Hybrid vs. Diesel Tow-Off: Which Truck Uses Less Fuel?

When you want the best fuel efficiency and towing capacity, should you turn to a trusted diesel or opt for a hybrid?

For a long time, diesel trucks ruled the road. They had the most power and efficiency and often performed better head-to-head against traditional gasoline trucks.

However, buyers are starting to wonder if diesel is still the way to go in the modern world of hybrids and eco-friendly vehicles. Just about every major manufacturer has hybrid and electric options, many offering a truck in their eco-line.

In a direct comparison of towing capacity between the Chevy Silverado 1500 with the Duramax diesel engine and the Ford F-150 PowerBoost hybrid, the results were a little surprising.

Breakdown of the Contenders

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax comes with a powerful 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine along with a 10-speed automatic transmission. With 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, you have a reliable truck. You get around 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, with slight variations for AWD and RWD.

The Silverado weighs less than the Ford, but it carries a payload of 1,709 pounds and has a towing capacity of 9,000 pounds.

The Ford F-150 PowerBoost, on the other hand, has a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine plus a hybrid electric motor. This engine boasts an incredible 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque. You’ll get around 25 miles per gallon in the city or highway whether you opt for the 2WD or 4WD models.

While the Ford F-150 weighs 5,840 pounds, it can tow up to 12,400 pounds and carry an incredible 1,546 pounds of payload.

But Which One has a Better Towing Capacity?

These trucks were pitted directly against each other. Each one towed a 24-foot double-axle trailer with a dry weight of 4,738 pounds. Both trucks kept the 2WD drive function engaged for fairness.

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 DuraMax drove 65.2 miles and used only 5 gallons of diesel. This brings the miles per gallon to an impressive 13. The Ford F-150 PowerBoost drove 71.3 miles and used 9.12 gallons. This comes out to an estimated 7.8 mpg.

And the Winner Is…

It might be surprising because hybrids are known to be so much more fuel efficient than their traditional counterparts, but the diesel truck has a better towing capacity when you considered miles per gallon along with performance.

But why? It comes down to how the engine works. When a hybrid is towing something or having to work hard, the engine disengages the hybrid capabilities. In the case of towing this trailer, the Ford F-150 PowerBoost did not use the hybrid system in the top two gears. So, when the hybrid truck was towing, it was solely relying on gasoline.

And it is no secret that engines use more gasoline than diesel when towing.

Which One Should I Get?

Well, it depends on what you do most with your truck. If you plan on towing things on a regular basis, then a diesel is the best choice. However, if you rarely tow anything and are looking for fuel efficiency when you drive on a daily basis, then a hybrid truck may be the way to go.