This is a bird's-eye view of a full-size Ram pickup truck built by Stellantis with a V8 engine.

Trucks

Here’s the Cheapest Full-Size V8 Pickup Truck You Can Get in 2023

Dreaming of a reasonably priced pickup truck with a V8 engine? Here are your most budget-friendly options.

by Henry Cesari

Published on February 4, 2023

3 min read

Automakers love to lure you into the dealership with low full-size pickup truck MSRPs. But these totals are for entry-level trucks with naturally-aspirated V6 engines–or even turbocharged I4s. Moreover, these totals don’t include hefty destination charges and dealership fees. We’re here to cut through the BS: These are the full-size V8 pickup trucks with the lowest net prices in 2023.

2023 Ram 1500 Classic (5.7-liter HEMI V8) – $34,830
2023 Ford F-150 XL (5.0-liter Coyote V8) – $37,925
2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 WT (5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8) – $38,195

2023 Ram 1500 Classic with a 5.7-liter HEMI V8: $34,830

The 2023 Ram 1500 Classic towing a boat — 2023 Ram 1500 Classic | Ram

So what the truck is a Ram “Classic!?” When Ram launched the fifth generation of its half-ton 1500 in 2019, it completely redesigned the interior and did away with the two-door regular cab configuration. The automaker knew that many fleet owners and budget-minded drivers wouldn’t like the resulting MSRP, so it continues to build the old fourth-generation Ram, badged as the Classic.

The 2023 Ram 1500 Classic may be a holdover from 2018, but it features the same engine options and even rear coil spring suspension as the current truck. It lacks the latest infotainment system, interior, and eTorque mild-hybrid setup.

The 2023 Ram 1500 Classic comes in below every other full-size pickup truck: $30,235 MSRP or a $32,130 net price with the $1,895 destination charge. Upgrading to the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 costs $2,200. But the engine upgrade requires you to beef up the eight-speed transmission, too, to the tune of $500. The result is a $34,830 net price before dealer markups or fees.

The 5.7-liter HEMI V8 makes 395 horsepower.

2023 Ford F-150 XL with a 5.0-liter V8: $37,925

2023 F-150 XL “Rattler” | Ford Motor Company

Unlike the Ram Classic, the 2023 Ford F-150 XL is a current-generation truck with a modern, entry-level infotainment system and driver aids. New for 2023, Ford even made electric windows standard on every XL. Some might say the F-150 lags behind the Ram with its rear leaf springs, but Ford does offer cruise control and automatic emergency braking on every truck. The F-150 also one-ups the Ram with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The regular-cab F-150 XL with a naturally-aspirated V6 has a $33,695 MSRP. It also has a $1,895 destination charge, so truly starts at $35,590. Ford offers many engines in the F-150. Your options range from two turbocharged EcoBoosts, to the fully-hybrid PowerBoost, to a traditional V8. The 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine is a $2,335 option and will bump your total to at least $37,925.

The 5.0-liter Ford Coyote V8 makes 400 horsepower.

2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 WT with a 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8: $38,195

A 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 parked outdoors. — 2023 Chevrolet Silverado | General Motors

Chevrolet is currently advertising its base Silverado 1500 WT (work truck) with an MSRP of $35,895 and a net price of $38,195. The mechanically identical GMC 1500 Sierra Pro will cost you at least $800 more.

General Motors’ entry-level full-size trucks come with a 2.7-liter turbocharged I4 and eight-speed automatic transmission. The $38,195 total is for a regular cab, standard bed Silverado. But Chevrolet only charges $200 more for the long bed configuration.

If you want a V8, you’ll have to upgrade to long bed because Chevy doesn’t offer its 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 in the standard bed truck. But once you upgrade, the V8 is only a $1,895 surcharge. This brings the net price of the cheapest V8-powered full-size GM truck to $40,335 (including the $1,895 destination charge). If you upgrade to any engine besides the I4, you also get the 10-speed automatic transmission General Motors co-designed with Ford.

The General Motors’ 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 makes 355 horsepower.

So there you have it, the cheapest 2023 pickup trucks with V8 engines. The above MSRPs all reflect two-door, 2WD pickups. If you want to upgrade either feature, expect a total that’s thousands higher.

You can also order a fifth-generation Ram 1500 with a HEMI V8 and a Nissan Titan with a V8, but because they only come with four doors, they cost thousands more than the above trucks. Toyota dropped its V8 engine option for the 2022 model year, so if you want a Tundra, you’ll have to opt for the turbocharged V6.

Note that all of the automakers increased their MSRPs throughout 2022, due to global supply chain issues, so we expect these numbers to increase throughout 2023 as well.

Next, find out the cheapest four-door full-size pickup truck available or see the Ram 1500 Classic reviewed in the video below: