9 Best Diesel Trucks of 2018

Torque, Towing, and Top Fuel Economy

Trucks powered by diesel engines remain a favorite for buyers who place a high priority on heavy hauling and high towing capacities. Big horsepower numbers, along with even bigger torque figures, are par for the course in this segment.

Many of the trucks listed here are true work machines, not something the average backyard gardener should consider for toting a few bags of topsoil. For example, one particularly rugged variant of the 2018 Ford Super Duty has a maximum towing capacity of more than 33,000 pounds.

Despite their obvious strengths, today’s trucks are more comfortable and easier to drive than ever before. Features such as park assist, 360-degree cameras, trailer sway control systems, and blind spot monitors all contribute to making these trucks far more manageable to drive on a daily basis.

While diesel engines carry a significant price premium, they’re usually more fuel-efficient and have a reputation for mechanical longevity, two factors that help mitigate the higher entry cost.

Read on to see the best diesel-powered trucks of 2018.

• See 2018 Ram 1500 Photos
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• Read the 2018 Ram 1500 Full Review
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2018 GMC Canyon

$37,375 | Torque: 369 lb-ft | Hwy MPG: 30 | USN Overall Score: 8.6/10

For many truck buyers a full-size pickup is too large for their daily needs. The compact GMC Canyon – along with its mechanical twin, the Chevrolet Colorado – is smaller in size, has a long list of options, and comes with a cabin fitted with high-quality materials.

The diesel Canyon is powered by a 181-horsepower, 2.8-liter, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine. It is a great choice for truck buyers who want fuel economy and raw power. Among the three engines offered in the Canyon, the diesel is the one with the greatest towing capacity, at 7,700 pounds. The EPA-certified average of 30 mpg on the highway is also impressive.

It’s worth noting the diesel engine is only available with the Canyon in Crew Cab trim, not the optional Extended Cab. Buyers who want a compact truck brimming with luxury and convenience features will appreciate the nearly fully loaded Denali trim level.

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2018 Ram 2500/3500 HD

$41,240 (2500) | Torque: 800 lb-ft | Hwy MPG: 14 | USN Overall Score: N/A

The Ram 2500 and 3500 HD trucks aren’t for weekend warriors with a jet-ski to haul. These are work trucks, plain and simple, with the torque and towing capacity to prove it. Thanks to its 800 pound-feet of maximum torque, the Ram HD has a maximum towing capacity of more than 30,000 pounds. However, choosing the optional 6.7-liter six-cylinder turbodiesel will cost you more than $9,000 above the MSRP.

The seats and cabin are comfortable, though some newer competitors (such as the Ford Super Duty) offer a better ride. While the EPA does not test trucks as large as the Ram 2500, the truck’s estimated highway fuel economy is around 14 mpg.

2018 Ford F-150 Diesel

$45,015 | Torque: 440 lb-ft | Hwy MPG: 30 | USN Overall Score: 8.9/10

The Ford F-150 joins the diesel ranks with an entirely new entry for the 2018 model year. As America’s best-selling vehicle for more than three decades, the F-150 is not short when it comes to options, trim levels, or engine choices. Including the new 3.0-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V6, there are now a total of six engines available in the F-150.

The diesel V6 delivers a total of 250 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque. That allows the F-150 diesel to tow a maximum of 11,400 pounds. Fuel economy figures are equally stout. The EPA-estimated figures are 22 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway. For a full-size truck capable of doing some serious towing, that’s extremely good.

Credit is also due the F-150’s lightweight aluminum body, which helped shed hundreds of pounds compared to the previous model, along with an efficient, new 10-speed automatic transmission.

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2018 Chevrolet Colorado

$35,785 | Torque: 369 lb-ft | Hwy MPG: 30 | USN Overall Score: 8.6/10

The Chevrolet Colorado is a tough truck that is still manageable to drive in a crowded urban environment. While many full-size diesel trucks are an ideal choice for buyers who need the ultimate in towing capacity, many of them are unsuitable to life outside a work zone – never mind an average-size garage.

The optional 2.8-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder in the Colorado delivers 181 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. This allows a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, which is the most offered in the entire Colorado range. That range includes a gas-powered four-cylinder and V6.

Fuel economy is another plus point with the diesel model. EPA-estimated averages of 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway make the Colorado a relative fuel-sipper in the compact truck market.

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2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 HD

$43,795 (2500) | Torque: 910 lb-ft | Hwy MPG: 19 | USN Overall Score: N/A

Chevrolet’s pair of heavy-duty diesel trucks both come with stump-pulling capability, thanks to a 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V8 engine. This motor delivers 445 horsepower and a total of 910 pound-feet of torque. This allows the heavier-duty variant, the Silverado 3500 HD, to tow up to a maximum of 23,300 pounds.

Like the other trucks in this list, adding extra diesel fortitude doesn’t come cheap. The optional Duramax V8, plus its six-speed automatic transmission, add $9,395 to the $34,400 that you’d pay for a base Silverado 2500. Four-wheel drive is optional.

The diesel engine can be added to a Silverado fitted with the Regular, Double Cab, or Crew Cab. This allows for a total seating capacity of up to six adults in Double Cab and Crew Cab models.

2018 GMC Sierra 2500/3500 HD

$48,190 (2500) | Torque: 910 lb-ft | Hwy MPG: 18 (2500) | USN Overall Score: N/A

The GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 HD are mechanical copies of their corporate siblings, the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 HD. This means the same 445-horsepower 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V8 can be found under the hood of this work truck.

While the standard gas-powered version of the Sierra 2500 starts at $38,800, adding the diesel engine nudges the price upward by $9,390. Add optional four-wheel drive, and the price rings in at just under $52,000. As with the Silverado, maximum towing capacity is listed at 23,300 pounds.

That’s a lot of money for a truck, though you get a lot of truck for the money. The GMC Sierra can be fitted like a true luxury car, especially when ordered in range-topping Denali trim. This includes features such as 20-inch cast aluminum wheels, leather seating, 12-way power front seats, front and rear park assist, a rearview camera, lane departure warning, and forward collision alert.

2018 Nissan Titan XD

$37,840 | Torque: 555 lb-ft | Hwy MPG: 18 | USN Overall Score: 7.9/10

Nissan has created a truck that it hopes is a perfect fit for buyers who need a full-size pickup, though not the mass and thirst of a heavy-duty model. A smooth ride and easy-to-drive nature are highlights of the Titan XD, though overall towing capacity trails rival trucks from Ram, Ford, and Chevrolet. Fitted with the optional 5.0-liter Cummins turbodiesel V8, the Titan XD has a maximum tow rating of 12,760 pounds.

Nissan is betting the Titan XD hits a truck sweet spot, however. Available in single, extended, and crew cab formats, the Titan is slightly smaller, more economical, and nimbler than the larger trucks on this list. The range-topping Crew Cab Platinum Reserve model comes loaded with features, including leather seating, surround-view cameras, 20-inch chrome alloy wheels, and heated and cooled front seats with heated outboard rear seats.

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2018 Ford Super Duty

$42,270 (F-250) | Torque: 935 lb-ft | Hwy MPG: 15 | USN Overall Score: N/A

The Ford Super Duty is one of the best vehicles when it comes to getting a big job done right. While the entry-level price for a diesel-powered Ford F-250 XL starts at approximately $42,000, the sky is pretty much the limit when it comes to outfitting the range-topping heavy-duty versions of America’s best-selling truck lineup.

On its own, the 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 engine is a $9,120 option on top of the standard Super Duty price. Capable of delivering 840 horsepower, this powerful engine pushes out a staggering 925 pound-feet of torque. This explains why upmarket trim levels of the Ford Super Duty deliver a towing capacity of 34,000 pounds.

Features like Trailer Sway Control, along with available blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control with collision warning, and 360-degree high-definition cameras all make the Ford Super Duty one the smartest (and safest) diesel heavy-duty trucks.

2018 RAM 1500 EcoDiesel

$32,660 | Torque: 420 lb-ft | Hwy MPG: 27 | USN Overall Score: 8.7/10

The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel carries on unchanged for the 2018 model year, mostly because the 2019 Ram 1500 – powered by a choice of gas-powered V6 and V8 engines – has been completely updated. Ram representatives tell us the diesel engine is coming to the new truck sometime next year, though pricing and other details have not been released.

Despite being on borrowed time, the 2018 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel remains a solid choice for anyone in the market for a full-size truck that delivers 27 mpg on the highway. When properly equipped, the Ram EcoDiesel has a total towing capacity of 9,200 pounds.

While it doesn’t have the impressive 12-inch touch-screen available in the brand-new 2019 model, the current Ram still offers UConnect, one of the most intuitive infotainment systems.

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