I can only speak to what was available in 2015 and would think my overall experience would transfer to 2017 except for the new technology. While I was looking for heavy duty half ton trucks in 2015 for heavy towing, >= 10,000+ pounds, only GM and Ford could cover this. I decided HD halfs for my load wants/needs just would not provide the security I wanted with chassis/suspension/braking strength. I then decided to go diesel 3/4 ton and went with the Ram 2500 after driving gas and diesels.
No comparison with diesel torque in any manner. Mine has ~ 350 HP and 800 pounds of torque at 1500 RPM. In my testing, the gas engines ran out of breath with hard acceleration at ~ 65 MPH unloaded, while the diesel just kept pulling. I average ~ 19 - 20 MPG in decent weather with an 8500 pound truck running the speed limit in continuously hilly areas, especially two lane, back highways. When passing slower vehicles on winding, hilly back country highways, the acceleration will sit one back in the seat. Brings a smile to my face
. Not many straight, level areas around here. I imagine the straight line, level fuel mileage would be noticeably better. Love my RAM. All said and done it cost ~ $10k more than the HD half ton, gasoline engined trucks I was looking at.
25 MPG in a daily driver, full size 1/2 ton truck that would not need to pull heavy loads would be pretty attractive to a lot of folks, I would think; most trucks I see are not loaded and seem to be more of a family vehicle with a HD, open bed. In 2015 no gas trucks with any kind of abilities came close to 25 MPG.