The 7 Best Diesel Pickups You Can Buy

Diesel vehicles have better fuel efficiency and more torque than their gasoline-powered counterparts. Although diesel-powered passenger cars have become a rarity in the American auto market, diesel pickups have prevailed as a popular choice for truck buyers who want a more efficient yet more powerful hauler. What are the benefits of diesel trucks, and which diesel trucks are the best ones on the market? We have the answers.

Diesel Vs. Gasoline

The main difference between a diesel engine and a gasoline-powered engine is that in a gas engine, fuel and air are mixed inside a combustion chamber, and ignited by a spark plug. Modern diesel powertrains compress the air first, which causes heat, and when the fuel is added, combustion happens without a spark plug. 

Diesel engines are typically heavier and more powerful than gasoline engines, which gives them a higher towing capacity, an ever-important metric for discerning truck buyers. Diesel engines have less horsepower than their gasoline counterparts, but they have more lb-ft of torque to contribute to their towing prowess and off-road capability. Along with semi and pickup trucks, diesel engines can also be found in SUVs and crossovers, often combined with four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

Diesel vehicles are usually more fuel-efficient than their gasoline counterparts, though more efficient modern gas engines are catching up to diesels, especially in hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. A well-maintained diesel engine will usually outlast a comparable gasoline engine. Diesel-powered vehicles are typically more expensive than their gasoline equivalent, and diesel fuel, once much cheaper per gallon than gas, is often comparable in price. 

Best Diesel Trucks

Of the new vehicles listed by the EPA’s Fueleconomy.gov website, roughly half are pickups, so there are a number of new and used diesel-powered trucks to choose from.

1. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 

iSeeCars Quality Score: 8.3

• Reliability Score: 8.5

• Retained Value Score: 7.7

• Safety Score: 8.6

Average New Car Price: $43,500

Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $46,963

Fronting our list is the full-size Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the optional Duramax diesel engine, and a score of 8.3. The diesel-powered Silverado earns 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The turbomax diesel engine is available in the truck’s LT, RST, LTZ, High Country trim levels. Silverados with the diesel engine return the best fuel economy at 23/33 mpg city/highway. The turbodiesel has a towing capacity of 9,500 pounds.  

2. Ford F-150

iSeeCars Quality Score: 8.3

• Reliability Score: 8.5

• Retained Value Score: 7.7

• Safety Score: 8.7

Average New Car Price: $53,260

Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $49,247

The Ford F-150 ranks second. The Ford F150 has an optional Powerstroke 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinder with a 10-speed automatic transmission. However, the Powerstroke diesel engine was discontinued after the 2021 model year, so the diesel option is only available on used models. Diesel models can tow up to 12,100 points. 

3. GMC Sierra 1500

iSeeCars Quality Score: 8.2

• Reliability Score: 8.4

• Retained Value Score: 7.8

• Safety Score: 8.5

Average New Car Price: $44,850

Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $55,865

The GMC Sierra 1500, which is nearly identical to the Silverado, with a score of 8.2, comes in at third place with the same drivetrain specs as the Chevy Silverado. The newer models have a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder, with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The 2022 redesign of both the GMC Sierra and the Chevrolet Silverado featured many upgrades, including increased towing capacity that improved by nearly 4,000 pounds for diesel models.

4. GMC Canyon