Wondering if the newer trucks get that much more mileage as advertized. I dont see quotes on the tube so Im skeptical. Wondering how many trucks are sitting because of prices. On the interstate I get 18 to 20mpg and run at 2000 to 2200 RPM. 1800 RPM decreases mileage because it downshifts from OD to pull hills. Round town driving is 14. Main truck 318 Mag uses just over 6 bucks for round trim. Little Dak 3.9, uses just over $5, (Moped uses 80 cents and I run higher octane).

 

It depends on the exact truck/engine your looking at. Go to http://www.nada.com/ or www.edmunds.com or http://www.kbb.com/ and look up MPG and cost for new and used vehicles.

 

they get the same mileage maybe worse. for the money you spend on a new truck/suv you could just put into your current vehicle. if you want gas milage with towing then get a diesel. but from what i've been seeing from the stealership(my uncle is a dealer at one) its not worth spending money on a new one. if i had known gas was going to settle just under $4 a gallon over here i wouldn't have sold my truck but the car i'm driving now i've been averaging 37mpg's (city and highway) where as the truck was averaging 17(city and highway).

 

I like this question, because it opens a can of worms. Here are the important things to consider:

Engine RPM and vehicle speed
Vehicle drag coefficient
Weight of vehicle

Physics states that work=force x distance, so if you equate forward force being the rpm and speed, you must deduct for resistance (drag coefficient, mass, efficiency), which all affect mileage. This is why a corvette gets 28 + mpg and has a bigger engine comparatively, and because air has mass the Dakota is like pushing a wall through the air and must overcome the resistance. The newer Dakota's weigh 1000 lbs more, but the drag coefficient is offset somewhat, so mileage is comparable. Regardless, most vehicle require around 20 hp to cruise (yep, just like a lawn mower), but the engine efficiency at A PARTICULAR rpm plays here. All in all, if you want an efficient vehicle, lower the drag, reduce the weight, and gear it for your typical speed to maximize the rpm range of the engines best torque moment. A truck is for work, a car is for transportation.

 

All that B.S. aside, what kind of gas mileage does a new truck get. That simple.

 

All that "B.S." answers your question for every model car, truck, and other vehicle with an engine. Your NEW question's answer is 15-20 for the v6 and 14-19 for the v8 (which is easily found on the world wide web), which is statistically the EXACT same mileage as the 1st gen dakota. If you do not want extra information, then ask more specific questions, as the dynamic of members here are quite diverse. Secondly, this is a forum, and as such the tone of a response is lost, so the use of profanity (inclusive of the intent of profanity) is pretty much against forum rules. Please be more considerate in your future postings toward other members.

 

Noted: