Hybrid trucks are the quintessential response when someone tells you that you “can’t have your cake and eat it, too,” which has always been a baffling statement. How can someone have a cake but not eat it or vice versa? Regardless, hybrid pickup trucks thumb their collective noses at this nonsense by delivering good power for towing and excellent hybrid powertrains for fuel savings. You can have the “best of both worlds” with these pickups.

What do you find in hybrid trucks?

Similar to other traditional vehicles, hybrid pickups have a gasoline-powered engine augmented by electric motors and a battery. The system’s electrical components improve fuel economy but also add power to give you more overall horsepower and torque while driving. Let’s look at four that both U. S. News and World Report and Edmunds say are the hybrid trucks you want to drive.

The Ford F-150 PowerBoost is the first name in hybrid pickups

Today, when we think of hybrid trucks, this Ford half-ton model comes quickly to mind. The hybrid Ford brings excellent power, an impressive level of fuel economy, and the build you want. The F-150 is the top-selling truck in America and offering a hybrid version just makes good sense. This truck uses a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine plus an electric motor to give you the power and capability desired.

Fuel Economy: 25 city/26 hwy mpg

Power Numbers: 430 horsepower, 570 lb-ft of torque

Payload: 2,120 pounds

Towing: 12,000 pounds

The latest Toyota Tundra brings an excellent hybrid powertrain

The 2022 Toyota Tundra is a completely redesigned pickup truck that does away with the old V8 engine and embraces the use of twin-turbocharging in a V6 powertrain. The i-Force Max powertrain adds a hybrid electric motor to the mix to give this hybrid truck more power and capability.

Fuel Economy: 18 city/23 hwy mpg

Power Numbers: 437 horsepower, 583 lb-ft of torque

Payload: 1,940 pounds

Towing: 12,000 pounds

The Ram 1500 eTorque is the only mild-hybrid on this list

Ram creates hybrid trucks differently from other automakers. We don’t see a traditional hybrid electric motor in the Ram 1500 pickups. Instead, the eTorque system is a 48-volt system that adds short bursts of power to the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 or 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine for smooth takeoff while towing and a slight bump in fuel mileage while driving.

Fuel Economy: 20 city/26 hwy mpg (V6); 15 city/21 hwy mpg (V8)

Power Numbers: 305 horsepower, 269 lb-ft of torque (V6); 395 horsepower, 410 lb-ft of torque (V8)

Payload: 1,878 pounds (V6); 1,900 pounds (V8)

Towing: 6,600 pounds (V6); 11,310 pounds (V8)

Check out the Ford Maverick, a new class of hybrid trucks for fuel savings

Most of the time, you won’t need a big, half-ton pickup to get things done. In fact, many truck buyers are learning that smaller trucks can sometimes be better for what they want to accomplish. The Ford Maverick offers a hybrid powertrain that can be perfect when you only need truck capabilities occasionally. This small truck is the most affordable model on this list, and it provides the greatest fuel mileage. The powertrain used is a small 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine.

Fuel Economy: 42 city/33 hwy mpg

Power Numbers: 191 horsepower, 155 lb-ft of torque

Payload: 1,564 pounds

Towing: 2,000 pounds

Which of these hybrid trucks will you drive?

If you’re looking for the most efficient half-ton hybrid truck, the Ford F-150 PowerBoost is the right pickup for you. On the other hand, the Ram 1500 eTorque setup is offered in both the V6 and V8 models, giving you a good truck with a mild-hybrid system. The Ford Maverick is currently the only option If you don’t need the power of a full-size truck and want a hybrid version.

Next, check out the return of the Dune Buggy, or watch the video about hybrid trucks below: