems. The Sierra shares much with the Silverado underneath, including its optional 3.0-liter Duramax diesel inline-six, which returns up to 26 mpg in rear-wheel drive form. The tow rating has risen considerably since it was first introduced, to 13,200 pounds from the original 9,300, though that’s still a skosh below the Silverado’s. The Sierra’s more chiseled styling is definitely more pleasing, and it offers a slightly nicer interior too, but it generally costs more than the Chevy model-for-model.
Pros & Cons
- Turbodiesel inline-six offers a good combination of fuel-efficiency and power
- Multi-function tailgate
- Handsome styling
- Premium interior (still) not as premium as price suggests
- Pricier than Silverado but very similar underneath
- Not as refined to drive as the Ram 1500
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Why We Picked It
The Silverado 1500 got a major tech and interior upgrade last year, which brought its dated and cheap-feeling cabin into the 2020s to do battle with Ford and Ram (at least on LT and higher trims). Though much improved, the Silverado’s scowling styling still splits opinions. One of its best assets, however, is its available 3.0-liter Duramax diesel inline-six, a $2,540 option on most trims and boasting upgrades of its own for 2023. Chevy has retuned the oil-burner for 28 more horespower (395 in total) and 35 pound-feet of additional torque (to 495) for only a modest increase in cost. Already quick for a diesel, performance is now even better, and the max tow rating is now 13,300 pounds, topping Ram’s 12,560 among diesel half-tons. The Silverado also offers a comprehensive optional trailer monitoring and safety suite, including GM’s Super Cruise system (though only on the top trim).
Pros & Cons
- Tops among Diesel half-tons for towing and tied for best fuel economy
- Useful tailgate and sophisticated trailering features
- Comfortable, commanding driving position
- Even the updated interior isn’t quite as nice as Ford or Ram
- Not as smooth or refined to drive as Ram
- Many desirable features cost extra, including safety and trailering gear
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Why We Picked It
Ram continues to knock it out of the park with the 1500, even in the face of the updated and innovative Ford F-150. Although Ram offers several good powertrains, all with mild hybird assist, the standout star of the lineup has been the Ram’s available 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6. It’s a $4,995 option on most models, but it brings a 12,560-pound tow rating, 480 pound-feet of torque, both tops among diesel half-ton trucks, and up to 26 mpg combined in rear-wheel drive form.
Acceleration isn’t quite as sprightly as GM’s diesels or the Hemi-powered 1500, but no other pickup offers the level of luxury and comfort that the Ram’s interior can, and none of its full-size truck rivals ride as smoothly. Sadly, production of the Ram EcoDiesel ended in January, 2023, though you can still find them for sale. It’s a good bed that the engine will be replaced by Stellantis’ efficient new “Hurricane” six-cylinder gas engine.
Pros & Cons
- Up to 26 mpg combined and a 12,560-pound tow rating
- Upscale, luxurious interior
- Excellent handling, refinement, and ride for the class
- Gets expensive fast
- A little slower than GM’s diesel pickups
- Soon to be discontinued
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Why We Picked It
Few, if any, pickups can match the Gladiator’s off-road talents, particularly with the extra ground clearance of the Rubicon trim, and its styling is as rugged as its capabilities. In 2021 the Gladiator gained an optional $4,000 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 (a close relative of the one in the Ram 1500) delivering up to 24 mpg combined. That’s best-in-class fuel economy among midsize trucks, despite the fact that the Jeep is the biggest vehicle in that class.
Unlike most similar trucks, the Gladiator’s overall performance is improved with the diesel, with faster zero-to-60 times and more passing power, plus more usable torque for trekking through rocks and mud. It trades performance for hauling ability, however, with 1,325-pound payload and 6,500-pound towing limits versus 1,700 and 7,700 for properly equipped gas Gladiators, owing to that engine’s lighter weight. Lower hauling limits aside, the Gladiator is the best-performing (and most exciting) midsize diesel truck.
Pros & Cons
- Rugged looks, go-anywhere image
- Supreme off-road abilities
- Best diesel economy and performance among midsize pickups
- Short on safety systems and crash test data
- High price rises quickly with options
- A little less towing and payload capacity than the gas-powered version
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Why We Picked It
The Canyon’s available 2.8-liter four-cylinder diesel isn’t quite in the same league as the six-cylinder models on this list, but it’s a robust and frugal powerplant pushing out 369 pound-feet of torque and returning up to 23 mpg combined. Though it’s not as fast as the gas V6 Canyons, it offers a 7,700-pound tow rating, the highest among all midsize pickups. The downside is cost, which varies by model and trim, with some trims costing over $5,000 more than their gas equivalents. That stiff price, and possibly looming emissions regulations, mean that the oil burner won’t return on the all-new 2023 Canyon. However, that vehicle’s arrival in showrooms has been delayed until summer, so for now you can still buy a 2022 model year, diesel-powered Canyon.
Pros & Cons
- Diesel engine carries class-leading tow rating
- Smooth, compliant ride
- Handsome styling
- Few driver-assist features, and none standard
- The diesel is an expensive add, at more than $5,000
- Aging design, replaced soon
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Methodology
These light-duty trucks were selected for four main criteria: 1) the ranking by Forbes Wheels staff, 2) the highest combined fuel economy ratings among all model combinations of each truck, 3) the torque ratings, and therefore pulling power, of each truck’s diesel engine, and 4) each truck’s maximum tow rating with their available diesel engines. Since low-revving diesel engines inherently prioritize torque and fuel-efficiency over horsepower, they tend to be a little slower in traffic than gas-engine vehicles, so the relative performance of the diesel variations compared with their gasoline equivalents was also a factor.
For 2023, our standard evaluation covers seven areas:
- Performance
- Fuel Economy
- Safety
- Infotainment
- Comfort & Room
- Cargo Space & Storage
- Style & Design
Overall: 100 points
- Performance (15 points) The Performance score is a subjective assessment of a vehicle’s handling, braking, acceleration, ride quality and other qualitative performance measures such as horsepower, torque, zero-to-60 time and top speed. Towing capability for trucks and SUVs also is considered. Performance of the vehicles is compared against the identified competitive set. While driving, reviewers look for attributes relative to the expectations set by the manufacturer and by consumer expectations.
- Fuel Economy (15 points) The Fuel Economy score is based on the combined mpg estimate for the entire model lineup and how that figure measures against the identified competitive set. The mpg estimates are based on EPA data or the manufacturer if no EPA data is available. Hybrid and plug-in electric variants within a lineup that significantly lower their overall average will not be included in the comparison unless the competitive set also have hybrid or PHEV variants. Scoring for pure electric vehicles will be based on kilowatts consumed per 100 miles and the comparative mile per gallon equivalent, or MPGe.
- Safety (15 points) The Safety score is based on crash test results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Vehicles not yet rated by either agency receive zero points. Also included in the safety rating are points awarded for certain advanced driver-assistance safety features offered as standard equipment on the base trim. There are nine safety features Forbes Wheels considers mandatory for the standard offering: forward emergency automatic braking, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning or one its higher-level variants, lane keeping assistance or lane centering. Vehicles must have at least four of these in their standard offering to receive points. Vehicles that offer a Level 2 self-driving system, (a combination of adaptive cruise control and lane centering) are eligible for a bonus point.
- Infotainment (15 points) The Infotainment score is based on points awarded for certain features offered as standard equipment on the base trim. Forbes Wheels identifies certain features that are growing in popularity and therefore have been adopted by both premium and mainstream automakers. Some of these features include a minimum 7-inch touchscreen (or premium vehicles that use a rotary knob, touchpad or other mechanism to control a non-touchscreen display), wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a customizable, digital driver information display or instrument panel and at least 2 USB ports. Additional points are awarded for popular features that haven’t been widely adopted in mainstream vehicles such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and wireless charging capabilities.
- Comfort & Room (15 points) The Comfort & Room score is based on points awarded for the reviewer’s assessment of the vehicle’s comfort, ergonomics and overall interior feel as well as effective use of space. Points also are awarded for the measurement of rear-seat legroom and how it compares with the identified competitive set. Vehicles that offer a segment-best legroom in either rear seat or optional third row are eligible for a bonus point.
- Cargo Space & Storage (15 points) The Cargo Space & Storage score is based on points awarded for the reviewer’s assessment of the vehicle’s large and small cargo spaces (as well as small-item storage) and how well they serve their purpose and effective use of space. Reviewers also consider innovative storage solutions and flexible loading features. Points also are awarded for the cargo space measurements for rear cargo hold or trunk and how it compares with the identified competitive set. Vehicles that offer a segment-best cargo or trunk space are eligible for a bonus point.
- Styling (10 points) The Style score is a subjective assessment of a vehicle’s overall styling and design, inside and out. Reviewers also consider the configuration of the interior and how well the design plays into the function. Build quality also is a consideration.
Why You Can Trust Forbes Wheels:
The Forbes Wheels team is committed to bringing you unbiased, unvarnished information about new and used vehicles, automotive accessories, the vehicle buying process and the fast-evolving technology in today’s automobiles. Our vehicle and accessory reviews are backed by decades of experience and a team of dozens of veteran automotive experts from all walks of life. We create our rankings using published, data-driven methodologies and our direct experiences. While we sometimes participate in manufacturer-hosted events, we also independently source and test vehicles and accessories.