Ford Announces Fuel Economy Numbers for the 2015 F

Ford announced Environmental Protection Agency fuel-economy estimates Friday for its all-new, mostly aluminum-body 2015 F-150 pickup, claiming better numbers than other full-size gasoline-power pickups on the market in the United States.

The automaker said rear-wheel-drive models equipped with an optional 325-horsepower turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine was rated at an estimated 19 miles per gallon in the city and 26 m.p.g. on the highway, for a combined total of 22 m.p.g.

For comparison, Ford's most economical F-150 from the 2014 model year, which, according to the E.P.A., was the one equipped with the standard-equipment 3.7-liter V6, was rated at 17 m.p.g. in the city and 23 m.p.g. on the highway, for a combined 19 m.p.g.

By E.P.A. reckoning, the most fuel-efficient full-size pickup on the market, regardless of fuel type, is not the F-150, but the diesel-equipped Ram 1500. Chrysler's EcoDiesel model produces 240 horsepower, 420 pound feet of torque and carries an E.P.A. fuel-economy rating of 20 m.p.g. in the city and 28 m.p.g. on the highway, for a combined 23 m.p.g.

'At this point, fuel-economy numbers are as much of a marketing game than anything,' said Akshay Anand, an analyst for Kelley Blue Book. 'The 'best truck m.p.g.' claim probably matters more than the cost savings from a one- or two-m.p.g. m.p.g. difference over competitors, especially if gas prices remain low for the foreseeable future. We know some of the import trucks will be released in the next year or two, and you can bet those will have solid m.p.g. numbers, especially as diesel looks to gain more traction in the truck segment.'

G.M.'s base full-size pickups, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra equipped with the standard 285-horsepower 4.3-liter V6, are rated at 18 m.p.g. in the city and 24 m.p.g. on the highway, for a combined 20 m.p.g. The Toyota Tundra is last place in the full-size pickup fuel-economy race, with an E.P.A. rating of 16 m.p.g. city, 20 m.p.g. highway and 17 combined.

Ford says the base engine available in the 2015 F-150 lineup, a naturally aspirated 282-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, carries an E.P.A. fuel-economy estimate of 18 m.p.g. city and 25 highway, for a combined 20 m.p.g.

Ford's EcoBoost V6 gets a bump up in the new F-150. Ford says the E.P.A. estimate for the 365-horsepower turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 model for 2015 is 17 m.p.g. city, 24 m.p.g. highway and 20 combined. The 2014 3.5 EcoBoost model, by comparison, is rated at 16 m.p.g. city, 22 m.p.g. highway and 18 m.p.g..

The 5-liter V8-equipped F-150 is also up slightly in its fuel-economy numbers, with a one-m.p.g. increase in its highway and combined ratings. E.P.A.'s estimate for the 2015 model is 15 m.p.g. city, 22 m.p.g. highway and 18 combined, slightly below the 5.3-liter V8-equipped 2015 Chevrolet Silverado, which is rated at 16 m.p.g. city, 23 m.p.g. highway and 19 combined.

Ram and Toyota's V8-equipped pickups bring up the rear in that category with the Ram at 17 m.p.g. and Toyota at 16 m.p.g. combined.

Across the range of full-size pickups from the various manufacturers, 4-wheel drive cuts into fuel economy. The 4-wheel-drive version of Ford's 2.7-liter EcoBoost-equipped 2015 F-150, for example, carries an E.P.A. fuel-economy estimate of 18 m.p.g. city, 23 m.p.g. highway and 20 combined.