Ford’s F series diesel engine hit the company’s fuel economy target. The 2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke diesel scored a 30 mpg highway EPA rating, Ford Motor Company (FMC) announced today.
The best-selling truck (or car) in the United States for many years running, the 2018 Ford F-150 can now claim the highest EPA-estimated highway fuel rating bragging rights for a full-sized pickup truck.
Ford revealed the 30 mpg highway target earlier this year. At the same time, FMC proudly claimed the 2018 F-150’s 3.0-liter Power Stroke V6 turbodiesel engine in the F-150 would have bragging rights for best-in-class 250 diesel horsepower, 440 pound-feet of torque, 11,400-pound towing capacity, and 2,020 payload capacity.
The EPA estimates diesel-powered 2018 Ford F-150s with rear-wheel-drive will achieve 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined, according to Ford. Four-wheel drive diesel 2018 F-150’s have EPA-estimated ratings of 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, according to The Car Connection.
Ford is pumped about hitting its EPA highway mileage target.
“Even a few years ago, customers wouldn’t have imagined an EPA-estimated rating of 30 mpg highway would be possible in a full-size pickup, but our team of crazy-smart engineers rose to the challenge,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford executive vice president of product development and purchasing.
The 2018 F-150 with the Power Stroke V6 also scores best-in-class 11,400 pounds diesel towing power. The 2,020-pound highest diesel payload capacity is for fleet ordered F-150 XL and XLT configurations. Retail market diesel trucks have a 1,940-pound payload.
General Motors (GM) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) aren’t sitting back while Ford adds a diesel option to its medium-duty pickups. The manufacturers of the respectively and perennial second- and third-best-selling Chevy Silverado and RAM pickup trucks in the U.S. announced new pickup powertrains in January. The 2019 RAM and 2019 Silverado pickups have yet to be reviewed or EPA-rated.
The 2019 RAM 1500‘s carryover 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 adds eTorque, a 48-volt mild hybrid. The eTorque system will provide a small power boost, power electrical accessories, and bump up the engine’s start-stop system. The 2019 RAM 1500 Build & Price website does not currently list a diesel engine option.
Chevy is going after the diesel market with a 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel inline-six for the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado, but no specs are available. GM Authority reported power and torque ratings for 2019 Silverado 5.3L and 6.2L V8 engines based on order guides the blog’s writers uncovered. The 3.0L Duramax diesel mill was not included in the order guides, which were dated April 20, 2018, according to GM Authority.
Power for towing and payload are the strongest draws for diesel truck buyers. High fuel economy, historically the most compelling factor for diesel car owners, hasn’t been as big a pull for truck owners. Now, however, customers shopping for full-sized pickup trucks with the most grunt can seemingly have it all and add fuel-economy to their list of check-off boxes.
But diesel-powered F-150s will require extra coin.
Fans awaiting the Power Stroke V6 option for the 2018 Ford F-150 can expect to pay up to $4,000 extra for a truck with the diesel powerplant, the Car Connection reports. Dealers started taking orders in January for delivery starting in May.
Updated on April 22: Included additional information about 2019 Chevy Silverado and 2019 RAM 1500 engines.
