From midsize to heavy-duty, there’s an option for just about everyone.

Diesel engines are a popular choice for truck fleets due to fuel economy, engine longevity, and resale value.

Once restricted primarily to heavy-duty, diesel trucks are now available in all half-ton full-size pickups offered by Detroit manufacturers, and even in two midsize ones.

Heavy-duty diesel trucks are meant for grunt and boast high towing and payload numbers. Light-duty trucks have small-displacement diesels, and some of the larger gasoline choices provide higher capacity. Be sure you’re getting the engine that’ll do the job you need it to do.

Heavy-duty diesel trucks

In our list, we’ve included maximum towing for each model when properly equipped, and some configurations will have lower capacity. Fuel consumption is for light-duty, as heavy-duty trucks aren’t rated by Natural Resources Canada.

Both light- and heavy-duty trucks have come a long way with creature comforts, and while most are available in a base work-style trim to keep the price down, it’s possible to outfit most with several productivity features such as telematics, wireless chargers, Wi-Fi connectivity and USB ports.

Available driver-assist features include blind-spot monitoring, emergency front braking and lane-keeping assist; while many also boast a wide range of luxury features.

GM: Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500

Along with a diesel, these mechanical twins share gasoline engines in four sizes, including a turbocharged four-cylinder and a 5.3-litre V8 with two different types of cylinder deactivation for improved fuel economy.

For 2021, the Silverado gains the optional multi-position tailgate first used on the GMC. It’s known as the Multi-Flex tailgate on Chevrolet, and MultiPro on GMC, and can be configured for such functions as a step or load stop. The diesel gains 200 lbs in maximum towing capacity, and there is a wider range of available features on lower-priced trims.

Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500 specs:

• 3.0-litre I6 turbodiesel (277 hp/460 lb-ft of torque)
• 10-speed automatic transmission
• Fuel consumption (L/100 km): 10.2 city, 7.2 highway, 8.8 combined
• Diesel maximum conventional towing capacity: 9,500 lbs

GM: Chevrolet Silverado HD/GMC Sierra HD

Available in 2500 and 3500 models, the Silverado and Sierra HD start with a 6.6-litre V8 gasoline engine; but can be optioned to a 6.6-litre Duramax diesel.

New features for 2021 include available wireless phone connectivity, a bed-view camera available on entry-level trims, and on the diesel-equipped 3500 with dual rear wheels, maximum gooseneck trailering goes to 36,000 lbs, an increase of 500 lbs over the 2020 model.

Chevrolet Silverado HD/GMC Sierra HD specs:

•  6.6-litre V8 turbodiesel (445 hp/910 lb-ft of torque)
• 10-speed Allison automatic transmission
• Diesel maximum conventional towing capacity:
  • 18,500 lbs (2500);
  • 20,000 lbs (3500)

GM: Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon

These two trucks currently offer the only diesel in the midsize segment. It’s offered alongside four-cylinder and V6 gasoline engines, but the diesel provides the highest towing capacity. Fuel consumption is higher than on the full-size Silverado diesel, mostly because the larger truck has been updated with more fuel-efficient technology.

These trucks are aimed more at consumers, and the diesel’s availability starts above the base trim level. Standard features include a locking tailgate, spotter mirror, WiFi-capable hotspot, power driver’s seat, cruise control, keyless entry, and OnStar.

Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon specs:

• 2.8-litre I4 turbodiesel (181 hp/369 lb-ft of torque)
• 6-speed automatic transmission
• Fuel consumption (L/100 km):
  • 11.8 city
  • 7.9 highway
  • 10.1 combined
• Diesel maximum conventional towing capacity: 7,700 lbs

Ford F-150

Ford’s half-ton F-150 offers six powertrains, including a full hybrid, but our interest here is the light-duty diesel. It’s available on higher trim levels for consumers, but for fleets, it can be optioned at the XL trim level.

Even at that base trim level, the F-150 includes such standard features as a locking tailgate, automatic high-beam headlamps, vinyl flooring, automatic emergency front braking, Wi-Fi hotspot, and cloth seats.

Ford F-150 specs:

• 3.0-litre V6 Power Stroke turbodiesel (250 hp/440 lb-ft of torque)
• 10-speed automatic transmission
• Fuel consumption (L/100 km):
  • 11.9 city,
  • 9.1 highway,
  • 10.7 combined (4×4)
• Diesel maximum conventional towing capacity: 12,100 lbs

Ford Super Duty

The Super Duty is available as the F-250, F-350, and F-450, all of them basically unchanged for 2021.

All three come in Regular or SuperCrew cab, but while the F-250 and F-350 also come in SuperCab configuration, the F-450 does not. Dual rear wheels can be added as an option to both the F-350 and F-450. The diesel option is offered alongside two gasoline engines.

As with its competitors, Super Duty has several towing-assist features either standard or available. These include power-telescoping mirrors, rear trailer camera, blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage, and Pro Trailer Backup Assist.

Ford Super Duty specs:

• 6.7-litre V8 Power Stroke turbodiesel (475 hp/1,050 lb-ft of torque)
• 10-speed automatic transmission
• Diesel maximum conventional towing capacity:
  • 20,000 lbs (F-250)
  • 21,200 lbs (F-350)
  • 24,200 lbs (F-450)

Ram 1500

Ram was the first to put a diesel in a modern half-ton, and it calls the engine an EcoDiesel. Unlike GM and Ford, the Ram 1500 only comes in Quad Cab or Crew Cab, not in regular cab. The last-generation Ram is still made as to the 1500 Classic and includes a regular-cab configuration, but it’s not available with the diesel.

Depending on the trim, available features include RamBox locking bed-side storage compartments, emergency front braking, flip-up towing mirrors, and rear in-floor storage containers.

Ram 1500 specs:

• 3.0-litre V6 EcoDiesel (260 hp/480 lb-ft of torque)
• 8-speed automatic transmission
• Fuel consumption (L/100 km):
  • 10.5 city
  • 7.3 highway
  • 9.0 combined
• Diesel maximum conventional towing capacity: 12,560 lbs

Ram Heavy-Duty

The Ram 2500 and 3500 are mostly unchanged for 2021, except for an increase in power to the optional high-output diesel on 3500 models to 1,075 lb-ft of torque, up from 1,050 lb-ft.

Ram HD models come in regular cab, crew cab, and Mega Cab, with most of its extra length dedicated to additional storage space behind the rear seat. 2500 offers a rear five-link coil system or air suspension, while the 3500 uses leaf springs with an available supplemental air system.

Ram Heavy-Duty 2500/3500 specs:

• 6.7-litre I6 Cummins turbodiesel (370 hp/850 lb-ft of torque)
• 6-speed automatic transmission
• Diesel maximum conventional towing capacity:
  • 19,780 lbs (2500)
  • 23,000 lbs (3500)

Ram Heavy-Duty 3500 High Output specs:

• 6.7-litre I6 Cummins high-output turbodiesel (420 hp/1,075 lb-ft of torque)
• 6-speed automatic transmission (high-output)
• Diesel maximum conventional towing capacity: 23,000 lbs