Here Are Today’s Best Truck Engines

Pickup truck buyers are an opinionated bunch. They’re some of the most brand-loyal customers around, and there’s nothing they like more than debating you on which Atlanta truck dealer stocks the best truck on the market. Despite their varied preferences, most truck buyers agree that the most important feature of any truck is the powertrain.

If your truck is underpowered, you’ll struggle to tow even the smallest of trailers. Not only that, but opting for an engine without plenty of low-range torque puts you at a disadvantage in just about every driving situation, including off-roading and hauling payload to and from the job site.

With dozens of makes and models to choose from, it’s important not to lose sight of your pickup truck’s most important feature: the power plant. All the bells and whistles in the world won’t really matter if you can’t hook up and tow your boat to the lake for a day of fishing. Which engines offer the most output? We take a closer look at our favorites here.

The Best High Output Engines

Sometimes, it’s all about raw power. Forget about practicality and fuel economy: what’s the biggest, beastliest engine out there? It’s hard to pick just one because truck makers are always tweaking their powertrains to squeeze out more torque so they can boast the best towing capability or 0-60 time.

Some truck buyers, particularly buyers of heavy-duty trucks, actually need the extra power to get tough jobs done. Others simply like having bragging rights. Either is fine in our book because it’s all part of truck owners’ love affairs with their rigs. Which engines focus on raw output? These are our favorites.

GMC’s Mighty 6.6-Liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel V8

Heavy-duty truck buyers take notice: you’re one step away from unleashing the power of 910 lb-ft of torque: all you have to do is select a GMC Sierra Heavy Duty. When this beast of a motor is under the hood, you gain access to unreal levels of capability, including up to 36,000 pounds of fifth-wheel and gooseneck towing capability and 6,523 pounds of max payload.

This V8 turbo-diesel features a cast-iron block, high-pressure fuel injection, and a four-valve-per-cylinder architecture that achieves 445 horsepower at a low 2,800 rpm. Accessing 100 percent of this motor’s available 910 lb-ft of torque happens at just 1,600 rpm, which translates into exceptional towing capability and smooth acceleration from a full stop.

Ford’s 3.5-Liter Twin-Turbo HO EcoBoost

It takes a special buyer to appreciate the Ford Raptor. It’s a performance-oriented truck designed to go anywhere faster than almost any other pickup truck on the road. Raptor fans love the truck’s aggressive street performance and the optional off-roading packages that dress it up for a lively day on the trails.

None of this capability would be possible with the High-Output 3.5-Liter EcoBoost engine sitting under the hood. Unique to the Raptor, this version of Ford’s EcoBoost engine delivers 450 horsepower and an incredible 510 lb-ft of torque. It’s got a 24-valve, 3.5-Liter Twin-Turbo setup that’s tuned for optimal output. It takes advantage of advanced port and direct-injection fuel delivery technology for maximum performance and long-term reliability.

The Best Fuel-Efficient Hybrid and Electric Alternatives

Some buyers want a truck that treads lightly with its carbon footprint. Believe it or not, it’s possible to find powertrains designed for optimal fuel efficiency that are still incredibly powerful. It’s the tip of the iceberg for what’s to come, with hybrid technology drawing from the best of both gas and electric power.

The electric vehicle category represents some of the most technologically advanced engines available today, and as automakers turn more toward electric vehicle production, we can expect even more improvements in both power and fuel efficiency over the next several years.

Ford’s 3.5-Liter PowerBoost Hybrid V6

When we say we’re impressed with this motor, we mean we’re really impressed. Not only does Ford’s only hybrid F-150 powertrain offer unmatched fuel economy – it does so without sacrificing performance. How does 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque sound?

There are no compromises here, especially when it comes to towing capacity. Choosing this engine means you’ll get a max of 12,700 pounds of towing and 2,120 pounds of payload. It’s the only hybrid engine in its class – but that’s a distinction that probably won’t last long as other manufacturers blaze a trail in electric engine offerings.

GMC’s 1,000 Horsepower Electric Motors

Forget everything you thought you knew about electric vehicles because GMC has set the bar so high that even gas-powered trucks are struggling to keep up. The all-new, all-electric GMC Hummer EV pickup features an all-electric powertrain that somehow manages to make 1,000 horsepower and 11,500 lb-ft of torque.

That’s not a typo: in fact, this nearly five-ton beast travels from 0-60 in about 3 seconds and is capable of traveling over 300 miles on a single charge. What the heck is creating all that power? It actually comes from three separate electric motors that combine to power one of the most capable 4×4 trucks ever built, even if it is completely silent and emissions-free.

The Best Budget-Friendly Entry Level Motors

With a resurgence of popularity in compact pickups, automakers are preparing for a handful of new entrants, all offering plenty of truck-like capability without all the bulk and cost. That includes the powertrains, which shrink appropriately for the reduction in size, but not so much that power and capability shrink along with them.

The category’s rising popularity is stoking interest from manufacturers like Hyundai that have never before offered a pickup truck, and with competition heating up, it’ll be a knock-out drag-out to see which truck delivers the most impressive performance at the best possible price.

Hyundai’s 2.5-Liter Turbo I4

We’re not exactly sure who asked for it, but Hyundai’s got it: the all-new Santa Cruz. Labeled a “Sport Activity Vehicle,” it’s not quite a pickup and definitely not a crossover. What it does have is plenty of power from the available turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine.

Paired with all-wheel drive, Hyundai’s upgraded motor bests the standard 2.5-liter non-turbo version significantly in the horsepower department, going from 191 horsepower to a whopping 281 horsepower. Torque improves even more, from 181 lb-ft on the base engine to 311 lb-ft in the turbocharged upgrade.

Ford’s Diminutive 2.5-Liter Hybrid

If you see a theme emerging, you’re right. Ford outfits its all-new 2022 Maverick compact pickup with the category’s only hybrid engine, a small-but-mighty 2.5-liter that’s paired with electric motors for optimal fuel economy. It offers a fuel-sipping 40 mpg of city fuel economy, an astounding number for any vehicle, let alone a rugged pickup truck.

It’s a four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor that’s sadly only available on front-wheel drive Maverick models, but since a lot of compact truck buyers are choosing them more for casual DIY tasks than serious off-roading, sales should still be brisk.

Engine Technology Continues to Improve

Manufacturers of all vehicles are laser-focused on finding ways to minimize our dependence on fossil fuels. What that means for buyers is an influx of electric power. Starting with impressive trucks like the GMC Hummer EV and the 2022 Ford Lightning, automakers are chipping away at truck buyers’ resistance to EVs and removing common objections.

It’s no longer accurate to equate electric power to lower output since the most powerful trucks on the market currently are those with electric motors. It’s a cultural shift that truck buyers are slowly coming to appreciate, especially as they realize that often choosing a hybrid or electric truck means gaining access to even more capability.