Seven Pre-Owned Truck Options for Traveling Through Albuquerque and Beyond

Fuel economy is one of the biggest selling points for many car shoppers, and it makes a lot of sense why. With gas prices constantly fluctuating and sometimes skyrocketing to obscene levels in some areas, it’s only reasonable for people to want a vehicle where they can limit the amount of fuel expenditure whenever and wherever possible. If you’re living in Albuquerque and find yourself regularly in need of a truck for daily travel, recreation, maintenance, or work, and you also want to save money on fuel costs, then you’re probably looking for one of the truck models out there with the perfect balance of great performance and fuel economy.

Searching for cars for sale in Albuquerque with great gas mileage isn’t hard, but searching for used trucks with great fuel economy can be a real challenge. But that’s where sites like Online.cars come in handy because we have an amazing supply of used vehicles to choose from, including an array of different truck brands. You can shop for used trucks specifically based on their fuel economy, and in this article, we’ll go over a few used truck configurations that offer the best fuel economy for traveling through Albuquerque and beyond. Let’s get started.

#7. The Ford F-150

The Ford F-150 has been around for ages and is currently in the fourteenth generation of its run. With three-quarters of a century of history under its belt, the F-150 has had a lot of time to cook in the engineering oven with frequent updates and modifications to improve its versatility and utility throughout the years. The fourteenth generation, in particular, offers some great gas mileage across multiple powertrains, including notable figures for the Power Stroke V6 turbo-diesel and the hybrid PowerBoost.

With the PowerBoost turbocharged V6 hybrid, the top-end offerings for a used F-150 from a model year like 2021 offer you 25 MPG in the city and up to 26 MPG on the highway in rear-wheel drive. The four-wheel drive version of the truck tops out at 24 MPG in both the city and on the highway. You get slightly more range with the Power Stroke turbocharged V6 diesel engine on the highway, with the truck maintaining 20 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway. So, if you found yourself doing a lot of long hauls or transporting throughout Albuquerque, where you have stable top-end speeds, the Power Stroke is a good choice. For more city driving, the PowerBoost hybrid is the better option.

#6. The GMC Canyon

GMC’s midsize Canyon shares the same platform as the Chevy Colorado. So, typically, you get many of the same performance and fuel economy ratings from the Canyon and the Colorado. Those differences are a bit more pronounced with some newer model years, but slightly older model-year Canyon trucks can net you similar or equivalent fuel economy to a Chevy Colorado. Specifically, the turbocharged Duramax diesel engine and the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder from 2022 and older offer good mileage for their performance.

For the second generation Canyon, between 2011 and 2022, the 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder provides you with a max fuel economy of 19 MPG in the city and up to 25 MPG on the highway in rear-wheel drive. For those interested in the off-road capable Canyon, the four-wheel drive iteration of the 4-cylinder provides you with 19 MPG in the city and up to 24 MPG on the highway. For the best fuel economy that the Canyon has to offer, the 2.8-liter Duramax 4-cylinder turbo-diesel offers 19 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway in four-wheel drive, and up to 20 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway in rear-wheel drive.

#5. The Chevy Colorado

The second generation Chevy Colorado, between 2011 and 2022, has undergone some significant changes during its run, but toward the tail end of the second generation, the truck’s powertrain configurations have been better optimized to accommodate its midsize design. If you’re looking at the more recently used Chevy Colorado models, you’ll find that it has some good mileage when it comes to its range and fuel economy. This is thanks to its highly optimized powertrain offerings.

At the top-end of its fuel economy offerings, the second generation Chevy Colorado has a 2.8-liter Duramax inline 4-cylinder turbo-diesel that provides you up to 20 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway in rear-wheel drive. If you’re interested in a truck with four-wheel drive capabilities, the Duramax provides up to 19 MPG in the city and up to 28 MPG on the highway.
Alternatively, if you opt for a used Colorado that’s a bit more recent, of the third generation variety, you have the gas-powered turbocharged 2.7-liter 4-cylinder that delivers up to 20 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway in rear-wheel drive. Once again, if you need a truck with four-wheel drive capabilities, the turbocharged 4-cylinder on the Colorado offers you up to 19 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway.

#4. The GMC Sierra 1500

The GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado, much like the GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado, both share the same platform. However, you get some slight fluctuations in the fuel economy for the GMC Sierra 1500 throughout the fourth generation compared to the Silverado. Some earlier models of the fourth generation running the 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel will net you a total of 22 MPG in the city and up to 26 MPG on the highway in four-wheel drive, while rear-wheel drive will net you 23 MPG in the city and up to 30 MPG on the highway.

Some of the later used models of the fourth generation have slightly altered fuel economy ratings. The 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel offers 22 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway in four-wheel drive. Alternatively, you get up to 23 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway in rear-wheel drive. The main difference between the Sierra 1500 and the Canyon and Colorado is that you get slightly better fuel economy in the city with the turbo-diesel on the Sierra, which is worth considering if you do most of your trucking within the more urban confines of Albuquerque.

#3. The Ram 1500

It might not seem like you would expect to see a Ram 1500 on a list of fuel-efficient trucks, but if you want a durable, full-size pickup for your travels throughout Albuquerque and need something with great gas mileage, the Ram 1500 is a good bet. This is thanks to its EcoDiesel powertrain, which offers good mileage and range with a lot of top-end power and performance. You’ll find that the fifth generation Ram 1500 series, from 2019 onward, is a good way to go for a used truck with reliable fuel economy for its towing and payload capacity.

The 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 for the Ram 1500 provides the truck with up to 21 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway in four-wheel drive. This makes it quite the catch for those who need to venture off-road and want to save fuel. The rear-wheel drive version of the truck offers even better fuel economy, at 23 MPG in the city and up to 33 MPG on the highway, making it one of the better used trucks for those who want long-range capabilities and a lot of utility out of the truck.

#2. The Chevy Silverado 1500

Given that the GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado share the same platform, you would think the numbers would be identical across all used models of both trucks in the same generation, but that isn’t entirely true. Certain model years of the Chevy Silverado – the 2020 and 2021 model year in particular – offer some amazing fuel economy for a truck its size.

If you opt for the Duramax turbo-diesel, especially from 2020, you have up to 23 MPG in the city and up to 29 MPG on the highway in four-wheel drive. The Duramax turbo-diesel provides even better fuel economy in rear-wheel drive, with 23 MPG in the city and up to 33 MPG on the highway. That easily makes it one of the best options in the segment. Used Silverado 1500 trims that come with the Duramax during the early fourth generation make for great trucks, whether you travel a lot in the city or long-distance travel along the highway outside of Albuquerque, when it comes to fuel economy.

#1. The Ford Maverick

Whether you’re looking at a midsize or full-size pickup, there’s no denying that the Ford Maverick is the one truck that you can easily count on to provide you with the best fuel economy within the division without it being an electric vehicle or a diesel engine. This means you get a relatively light, high-performance, and long-range capable truck for a low price, making it a prime selection for those shopping for cars for sale in Albuquerque that have good fuel economy.

The turbocharged 2.0-liter Ecoboost 4-cylinder delivers 22 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway in all-wheel drive, while the front-wheel drive configuration nets you 23 MPG in the city and up to 30 MPG on the highway. The real winner here is the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid that’s available for the Maverick. In fact, the Maverick’s hybrid fuel economy is on par with many compact and midsize crossovers and sedans, giving you up to 40 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway. If you need a dependable truck for long-range travel or something to quickly get around town with a lot of stop-and-go traffic, a used Ford Maverick is the perfect trucking solution for Albuquerque residents.