Real-world MPG of Small Trucks?

[Thorn]

Presently, I drive a 1997 Subaru Legacy sedan with 223k miles as my daily drive, which includes a 100 mile per day commute. I usually average about 28 miles per gallon, which I could probably improve by one or two MPGs if I drove a little more slowly. My commute is over 90% highway miles.

Plan "A" is to drive the Subaru until it dies (it has been reliable beyond my wildest expectations). Plan "A" isn't going to be in effect forever, and so I started thinking about what vehicle I would get to replace the Legacy (Plan "B").

Anyway, I am thinking that a small pick-up truck (preferably a used 4WD)would really make my life a lot easier with regard to my hobbies that include fishing/ice fishing (tow a small boat and have a portable shanty that doesn't fit in my car), hunting, camping, trips to the home improvement store, etc.

My concern is that the truck would use a lot more gas and be too expensive as a commuter car. What can I reasonably expect to see in miles per gallon with a small, automatic transmission, 4WD pick-up?

I always drove a manual transmission until about a year after I got married. What a coincidence.

 

[eljefino]

Why not have both? Got parking for two?

Get a beater that needs liability only insurance and has reasonably yearly registration/excise tax fees. If it's an extra vehicle who cares if it's a stick shift?

My F150 4x4 5 speed inline 6 pulls 17.5 MPG but it sits for weeks when not needed next to a daily driven 40 MPG saturn. You could set yourself up for a jeckyl & hyde relationship where if you got a real thrifty commuter it would "pay for" the fun truck. Not to mention you'd have the truck if a car was in for repairs or the weather was particularly wintry or whatever.

Previous truck, a Dakota 2wd 5 speed 4 cyl short cab, short bed, rated to tow only 1000 lbs, got 25 MPG.

Maybe a diesel jeep liberty would be approximately what you're looking for, minus the open bed. IIRC the Liberty is between diesel motors now so you may have to buy slightly used. But the big home improvement centers have rent-a-trucks for $20. Don't kid yourself that the extra gas you'll blow all year will make up for the ability to swing in for a sheet of drywall now and then.

 

[Studebaker]

Get another Subaru, and a 4x8 trailer.

 

[WishIhadatruck]

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Get another Subaru, and a 4x8 trailer.

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As long as a Subaru is capable of pulling your small boat this is probably the best idea.

 

[Thorn]

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Why not have both? Got parking for two?

Get a beater that needs liability only insurance and has reasonably yearly registration/excise tax fees. If it's an extra vehicle who cares if it's a stick shift?

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Up until about a year ago, I had an '87 Jeep Comanche pickup as the third vehicle. The 4.0L engine ran fine, but the rest of the truck fell apart. About two months after I spent $500 to have a new gas tank installed, the front shock mount rusted away and the mechanic wanted a few hundred bucks to weld in a new piece and replace the ball joints, which he said were shot. I also replaced the radiator, u-joints, alternator, brakes and on and on in the three years that I owned it.

That's why I'm reluctant to get another beater. They're great when they are running, but I think I could've financed a new truck with the money I spent keeping that thing on the road.

 

[LouDawg]

I had an '02 Frontier with the KA24DE 2.4 4-cylinder AT, 16 valve. Although it wasn't fast, it was a perfect commuter truck and good for weekend trips for stuff around the house. It wouldn't win any races or 1/4 mile runs, but that little engine was pretty bulletproof from what I understand. Wish I still had it...it was very well put together, solid, not a rattle, and I loved how tight and good the fit and finish were.

It wasn't 4WD, but many times people really don't need it, although that's an individual assessment. I pulled 24-25 mpg on an identical commute as yours: 100 mile rt per day and over 90% highway miles.

 

[Thorn]

I forgot to mention, my '87 Comanche got between 12 and 14 mpg.

 

[ThirdeYe]

My KA24DE on my old Altima was bulletproof, loved that engine. Always got over 30mpg, and the oil change history was poor at best, before I purchased the car. I didn't know the first thing about car maintenance and I only changed it once every 6-9 months at 3k intervals of all short trips. Ran perfect when I sold it at 128k.

 

[mechtech2]

I guess 25 mpg for the new vehicle, driven the same way.

 

[FowVay]

I also have a old Nissan truck; a 1997 D21 with the 2,4 liter engine. These things are a dime a dozen, seem to last longer than you want them to, and when you're sick and tired of it you can sell it to a member of the south bound automotive convoy team heading to Guatemala.

I keep my truck parked in the back yard and use it to haul trash to the dump, my fertilizer for the lawn, transport my lawn equipment to the in-laws for their infrequent lawn care day, or for use on those nasty weather days when I don't want to dirty my freshly waxed VW or BMW.

It was cheap to purchase and own, is as reliable as the sun, has 170,000 miles with no sign of getting tired, and it's actually pretty fun to drive. I get about 26 MPG, pay $100 per year for insurance and $80 for license. It has been the perfect piece o' junk beater vehicle.

Of course it isn't 4 wheel drive.. but in Georgia I don't even bother buying all season tires any more. Straight summer rubber gets the job done here.

 

[H2GURU]

I have an 02 Tacoma and get 22 mpg in summer with 90% highway driving and 19 in winter and thats never over 70 mph. You may read of someone getting 30 mpg, but it will be a vehicle you may not really want as it will be an anemic 4 cyl and you'll have trouble keeping up with traffic.

 

[Buick92]

One of my co-workers has a 2006 ford ranger (entry level) 5 speed, 4 cyl, and he keeps track of his gas mileage on a regualr basis, says he gets 29 MPG on the highway and 24 MPG overall. For what it's worth I've heard from others that Rangers with the 4 cly 5 speed combo get good gas mileage.

 

[01rangerxl]

I have a 2.5L I4 5-speed manual 2WD Ranger. Around town and during mixed driving I get a fairly consistent 20-22 MPG. When I really get on it or do a lot of off pavement travel my mileage drops to about 17 MPG, but never lower. On long highway trips averaging 70-75 MPH I get around 28 MPG. Newer Duratec 2.3L Rangers are better and can get 30 MPG + on the highway. As long as you stick to a 4 cylinder and watch the way you drive, a small truck will not hurt you at the pump.

 

[smsag04]

I've got a 2006 Chevy Colorado Crew Cab Z71 with the automatic transmission. I get about 20 mpg on my 10 mi commute and about 23-24 on longer highway trips. My wife gets about 15-16 when she drives it only in town. The I5 is actually a dang good motor. I've been really pleased with the truck.

 

[marco246]

I have an 06 Nissan Frontier SE 4X4 Crew Cab with a 6-speed MT. The EPA window sticker says 18-21 mpg and that's a durn lie. The extra weight from a bull bar and a pipe rack don't help, plus I guess there's an aerodynamic penalty as well, but I'm lucky to get 18 mpg on the highway. The ethanol-laced gas doesn't help, either. Ever since I can remember, I've gotten better mileage than advertized in all my vehicles, but not with this thirsty V6. Still got my eye peeled for a half-ton, mid-sized diesel. Someone eventually will build one.

 

[crw]

That's why I have my 88 Chev full size pickup. It sits most of the time. Paid only $1300 for it. But it's no beater. Looks decent, pulls hard, and does the truck work when I need it. Costs very little to insure and license where I live.

 

[JTK]

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I've got a 2006 Chevy Colorado Crew Cab Z71 with the automatic transmission. I get about 20 mpg on my 10 mi commute and about 23-24 on longer highway trips. My wife gets about 15-16 when she drives it only in town. The I5 is actually a dang good motor. I've been really pleased with the truck.

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The Atlas series 4,5 and 6cyl are not fuel sippers, that's for sure. I can get 20+ per tank, but only on all hyway with my I6. The other MPG figure that suprizes me is the newer 4cyl in the Ford Ranger base models. Mid 20's? My dads 1998, 2.5L 5spd shorty barely breaks 20mpg on a good day.

Joel

 

[gfcrane]

I had a 01 Chevy S10 4.3 V-6 4X4 auto and it got about 17 mpg in 50/50 highway/city driving, a 97 Ford Ranger 2.3 4X2 auto which got 15 in the same duty, and now an 05 Chevy Colorado I-5 4X4 auto which gets 18. I always wonder how others get 20+ mpg in a "small" pickup.

 

[cousincletus]

I had a 1996 S-10 and it would get 30 in all highway driving (2.2 OHV, 5 speed manual, regular cab short bed). It would get 27-28 running mostly interstate back and forth to work (at the time it was a 34 mile commute one way). The worst I ever got from that truck was 24 mpg.

 

[stephen9666]

I know this is an old thread, but I'm going to post anyway. I purchased a '99 Nissan Frontier about six months ago. 5-speed, KA24DE, 2WD extended cab. I have been pretty good about calculating the mileage. I usually get 18 mpg with all city driving and 100 percent A/C usage. On the highway with A/C I get 28 mpg. Overall very satisfied with this truck.