If you’re specifically looking for high-quality used trucks for sale of the hybrid variety, the options aren’t quite as expansive as traditional gas-powered trucks. The auto industry has spent decades perfecting the current lineup of diesel and traditional gas-powered trucks, while the need for all-electric and hybrid versions has just started to come up. A hybrid electric truck is the perfect bridge between the traditional gas or diesel models we’ve come to love and the all-electric models that have only recently started to hit the US auto market.
But, there is still one problem many shoppers face: cost. New hybrid vehicles, truck or not, are expensive. The best way to deal with this problem is to shop for a used model. So, let’s discuss a few options you have at your disposal if you are looking for a capable truck with great fuel efficiency.
Option 1: Ford F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid
Ford has been pushing forward in the hybrid space of light-duty pickup trucks since 2021. That’s when the first PowerBoost hybrid made it onto the market. The 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged powertrain provides a dual overhead camshaft design and up to 430 hp at 570 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid system combines a traditional internal combustion engine with an electric motor powered by a battery pack.
The second aspect of the propulsion system involves a 1.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that powers a standalone electric motor that produces 41 hp on its own. It works in connection with the 10-speed automatic transmission and offers you some additional boost with the internal combustion engine. This gives the F-150 PowerBoost a nice alternative to relying solely on a combustion engine.
When it comes to refueling and recharging, there are two ways that the F-150 can make use of its refueling/recharging. The F-150 can be refueled like a traditional gas-powered truck at any gas pump. The battery is capable of recharging through regenerative braking. This helps put some charge back into the battery pack using the kinetic force generated from hitting the brakes.
The highlight here is that the PowerBoost gives you some good towing and payload capacity while also buffering the gas mileage. You can tow up to 12,700 lbs with the PowerBoost and haul up to 2,120 lbs in payload capacity. When you tow or haul this much weight, though, your fuel efficiency will lower. However, most drivers are not towing heavy loads daily, so your regular commute to work or when you are out running errands will be when you are most efficient.
What does the fuel economy look like on the 2021 model? The EPA estimates that this truck will get a combined rating of 25 MPG on two-wheel drive models and 24 MPG on four-wheel drive models. As a hybrid, this offers you some all-around good capabilities, decent fuel economy, and great performance.
Option 2: Toyota Tundra i-Force Max Hybrid
The newest generation Tundra from Toyota is equipped with a new hybrid powertrain called the i-Force Max twin-turbocharged V6. The i-Force Max happens to be Toyota’s all-new overhauled powertrain for the Tundra that was introduced with the third generation of the Tundra in the 2022 model year. That means that finding a used model will be limited to only the most recent model years when it comes to finding a used hybrid version of the Tundra.
However, the Tundra is a rare breed of light-duty pickup truck that offers you great high-performance with an electric motor controlled by a 288-volt sealed nickel-metal hydride battery pack neatly tucked under the vehicle of the rear passenger seats to limit any kind of inconvenience for off-roading, trailering, or hauling. The electric motor pairs with an internal combustion engine that makes a total of 437 hp at 583 lb-ft of torque, which is attached to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Just like the Ford F-150 PowerBoost, the Tundra’s i-Force Max hybrid powertrain also offers two forms of staying charged/fueled. You have regenerative braking, which helps extend the range and conserve fuel, as well as classic refueling you can perform at the gas pump.
The Tundra’s hybrid powertrain manages 20 MPG in the city and up to 24 MPG on the highway in rear-wheel drive. The EPA estimates the Tundra hybrid gets 19 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway in four-wheel drive. This model will also allow you to tow up to 11,450 lbs and haul up to 1,665 lbs of payload. It makes for a decent engine.
Option 3: Ram 1500 HEMI/Pentastar With eTorque
One of the highlights of the fifth generation of Ram 1500 models is that it brought a new powertrain design aimed at those who wanted better fuel efficiency and performance without having to rely on a diesel engine. Ram made this possible with the introduction of eTorque powertrains, which are essentially hybrid powertrains. Unlike the Tundra or the F-150, the Ram 1500 has two of these engine options available. The engine options are available for the 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 model years of the Ram 1500.
There is a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with eTorque, which is labeled as a mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV), and a 5.7-liter HEMI “Eagle” V8 with eTorque, which also fits into the MHEV category. The Ram 1500 utilizes a small 430-watt battery pack that powers a 48-volt electric motor that replaces the Ram’s alternator. As a result, you get a boost in performance for both powertrains and the ability to keep the motor charged through the normal operation of the gas-powered engines and regenerative braking.
In total, the combined system between the electric motor and the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 yields 305 hp and 269-273 lb-ft of torque. The 5.7-liter HEMI “Eagle” V8 produces 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. The upside is that both offer decent fuel economy for a fullsize light-duty pickup truck. The Pentastar gets an EPA-estimated 20 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway in rear-wheel drive. The EPA also estimates 19 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway for four-wheel drive models.
The 5.7-liter HEMI manages similar figures, with an EPA-estimated 18 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway in rear-wheel drive. Alternatively, you have 17 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway in four-wheel drive. The Pentastar, however, maxes out its towing capacity at 7,710 lbs and has a payload rating of 2,300 lbs. The 5.7-liter HEMI can tow upwards of 12,750 lbs and haul 1,940 lbs of payload.
The Ram 1500 models with eTorque are available across multiple trims for multiple model years throughout the fifth generation. So buying used here gives you far more variety than the Tundra; plus the Ram 1500 is also much cheaper as a hybrid. However, the price dip by comparison will cost you if you opt for the Pentastar, which has fairly low tow-ratings by comparison.
Option 4: Ford Maverick
The Ford Maverick was introduced in the US for the 2022 model year and made quite an impact despite its small stature. The modular, low-cost, highly efficient do-it-yourself Maverick turned out to be pretty popular, and that’s because it’s the kind of entry-level, no-nonsense pickup a lot of people have wanted for years, which combines a lot of practical utility with great daily driving capabilities at a low cost.
Under the hood of the Maverick is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that is paired with a 94-kWh battery pack and a continuously variable transmission. This engine produces 191 hp. Interestingly, the Maverick is only available in front-wheel drive, but it provides excellent fuel economy at 42 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway. This rating is the same for the 2022, 2023, and 2024 models.
As a compact pickup, the hybrid only has a max towing capacity of 2,000 lbs and a max payload capacity of 1,500 lbs. As far as buying used, the Maverick is among the fastest-selling vehicles right now. Finding a used Maverick might be difficult, but it’s well worth it if you can find one.
Which Option Will You Pick?
Hybrid electric pickup trucks are a rare breed. It’s not an easy engineering feat to turn a midsize or light-duty pickup truck into a hybrid vehicle in a bid to boost its fuel efficiency at the expense of potential towing or hauling capacity. While you might pick up a lot of shoppers looking for great gas mileage, you might also lose shoppers who are uninterested in lower towing/hauling capabilities. Nevertheless, the hybrid models of popular pickup trucks that are available manage to mostly retain their utilitarian functionality while also providing great technology. It’s kind of a win-win situation for many truck shoppers.
