Yahoo Autos These Models We've Tested Can Go 650-Plus Miles on a Full Tank of Gas
Welcome to Car and Driver's Testing Hub, where we zoom in on the test numbers. We've been pushing vehicles to their limits since 1956 to provide objective data to bolster our subjective impressions (you can see how we test here).
Nowadays, whenever we talk about driving range, we're usually talking about electric vehicles. How long can they go before their newfangled batteries need to be recharged? Then where are all the different chargers, plus how long does a recharge take? Those questions lead to what's known as range anxiety, which is something that anyone who drives a diesel, gas, or hybrid vehicle doesn't worry about much. That got us thinking: What vehicles with an internal-combustion engine have the longest driving range?
We've tested thousands of new cars, trucks, and SUVs just in the past decade, many of which we've subjected to our 75-mph highway test, which gives us an idea of their real-world fuel economy. When we multiply that test result by the size of a respective vehicle's fuel tank, we come up with an estimated highway range, only we round down to the nearest ten-mile increment to avoid an overly optimistic figure. You'll thank us if it keeps you from getting stranded on the side of the road.
Most ICE vehicles can go somewhere between 400 and 600 highway miles on a full tank of gas. A lot less can go over 600 miles between fill-ups, and there aren't many that can make it 650-plus miles. That latter figure is our bogey for the longest-range models on the list below, which only includes cars and trucks we've actually tested on our 200-mile out-and-back highway loop.
2024 Porsche Panamera: 750 Miles
Every Porsche is at home on the German autobahn, but the four-door Panamera is our preferred chariot. Unlike a 911, it has a back seat that's both useable and comfortable. Plus, the rear-drive 2024 model we tested has a bladder-busting highway range of 750 miles—the most of any vehicle on this list. Of course, to get that far you'll have to avoid triple-digit speeds, as our 2024 Panamera returned 32 mpg at a steady 75 mph. The third generation of Porsche's premium sports sedan has a huge (for a car) 23.7-gallon fuel tank, a boon for its extended time between fill-ups. The entry-level Panamera is powered by a 348-hp twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6 lashed to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic.
2017 Chevrolet Cruze Sedan Diesel: 710 Miles
Unlike the first two cars on this list, Chevy no longer sells the Cruze, let alone a compact car. Instead, the Trax subcompact SUV is the brand's entry point, and its 390-mile range pales in comparison with the diesel-powered Cruze we tested years ago. That sedan, which featured a nine-speed automatic and an oil-burning 1.6-liter turbo four, had a small 13.7-gallon fuel tank, yet it sure made a gallon of gas last. We recorded 52 mpg on our 75-mph highway test. For a little perspective, the non-plug-in Toyota Prius of that vintage peaked at 46 mpg on our highway loop; the latest generation earned a best of 49 mpg. Chevy also sold a manual version of the diesel Cruze, which had a higher EPA highway estimate than its slushbox counterpart (52 mpg versus the auto's 47). Had we tested the former, it might've gone even farther on a full tank.
2018 Ford F-150 Diesel: 700 Miles
Full-size pickup trucks have long necessitated huge fuel tanks. However, as they've evolved over the years, their engines become far thriftier at the pump. Of course, a gasoline engine is no match for the efficiency of a comparable diesel one. The Ford F-150 used to offer a small-displacement PowerStroke mill, but it was short-lived. Still, its turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 diesel, with 250 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque, returned 27 mpg on our highway route. Along with a standard 10-speed automatic, our crew-cab test truck had four-wheel drive and was equipped with a 26.0-gallon tank, giving it a driving range of 700 miles.
2023 Toyota Tundra Hybrid: 700 Miles
Hybrids are known for their excellent fuel economy, and while their efficiency advantage dips at highway speeds, that didn't stop the gas-electric Toyota Tundra from posting an impressive driving range of 700 miles. The hybrid full-size pickup returned 22 mpg on our 75-mph test route, which is 3 mpg better than the nonhybrid version we tested. Thanks to the Limited trim's standard 32.2-gallon gas tank, we can make it from Car and Driver's HQ in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to New York City without needing to stop for a fill-up, though a potty break would probably be needed. Powering Toyota's long-haul pickup is a twin-turbo 3.4-liter V-6 and an electric motor between the engine and the 10-speed automatic, which feeds either the rear or all four wheels.
2017 Ford F-150 EcoBoost V-6: 680 Miles
Surprise, surprise, there's another F-150 on our list. This time it's equipped with the gas-burning EcoBoost twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6. We tested a 2017 King Ranch crew-cab model with four-wheel drive. It was also fitted with the optional 36.0-gallon fuel tank, which is the primary reason it can go so far before having to make a pit stop at the pump. Compared with the diesel F-150, the six-cylinder model only got 19 mpg on our real-world highway route. Still, that result multiplied by its massive tank provides 680 miles of range. Just think if the Power Stroke model we tested had that same tank, it could theoretically make it an astounding 970 miles before running out of gas. Alas, Ford didn't offer that option on the diesel model.
2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty Diesel: 680 Miles
Fuel economy nosedives anytime you start towing stuff, which is exactly what heavy-duty trucks such as the Ford F-250 Super Duty are designed to do. Equipped with the mighty PowerStroke engine—a 6.7-liter V-8 turbo diesel with 500 horsepower and 1200 pound-feet of torque—our 2023 Platinum SuperCrew 4x4 with the Tremor off-road package returned an impressive 20 mpg on our real-world highway test. That's unladen mind you, so if you were to hook up, say, a 12,000-pound fifth-wheel trailer, its fuel economy would notably decline. Still, with a 34.0-gallon tank, the F-250 we tested can make it 680 miles without stopping. Fun fact: This model is also the quickest heavy-duty truck we've ever tested, rushing to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds.
2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: 670 Miles
While mid-size family sedans are slowly being phased out in favor of ubiquitous crossover SUVs, the Hyundai Sonata offers a diverse selection of powertrains that will appeal to almost everyone. Among them is a hybrid setup that pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor-generator. The system's combined 192 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque provide more power than other versions, save for the 290-hp Sonata N Line. The 2020 hybrid model we tested also has a noteworthy highway range of 670 miles, thanks to its impressive 51-mpg result on our 75-mph highway route and a 13.2-gallon fuel tank.
2025 Ram 1500 H.O. Hurricane: 660 Miles
In case you missed it, Ram no longer makes a half-ton pickup with a Hemi V-8. Instead, it offers a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six dubbed the Hurricane. In the new Ram 1500, it comes in two strengths: a 420-hp standard-output version and a 540-hp high-output one. We tested the latter, and not only was the four-wheel-drive, crew-cab model impressively quick (hitting 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds), but it also returned 20 mpg on our 75-mph highway route. Since it was fitted with the optional 33.0-gallon fuel tank, it has a driving range of 660 miles. Considering the EPA estimates the AWD H.O. will get 21 mpg highway and the AWD S.O. will get 24 mpg, opting for the detuned engine will likely result in even fewer stops on long trips.
2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel: 650 Miles
Ram pulled the plug on its EcoDiesel 3.0-liter V-6 even before it axed the Hemi V-8. However, when it did offer that combustion-ignition engine, it provided the best fuel economy of any Ram 1500. We tested a 2020 model in crew-cab Limited guise with four-wheel drive. It returned 25 mpg on our real-world highway route, which is impressive but still 2 mpg less than an F-150 PowerStroke; a diesel Chevy Silverado 1500 got 26 mpg, but its relatively small 22.0-gallon tank made for only a 570-mile range (well below our cutoff point). The EcoDiesel Ram, which had 260 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, also had a 26.0-gallon tank, giving it a 650-mile range when full.
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