The Great 8: What Pickup Truck Has the Most Powerful Gas Engine?
Ford made us all do a head turn when it the ante with its new Power Stroke diesel’s massive power. However, in the midst of all the hubbub about that engine and the war to make the most powerful diesel, we lost sight of the fact that there’s also a big struggle to make the most powerful gas-engine trucks, too. This year, we’ll see the Raptor R with 700 horsepower take on the Ram TRX with 702 horsepower.
Every full-size truck today is more powerful than we could have imagined just a few years ago, but which optional gas engine is the most powerful? We break the eight down for you.
Ram 1500 makes 395 horsepower
Not too long ago, Ram’s mighty Hemi V8 ruled the roost. Remember the “Does it have a Hemi commercials?” Well, it’s no slouch with its 395 horsepower, but as far as optional truck engines go, it’s on the bottom. It’s about time for Ram to extract some more power because these eight beat it. Handily. Although, with the eTorque system, Ram’s hybrid booster does add an additional 130 lb-ft of torque.
Nissan’s Titan V8 makes 400 horsepower
The Nissan Titan has a 400-horsepower 5.6-liter V8 that, when it was launched, seemed to trump the engines in its rivals. But the others have moved on to boosting their trucks’ power with hybrid power or turbochargers. But Nissan isn’t messing around: all Titan’s have the V8, so they’re all quick and powerful.
Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 get 420 horsepower
The GM twins, the GMC Sierra 1500 and the Chevy Silverado, both get GM’s mighty 6.2-liter V8 that makes 420 horsepower. The 6.2 could take the prize for the most traditional engine in a truck. GM is pushing a new turbocharged four-cylinder, but when most people see your new truck, they’ll ask “Does have the eight?”
Toyota Tundra makes 437 horsepower
Truck buyers like V8s with big bores. But Toyota decided to take a chance when it updated its Tundra full-sized truck with a V6. It’s not just any V6, though; it’s a twin-turbocharged hybrid power plant that makes 437 horsepower thanks to the addition of a 48-horsepower AC motor. It’s now the most powerful engine Toyota makes.
Ford F-150 makes 450 horsepower
Like Toyota, Ford decided to buck the trend of bigger and bigger V8s. For 2022 (and 2023) the highest horsepower Ford F-150 comes with the twin-turbocharged and hybrid boosted, 3.5-liter engine. The hybrid adds 47 horsepower. Sure, you can get the 5.0-liter in the G-150, but it only makes 400 horsepower. The F-150 Raptor, however, gets a 450-horsepower version of the 3.5, however, it’s not boosted by an electric motor. Still, it’s no match for an F-150 Lightning.
Ford Raptor R makes 700-horsepower
Sure, we could have included the Raptor R in the regular Ford F-150 category, but where’s the fun in that? The new Raptor R is the most anticipated truck of 2023 and it will make an astonishing 700 horsepower from its 5.2-liter supercharged V8.
Ram 1500 TRX is the most powerful pickup truck
Meet the mack daddy of gas engines. The Ram 1500 TRX gets a Hellcat engine that makes a mighty 702 horsepower. Ram makes that monster power by adding a supercharger to the already strong 6.2-liter Hemi V8. It’s also the fastest truck Motor Trend has ever tested.
