Best Hybrid Trucks for Eco-Friendly Power and Performance | Top Luxury Pickups 2024
While electric vehicles signal the future, not everyone is ready to embrace them due to concerns like range anxiety and high upfront costs. This reluctance has sustained a demand for traditional combustion engine vehicles. However, if the best electric trucks seem impractical, hybrid trucks present a compelling alternative.
Given the weight and aerodynamics of trucks, hybrid powertrains, featuring a combination of gas engines and electric motors, offer improved fuel efficiency without sacrificing traditional benefits. Some hybrids use the electric motor as a supplement, while others boast larger independent electric motors for short electric-only drives. Hybrid trucks can serve as a transitional step toward fully electric vehicles, providing users with the familiarity of gas-powered vehicles while introducing them to electric powertrain dynamics.
For those eyeing the future of transportation, exploring the current market for the best hybrid trucks is a worthwhile endeavor. To make your search convenient, we present the top hybrid trucks of 2024. Please note our list focuses only on full and mild hybrids (available or confirmed), excluding Plug in hybrid pickup truck models (PHEVs).
5 Best Hybrid Pickup Trucks of 2024
1: Ford Maverick Hybrid 2024
The 2024 Ford Maverick spearheads the return of small pickups, securing a spot on our best hybrid trucks list. Derived from the Escape crossover, it slots beneath the mid-size Ranger in Ford’s lineup, offering robust payload and towing capabilities despite not sharing the F-150 and Ranger’s truck platform.
Standard features include a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, front-wheel drive, optional all-wheel drive, and a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain. With a well-designed cabin and upscale features, it defies its affordable price. While the base XL trim suits work duty, the Maverick stands out as a practical and compelling small pickup, rivaling only the pricier Hyundai Santa Cruz.
The hybrid variant, powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor, yields 191 horsepower, delivering 42 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. Despite a less spirited performance than the turbo four, it accomplishes tasks efficiently. The Maverick Hybrid’s versatility is evident with 1,500 pounds of payload and 2,000 pounds of towing capacity, while the turbocharged engine, paired with the Tow package, achieves a robust 4,000 pounds towing capacity.
Key Features:
- Starting price: $24,900
- Number of seats: Up to five passengers
- MPG combined: 37
- Total range: 511 miles
- Max Towing capacity: 2,000 pounds
- Engine: 191-horsepower hybrid 2.5-liter DOHC Atkinson-cycle inline-4
2: Ram 1500 eTorque 2024
Ram, one of the revered ‘big three’ alongside Ford and Chevy in the hybrid pickup truck realm, has ventured into the hybrid domain to navigate the intense competition. Dubbed eTorque, this hybrid system is available in diverse configurations featuring both V6 and V8 powerplants. The 3.6L V6 yields 305 horsepower and 269 pound feet of torque. On the other hand, the 5.7L V8 boasts a robust 395 horsepower and 410 pound feet of torque. The V6 version achieves an efficient 22 MPG combined, while the V8 version maintains a respectable 20 MPG combined. Ram offers the 1500 eTorque in various trims, allowing customization for off-road enthusiasts.
In contrast to Ford and Toyota’s comprehensive hybrid systems, Ram adopts a more reserved approach with eTorque, incorporating mild hybrid technology. The eTorque V6 and V8 leverage an enhanced alternator and a small battery, providing intermittent electrified support rather than continuous electric propulsion.
While eTorque enhances performance around town, its efficiency gains are modest, offering just one extra MPG combined for the V6 over non-eTorque counterparts. The Ram 1500 eTorque introduces a taste of electrification without undergoing a revolutionary transformation, positioning itself as a middle-ground hybrid system in the competitive landscape.
Key Features:
- Starting price: $38,570
- Number of seats: Up to six passengers
- MPG combined: 22
- Total range: N/A
- Max Towing capacity: 12,750 pounds
- Engine: 305-horsepower, 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 eTorque engine or 395-hp 5.7L V8
3: Ford F-150 Hybrid Powerboost 2024
The Ford F150, a perennial best-seller for over four decades, boasts enduring popularity and practicality. While the all electric F150 Lightning has gained attention as one of the best luxury trucks, the F150 Hybrid preceded it, blending a 3.5 liter twin turbo V6 with a 1.5 kW lithium ion battery and a 37 kilowatt electric motor, delivering 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet of torque. Available in two wheels and four wheels configurations, the latter achieves a combined fuel economy of 24 MPG. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds.
The F-150 Hybrid’s versatility extends to its driving range, reaching up to 700 miles per tank, while its capability to function as a mobile generator enhances utility at job sites or during power outages. Interior luxury rivals that of the Ram 1500, especially in the upscale King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited models.
Storage options abound, and thoughtful features cater to those using the F-150 as a mobile workspace. Additionally, the spacious and family-friendly cabin, particularly in the four-door crew-cab style, ensures a comfortable ride. In short, Ford seamlessly blends power, efficiency, and practicality with the F-150 Hybrid.
Key Features:
- Starting price: Around $50,000
- Number of seats: Up to six passengers
- MPG combined: 25
- Total range: up to 700 miles
- Max Towing capacity: 12,700 pounds
- Engine: 430-horsepower hybrid 3.5-liter PowerBoost V-6 engine
4: Toyota Tundra Hybrid 2024
In 2022, Toyota revamped the Tundra, bidding farewell to the V8 engine in favor of a twin turbo 3.5-liter V6. The most potent variant, the i-FORCE Max hybrid, integrates an electric motor for a combined output of 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque—outperforming the nonhybrid model. Despite sharing the nonhybrid’s exterior design, the hybrid is exclusively offered in the crew cab format with 5.5- or 6.5-foot bed options.
Inside, similarities persist, but the 288-volt nickel-metal hydride battery, stowed beneath the rear seats, trims interior storage space. Although the hybrid nods toward environmental consciousness, its real-world efficiency lags behind EPA estimates, struggling to compete with more economical alternatives from Ford and Chevrolet.
The 2024 Tundra hybrid undergoes updates mirroring its nonhybrid counterpart, featuring cosmetic changes and package configurations. Notable additions include the TRD Off-Road package on the Platinum trim and the Nightshade package on the Limited.
A new 1794 Limited Edition, limited to 1500 units, boasts elevated suspension and premium materials. In the 2024 Tundra hybrid lineup, it’s the priciest across all trims, skipping the base SR and SR5. Starting with the Limited, the hybrid model commands nearly $18,000 more than the gas-only Tundra SR. However, the Limited hybrid includes appealing features like remote start and keyless entry, though its added cost may not justify its modest advantages over competitors.
The hybrid powertrain, combining a gas twin-turbo V-6 and an electric motor, surpasses the previous V-8’s performance, yielding 437 hp and 583 pound-feet of torque. The 1.87 kWh, 288-volt battery operates as a traditional hybrid, lacking a plug-in option. The Tundra hybrid’s towing capacity reaches 11,450 pounds in the Limited trim. Payload reduction is marginal, with the Limited hybrid at 1680 pounds compared to the gas-only Limited’s 1700-pound rating. Nonetheless, the F-150 PowerBoost excels in both towing and payload, pulling 12,700 pounds and accommodating a 2120-pound payload.
Key Features:
- Starting price: $51,855
- Number of seats: Up to five passengers
- MPG combined: 20
- Total range: 410 miles
- Towing capacity: 11,450 pounds
- Engine: 437-horsepower, i-FORCE MAX 3.4L twin-turbo V6 hybrid engine
5: Toyota Tacoma Hybrid 2024 (confirmed, upcoming)
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma is set to receive significant upgrades, featuring the i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain. This system combines a 2.4L turbo engine and an electric motor for a potent 326 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque, enhancing off-road and on-road performance. The innovative design prioritizes fuel efficiency without compromising the Tacoma’s legendary toughness. With its head-turning acceleration and advanced technology, the 2024 Tacoma hybrid offers a blend of rugged capability and improved daily drivability, making it an exciting midsize pickup option.
Key Features:
- Expected price: $50,000
- Number of seats: Up to five passengers
- MPG combined: NA
- Total range: NA
- Towing capacity: NA
- Engine: 326-horsepower, i-FORCE MAX 2.4L hybrid engine
Final Thoughts:
Trucks are becoming more intelligent by integrating hybrid technology with diesel power, blending the strengths of gas and electric. In 2024, the best hybrid trucks combine power and efficiency seamlessly, offering enhanced mileage and lower emissions compared to their gas counterparts. These trucks enable short electric-only trips or smooth transitions between power sources.
Also Read: Most Expensive Trucks In The World
Best Hybrid Trucks – FAQs
Ford offers the two best hybrid trucks. Ford’s hybrid pickup lineup includes the F-150 PowerBoost, featuring a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 and electric motor, offering 430 hp and 25 mpg. The Maverick Hybrid is a compact pickup with a 2.5L 4-cylinder hybrid, delivering 191 hp and an impressive 40 mpg. Both models combine power and efficiency, with the F-150 towing up to 12,700 lbs and the Maverick handling 2,000 lbs.
Absolutely, although only the hybrid iteration of the Ford Maverick is precisely calibrated for peak efficiency. This yields an astonishing 42 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. While the power-centric hybrid F-150 and Tundra models contribute a few additional miles per gallon, their primary hybrid benefit is directed toward increased power. The mildly hybridized Ram 1500 provides only a marginal enhancement in mileage. In general, the best hybrid trucks deliver improved mileage, yet only the Maverick capitalizes on the complete advantages offered by a hybrid system.
Deciding on a hybrid truck involves considering factors like fuel savings, towing capabilities, driving needs, upfront costs, tax credits, resale value, and charging expenses.
1: Hybrid trucks boast better mpg, potentially offsetting their premium prices over time.
2: Towing and hauling capabilities remain comparable to non-hybrids, making hybrids suitable for lighter duties.
3: Best diesel trucks or gas pickups may be more fitting for heavy loads or long-distance towing.
4: Federal tax credits of up to $7,500 enhance cost-effectiveness, while hybrid trucks may depreciate slower and offer increased resale value.
5: Charging costs vary, with most hybrids featuring self-charging systems rather than plug-in modes.
Certainly, both the Toyota Tundra and Ford F-150 provide four-wheel-drive setups integrated with comprehensive hybrid systems. The Ram 1500 has a mild hybrid option compatible with four-wheel-drive, albeit with lower capabilities than the full hybrid setups in the other two full-size hybrid truck choices. All-wheel-drive is currently unavailable for the Maverick Hybrid.
Certainly, the Ford Maverick stands as the sole compact hybrid truck in its category presently. In the U.S. market, only two compact trucks exist, the other being the Hyundai Santa Cruz, which, despite its similar size, lacks a hybrid variant at this time.
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