2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT: MPG and fuel economy
The 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 24 combined MPG, with 21 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway. That puts it well above the average for cars in the Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD class in the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- Returns 34% better combined MPG than the average car in the Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD class for the 2018 model year (17.9 MPG class average).
- The 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT is the most efficient car in the Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD class for the 2018 model year, with its 24 MPG rating leading the segment.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $6,250 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 24 MPG |
| City MPG | 21 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 28 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $3,400 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 424 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
How the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT compares
The 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT returns 24 combined MPG. Cars in the Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD class for the same model year average 17.9 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 34%.
Within the Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD class for the 2018 model year, the Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT is the leader. No other car in the same class beat its 24 MPG rating. The bar chart below shows it alongside the class average and the average new car for some additional context.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2018 model year (across all classes) returns 25.6 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2018 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for diesel, which is $5.40/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 625 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,700 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $3,400 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $5,667 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT
The EPA has rated the Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT across 3 model years, from 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT through 2020 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 24 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 24 MPG | 2020 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT |
| 2019 | 24 MPG | 2019 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT |
| 2018 | 24 MPG | this page |
Compare against other Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD for 2018
If you are cross-shopping the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
Specifications
The 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT runs a 3-liter 6-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a automatic (s10), sending power through part-time 4-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
- Engine
- 3L 6-cylinder turbocharged
- Transmission
- Automatic (S10)
- Drivetrain
- Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Diesel
- Annual petroleum use
- 14.9 barrels per year
- Start-stop system
- Yes
Common questions about the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT.
-
Is the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT returns 24 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD class for the same model year by about 34%. -
What MPG does the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT get?
The EPA rates the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT at 24 combined MPG, 21 MPG in city driving, and 28 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,400 for the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
What fuel does the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT use?
The EPA lists the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT as running on diesel. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT, 24 MPG) and most recent (2020 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT, 24 MPG) versions sit in the same range. -
How much CO₂ does the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 424 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 6,360 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT?
City driving returns 21 MPG and highway driving returns 28 MPG, a gap of 7 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT?
The 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT has a 3-liter 6-cylinder turbocharged engine. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT have?
The 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT comes with a automatic (s10) transmission and part-time 4-wheel drive. -
Is the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT the most efficient car in its class?
Yes. Among cars in the Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD class for the 2018 model year, the Ford F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT returns the highest combined MPG at 24 MPG. No other car in the same class beats that figure.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.