11 Best Pickup Trucks if You Want Horsepower, According to KBB
As pickup trucks have become more popular in recent years, buyers have more options to consider. Many manufacturers produce mid-size and full-size trucks to suit exactly what you’re looking for. But if you want the most powerful model, check out Kelley Blue Book’s list of the top 11 highest-horsepower trucks. Here’s how they rank, including MSRPs and powertrain specs.
2021 Ram 2500 Regular Cab
Starting price: $36,390
Horsepower: 370–410 hp
Torque: 429–850 lb-ft
The 2021 Ram 2500 Regular Cab pickup truck offers buyers gasoline and turbocharged diesel engine options. The standard 6.4-liter gas V8 punches out 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque. Swap it for the Cummins 6.7-liter inline-six turbodiesel, and you take a slight hit in horsepower (down to 370 hp) but nearly double the torque (850 lb-ft). The 2500’s towing and payload numbers are pretty high at maximums of 19,370 and 4,520 pounds, respectively.
The 2021 Ram 2500 offers six trim levels: Tradesman, Big Horn (or Lone Star in Texas), Laramie, Power Wagon, Laramie Longhorn, and Limited. In addition, KBB reviewers note the Ram 2500 is a comfortable ride with plenty of luxury and technology.
Active noise cancellation and acoustic glass keep the interior quiet, and wireless charging and up to five USB ports support electronic devices. Plus, the innovative Ram Box system means the truck bed is illuminated, lockable, and drainable, has integrated side-bed storage, and provides a retractable bed step to make loading and unloading easy.
2021 Ram 2500 Crew Cab
Starting price: $39,595
Horsepower: 370–410 hp
Torque: 429–850 lb-ft
The 2021 Ram 2500 Crew Cab’s power output and trim levels are the same as the Regular Cab but with an extra row of seats. KBB reviewers also note the 2500’s ride is more comfortable than its big brother, the 3500.
2022 Ram 3500 Crew Cab
Starting price: $42,290
Horsepower: 370–420 hp
Torque: 429–1,075 lb-ft
The 2500’s big brother, the Ram 3500, packs a similar amount of horsepower, with the top option coming via the 6.7-liter inline-six turbodiesel. The high-output version kicks the horsepower up to 420 hp but pushes the torque into four digits. With that amount of power, Ram says this pickup truck can tow 37,100 pounds and haul 6,120 pounds. The former number is best in class.
2021 Ram 3500 Mega Cab
Starting price: $50,370
Horsepower: 370–410 hp
Torque: 429–1,075 lb-ft
Like its little brother, the 2021 Ram 3500 pushes out a maximum of 410 horses from its Cummins diesel engine. The torque pushes a bit higher, though, and that means higher towing (37,100 pounds) and payload (6,570 pounds) figures.
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Regular Cab pickup truck
Starting price: $36,295
Horsepower: 401–445 hp
Torque: 464–910 lb-ft
The Chevrolet Silverado 2500 offers only two engine options: a 6.6-liter gas V8 and a 6.6-liter turbocharged diesel V8. The turbodiesel comes with a 10-speed Allison automatic transmission, something Kelley Blue Book reviewers say helps the Silverado 2500 pull heavy loads easily.
Though it has a lower max tow rating (18,500 pounds) than its Ram and Ford rivals, the Silverado 2500 boasts plenty of towing aids. The “transparent-trailer” feature uses the tailgate and remote trailer-mounted camera to help drivers see through whatever they’re pulling.
2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Double Cab
Starting price: $41,595
Horsepower: 401–445 hp
Torque: 464–910 lb-ft
As with the differences in the Ram models earlier, the 2022 Chevy Silverado 2500 Double Cab keeps the same powertrain options across different cab levels. For a bit more than $5,000 extra, you can fit up to six people in the Double Cab Silverado compared to the Regular Cab. Towing and payload figures stay steady at 18,500 and 3,900 pounds. New for the 2022 model is a multi-flex tailgate.
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD Crew Cab pickup truck
Starting price: $41,995
Horsepower: 401–445 hp
Torque: 464–910 lb-ft
As is the case with the Ram entrants on Kelley Blue Book’s list, the Chevy Silverado 3500 keeps the same powertrain as the 2500, but performance figures elsewhere take a big jump. The Silverado 3500 can tow up to 35,500 pounds with a maximum payload weight of more than 7,000 pounds. For jobs that require more traction, the 3500 comes with a dual-rear-wheel option.
2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab
Starting price: $42,195
Horsepower: 401–445 hp
Torque: 464–910
A small bump in price for the Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab brings full doors and more room for backseat passengers. Otherwise, it provides similar power and figures to the Double Cab.
2021 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Double Cab pickup truck
Starting price: $40,295
Horsepower: 401–445 hp
Torque: 464–910 lb-ft
GMC’s first entrant on this list, the Sierra, features the same performance figures as the Silverado. Two 6.6-liter V8 options include a gas version pumping out 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque and a turbodiesel with 445 hp and 910 lb-ft.
The maximum towing capacity is 14,500 pounds, a bit lower than the Silverado 2500’s, but the Sierra keeps the same payload capacity of up to 3,900 pounds. The 2021 model includes many technology upgrades, including enhanced trailer technology like jackknife alert and a six-function tailgate.
2022 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Crew Cab
Starting price: $42,295
Horsepower: 401–445 hp
Torque: 464–910 lb-ft
The 2022 Sierra 2500 Crew Cab keeps the same performance figures as the 2021 Sierra 2500 Double Cab. For $2,000 more, you get more space in the second row.
2021 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Crew Cab pickup truck
Starting price: $43,395
Horsepower: 401–445 hp
Torque: 464–910 lb-ft
The 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 keeps the same two powertrains as the Sierra 2500, but the step-up means higher loads like the Silverado and Ram. GMC says towing capacity on this pickup truck maxes out at 36,000 pounds, and the maximum payload is 7,445 pounds.
