U.S. consumers will have more fuel-efficient options in the most popular vehicle segments as 2020 brings the first full year of opportunity to invest in diesel engines in America’s most popular vehicles, full-size half-ton pickup trucks along with new options in the SUV segment.

Some of these vehicles will be on display this week at the Washington Auto Show being held January 23 – February 2 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

“Since 1980, full-size pickup trucks have held the ranking as the most popular, highest selling vehicles in the U.S, for American families and businesses alike," Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, said in a statement. “Diesels are a very natural fit for the half-ton pickup and full-sized SUV segment, just as they have been a mainstay option in the heavy-duty pickup truck segment for nearly four decades. The diesel enables manufacturers to provide consumers with a no-compromise vehicle experience: power, performance, driving range, towing capability, and more fuel efficiency, all in a larger vehicle.

Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are the most popular and fastest growing vehicle segment in the U.S. Diesel options in this segment boost the utility factor with extended driving range and new towing capabilities along with easy access to fueling. 

General Motors’ Chevrolet and GMC divisions recently announced the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL. The new products will offer a 3.0L Duramax turbo-diesel engine option, which has already been used in the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup truck. The Duramax diesel posted EPA highway fuel economy performance is 33 mpg for a half-ton truck.

Jeep also debuts the 3.0L EcoDiesel option in its iconic and popular Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon in 2020, achieving an EPA rated 29 mpg in highway driving.

Leading manufacturers with diesel engine options available include:

• Chevrolet (General Motors)

• GMC (General Motors)

• Jeep (FCA)

• Mazda

• Ram Trucks (FCA)

• Cummins (Ram Trucks)

Leading advanced renewable biofuel producers and resources:

• Neste

• Renewable Energy Group (REG)

• National Biodiesel Board

According to recent research from IHS Markit, diesel engine option in full-size half-ton pickup trucks can achieve on average 33% more miles per gallon (24 mpg diesel vs. 18.1 gasoline, combined fuel economy), saving about 200 gallons of gasoline every year. If all full-size pickup trucks in the U.S. were to be powered by a diesel engine, the research found that about 500 million gallons of fuel for one model year would be saved.

All told, there are nearly 50 diesel-powered choices for American consumers in 2020. Current diesel offerings range from light-duty and heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans to sport utility vehicles.