What Is the Best Diesel Truck in Canada for 2026?

For most buyers, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 or GMC Sierra 1500 with the 3.0L Duramax. For heavy fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailers, step up to a Ford Super Duty, Ram 3500 or GM heavy-duty truck.

Which Diesel Pickup Tows the Most?

The Ford Super Duty F-450 with the 6.7L High Output Power Stroke: 18,144 kg (40,000 lb) with the gooseneck package, per Ford Canada. The Ram 3500 follows at 16,606 kg, then the Silverado HD at 16,330 kg. GM's 2027 HD trucks with the 8.3L diesel are rated at 17,237 kg.

What Is the Most Fuel-Efficient Diesel Pickup?

The 3.0L Duramax in the Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500, the only diesel pickup with an official NRCan rating: 9.3 L/100 km combined in 2WD and 10.1 in 4WD. Heavy-duty diesels generally sit above NRCan's GVWR threshold, so they aren't rated.

How Much Does a Diesel Engine Add to a Pickup's Price?

From about $1,200 to more than $12,000: $1,195 to $4,420 on a 2026 Silverado 1500, and $10,000 plus a $2,995 transmission upgrade on our 2026 Ram 2500 Laramie tester.

What Is the Most Reliable Diesel Truck?

No approved Canadian study ranks diesel pickups by reliability, so judge each truck on its recall, history and inspection results (see our checklist above).

Best Diesel Pickup Trucks in Canada: Towing, Fuel Economy and Value

AutoScout24

2026-10-21 · 10 min read

Best Diesel Pickup Trucks in Canada: Towing, Fuel Economy and Value

For most Canadian buyers, the best diesel truck is a half-ton: the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 or GMC Sierra 1500 with the 3.0L Duramax. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) rates it at 10.1 L/100 km combined in 4WD form (9.3 in 2WD), and the engine adds as little as $1,195 to the price.

Towing more than 6,033 kg (13,300 lb) calls for a heavy-duty diesel. The Ford Super Duty F-450 with the 6.7L High Output Power Stroke carries the highest rating: 18,144 kg (40,000 lb).

Key Takeaways

The Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 are the only new light-duty diesel pickups in Canada; NRCan rates their 3.0L Duramax at 10.1 L/100 km combined (4WD) and 9.3 (2WD).
Ford's 6.7L High Output Power Stroke makes 1,200 lb-ft of torque, about 12 per cent more than Ram's 6.7L Cummins.
Maximum towing, per Ford, Ram and Chevrolet Canada: Super Duty F-450 18,144 kg, Ram 3500 16,606 kg, Silverado 3500HD 16,330 kg.
Heavy-duty pickups generally get no NRCan fuel rating; a Ram 2500 Cummins used 13 L/100 km towing in AutoTrader's test.
The diesel option costs $1,195 to $4,420 on a 2026 Silverado 1500, but $10,000 plus a $2,995 transmission on the Ram 2500 Laramie we tested.

Which Diesel Trucks Can You Buy New in Canada?

Ford and Ram have both discontinued their half-ton diesels, so GM has the light-duty diesel pickup space to itself. Every other new diesel truck is a three-quarter-ton or one-ton workhorse.

Half-Ton Diesel: Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 3.0L Duramax

GM's 3.0L Duramax is an inline-six turbodiesel making 305 hp at 3,750 rpm and 495 lb-ft at just 1,500 rpm, paired with a 10-speed automatic. It has the lowest horsepower in the Silverado lineup and the most torque.

Jil McIntosh called it "a really satisfying engine to drive" in AutoTrader's 2026 Chevrolet Silverado Trail Boss review, and found the cabin surprisingly quiet.

Heavy-Duty Diesel: Cummins, Duramax and Power Stroke

Three heavy-duty diesel engines handle the hauling. Ford's 6.7L Power Stroke V8 powers the F-250, F-350 and F-450 Super Duty. Ram's 6.7L Cummins inline-six goes in the Ram 2500 and Ram 3500. GM's 6.6L Duramax V8 serves the Silverado 2500HD, Silverado 3500HD and Sierra HD. Each needs diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), like every modern diesel.

The Best Diesel Truck for Most Buyers: A Half-Ton Duramax

Tow a boat or a camper a few weekends a year? Then a heavy-duty truck is overkill. The half-ton diesel is easier to park and far cheaper to option.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax: Lowest Fuel Consumption

NRCan rates the 2026 Silverado 1500 4WD diesel at 10.7 L/100 km city, 9.3 highway and 10.1 combined (the 2WD truck is rated 9.3 combined). McIntosh averaged 10.9 over a test week. That's the best fuel efficiency in the lineup: the 4WD 5.3L V8 is rated at 14.1 combined, so the 4WD diesel uses about 28 per cent less.

Highway numbers are better still. In The Case for Buying a Diesel Truck, Matthew Guy drove a Silverado 1500 diesel 1,200 km at 105 km/h and averaged 6.9 L/100 km.

Towing capacity tops out at 6,033 kg (13,300 lb) with the maximum-capacity package; a typical crew cab diesel is rated at 4,082 to 4,218 kg. Payload runs 780 to 871 kg.

GMC Sierra 1500 Diesel: Same Engine, More Standard Content

The Sierra 1500 shares the 3.0L Duramax with the Silverado, and GMC says the Sierra typically outsells the Silverado in Canada. The 2027 Sierra keeps a revised 3.0L diesel with up to 1,450 km of range per tank.

What the 2027 Redesign Changes

The 2027 Silverado 1500 keeps the diesel's 305 hp and 495 lb-ft, but prices rise: Chevrolet's Canadian pricing (as of Sept. 18, 2026) puts the base Work Truck $4,000 above the outgoing model and the High Country $6,700 higher. The diesel's 2027 option price wasn't listed.

Compare Half-Ton and Heavy-Duty Diesel Trucks

See every trim side by side. Line up engines, towing and fuel ratings before you visit a dealer.

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Best Heavy-Duty Diesel Pickups for Towing

With heavy loads, the heavy-duty diesel earns its keep: higher weight ratings, plus an exhaust brake for long grades.

Ford Super Duty 6.7L Power Stroke: Highest Towing Rating

The Ford Super Duty holds the class's top towing ratings. For the 2027 truck, Ford Canada rates the F-450 at 18,144 kg (40,000 lb) with the High-Capacity Gooseneck Tow Package, about 9 per cent more than the Ram 3500. A properly equipped F-250 crew cab diesel reaches 9,979 kg (22,000 lb) on a conventional hitch.

For 2027, the 500-hp High Output is the only Power Stroke, paired with a TorqShift 10-speed. McIntosh found the F-250's steering the most responsive in the segment in AutoTrader's 2023 Ford Super Duty first drive review.

Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 With the 6.7L Cummins

Ram Canada rates the 2026 Ram 2500 diesel at 9,071 kg (20,000 lb) and the Ram 3500 at 16,606 kg (36,610 lb). Since 2025, a stronger eight-speed lets the Cummins deliver all 1,075 lb-ft in every gear.

Benjamin Hunting towed a race car 1,200 km with a 2026 Ram 2500 Laramie and saw 13 L/100 km, nearly 20 per cent better than a 5.0L gas F-150 on the same load. His verdict, in the heavy-duty vs. half-ton tow test: an HD truck is hard to justify unless you're maxing out a half-ton.

Silverado HD and Sierra HD: 6.6L Duramax With Allison 10-Speed Transmission

GM's heavy-duty pickups pair the 6.6L Duramax with an Allison 10-speed transmission. Chevrolet Canada rates the Silverado HD at 16,330 kg (36,000 lb), and a Silverado 2500HD crew cab at 10,011 kg (22,070 lb). GMC's Sierra 2500HD and Sierra 3500HD share the hardware. The 2024 update added 25 per cent more low-end torque and better engine braking.

A big change is coming. GM's 2027 Silverado and Sierra HD introduce an 8.3L diesel with 555 hp and 1,230 lb-ft, rated to tow 17,237 kg (38,000 lb). Pricing wasn't out as of Sept. 24, 2026.

Diesel Pickup Trucks Compared: Towing, Torque and Horsepower

Ratings are Canadian maximums; yours depends on cab, axle and hitch.

Model	Model year	Diesel engine	Horsepower / torque	Max towing	Official fuel rating
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 / GMC Sierra 1500	2026	3.0L Duramax I6	305 hp / 495 lb-ft	6,033 kg	10.1 (4WD) / 9.3 (2WD) L/100 km combined (NRCan)
Ford Super Duty F-250 / F-350 / F-450	2027	6.7L High Output Power Stroke V8	500 hp / 1,200 lb-ft	18,144 kg (F-450 gooseneck)	Not rated
Ram 2500 / Ram 3500	2026	6.7L High Output Cummins I6	430 hp / 1,075 lb-ft	16,606 kg (3500)	Not rated
Chevrolet Silverado HD / GMC Sierra HD	2026	6.6L Duramax V8	470 hp / 975 lb-ft	16,330 kg	Not rated

Sources: Ford Canada, Ram Canada, Chevrolet Canada specifications; NRCan Fuel Consumption Ratings; AutoTrader reviews (accessed Sept. 29, 2026).

Why Heavy-Duty Diesels Have No NRCan Fuel Rating

NRCan's 2026 Fuel Consumption Guide doesn't require ratings for heavier pickups, generally those above 3,856 kg (8,500 lb) gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). The Ram 3500's GVWR runs up to 6,350 kg, so Ram lists no official L/100 km figure.

Real-World Fuel Consumption From AutoTrader Tests

AutoTrader's road tests fill the gap:

Silverado 1500 3.0L Duramax, highway cruising at 105 km/h: 6.9 L/100 km over 1,200 km.
Silverado 1500 Duramax, mixed test week: 10.9 L/100 km.
Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins, towing a race car on a trailer: 13 L/100 km.

Towing always raises fuel consumption, so budget for the loaded number.

Is a Diesel Truck Worth the Extra Cost?

Sometimes. The premium arrives on day one; fuel savings arrive slowly.

Diesel Engine Option Prices in Canada

On the half-ton, the diesel is cheap. Chevrolet charges $1,195 to $4,420 for the Duramax on a 2026 Silverado 1500, depending on which engine it replaces. Guy figured the lower price pays back in a couple of years, since NRCan rates the diesel about 4.0 L/100 km better than the 5.3L V8.

Heavy-duty is different. The Cummins on our 2026 Ram 2500 Laramie tester cost $10,000 plus a $2,995 transmission upgrade; with other options, the truck came to $122,000, almost $25,000 more than a loaded Ram 1500 Laramie.

Maintenance, Diesel Exhaust Fluid and Cold Starts

A diesel truck costs more to run. Dan Ilika's pros and cons of owning a diesel vehicle lists the extras: diesel fuel is often pricier than regular gasoline, each oil change costs more and you'll need DEF, though it's about as easy to top up as washer fluid. Diesel fuel can also gel in the cold. McIntosh listed "diesel maintenance costs" among the Silverado's cons.

Find Out What Your Current Truck Is Worth

Trading in to go diesel? Get a free estimate from your VIN or model, trim and kilometres.

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Buying a Used Diesel Truck in Canada

A used diesel truck opens up models you can't buy new anymore, but it calls for more homework.

Discontinued Diesels: F-150 Power Stroke, Ram 1500 EcoDiesel and Colorado

The Ford F-150 offered a 3.0L Power Stroke diesel V6, and Ram claimed up to 1,600 km from the 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel's optional 125 L tank. GM also sold the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon with a 2.8L Duramax diesel.

Reliability Checks Before You Buy a Used Diesel Pickup

No approved Canadian source ranks diesel truck reliability by model, so we won't invent one. Before you buy:

Run the VIN through Transport Canada's recall database and confirm the work was done.
Pull a CARFAX Canada history report for accidents, liens and registration history.
Ask for the full service history, including oil changes and DEF-system work.
Book a diesel technician's inspection and follow our used pickup truck and 4x4 checks.