Diesel engines are heating up in the full-size truck market and Ford is throwing its hat into the ring with the 2018 F-150 rocking a 3.0-liter Power Stroke diesel. The newest powerplant will be mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and will return an EPA fuel rating of 22 miles per gallon city, 30 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined.

However, as The Car Connection pointed out, those numbers are only for the rear-wheel drive model. A 4x4 F-150 diesel comes in at a much lower 20/25/22. The only other full-size diesel available for 2018 is the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel in the 2018 Ram 1500. That engine nets 20/27/23 in two-wheel drive or 19/27/22 with four-wheel drive. The 2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke will push out 250 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque, making it the torquiest of the 2018 full-size pick-ups on the market. The Ford also boasts a tow rating of 11,400 pounds and 2,000 pounds of payload capability. However best-in-class these numbers may be, they represent a comparison of mostly non-diesel 2018 models. Once the 2019 model year diesel trucks from Ram and GM come online, those best-in brags might not ring true.

Ram Trucks offers a choice of transmissions in Cummins-equipped 3500s, with six-speed automatic and manual transmissions. The Laramie Longhorn’s Western-themed interior features supple leather upholstery and thoughtful design touches. A 31,210-pound maximum trailer weight rating provides ample capacity. Exclusive features include auto-level rear air suspension, and the RamBox cargo management system.

Duramax vs. Cummins vs. Power Stroke: Which Is Best, Certain specifications, prices and equipment data have been provided under license from Chrome Data Solutions ("Chrome Data"). All Rights Reserved. This information is supplied for personal use only and may not be used for any commercial purpose whatsoever without the express written consent of Chrome Data. Chrome Data makes no guarantee or warranty, either expressed or implied, including without limitation any warranty of merchantability or fitness for particular purpose, with respect to the data presented here. All specifications, prices and equipment are subject to change without notice.

While the F-150 diesel’s EPA figures are impressive, it’s worth noting that they’re only for the two-wheel drive version of the pickup. If you want the four-wheel drive model, that comes with a compromise in economy. Expect to get 25 mpg on the highway, 20 mpg in the city ,and 22 mpg combined.

That puts it far closer to the gas-engined F-150 models and, indeed, the rest of the pickup landscape. Right now, the diesel F-150 is the most efficient of the Ford full-sized pickups. That may not be the case forever, though. Ford is also readying a hybrid F-150, with an as-yet-unspecified drivetrain that will deliver the low-end torque of an EV but with the towing capabilities we’d associated with a more traditional, ICE engine.

Still, there’ll be competition from elsewhere in the segment, too. The 2018 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel is on the horizon, with its EPA rating coming in at 20 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined for the rear-wheel drive version. The four-wheel drive model gets one point lower on its city and combined figures.

The Cummins ISX15 began as a radically innovative platform - rapidly outpacing the competition and becoming the industry’s dominant big-bore engine over the past three decades. But at Cummins, we’re never satisfied with the status quo. So virtually every critical component has been modified, upgraded and improved. The 2017 X15 engine series delivers the best performance and dependability in the industry as well as superior fuel economy over competitive engines.

So you can blow past other trucks - as well as diesel stops. Cummins is reinventing the heavy-duty engine category with two unique X15 engines. The X15 Efficiency Series has the highest compression ratio in the industry, for unmatched fuel efficiency and responsiveness, delivering up to 1850 lb-ft (2508 N•m) of torque starting at 1000 rpm. The X15 Performance Series delivers unprecedented power, with up to 605 hp (451 kW) and 2050 lb-ft (2779 N•m) peak torque.

Plus, every X15 engine comes with over-the-air calibration capability, a Single Module aftertreatment system, the most powerful engine brake in the industry and extended service intervals, for maximum uptime. The Cummins X12 (available 2018) redefines the entire medium-bore engine category (10L-13L), setting new standards for productivity in regional-haul, vocational and intermodal truck applications.