Best 6-Cylinder Pickup Trucks for 2023

Characteristics of The Best 6-Cylinder Pickup Trucks

Here is what you can expect from the best 6-cylinder trucks:

They are usually mid-size or larger
They have impressive horsepower and torque figures
They can tow heavy loads without a struggle
They may be more expensive to operate than smaller-displacement engines

What to Consider When Buying 6-Cylinder Pickup Trucks

With small displacement engines and hybrid options becoming more common, is the 6-cylinder truck the right one to go for?

Pros

Better fuel efficiency than eight-cylinder options
Potent outputs with loads of torque
Higher towing capacity and payload
V6 engines are better balanced than V8s
Six-cylinder diesel options are strong and frugal

Cons

Thirstier than four-cylinder or hybrid versions
More expensive to buy off the bat
Maintenance costs can be a little higher due to added complexity

FAQs

What are the cheapest 6-cylinder pickup trucks available in the US?

Generally, inline-six turbo diesel options are pricier, and V6 trucks already cost more than those with smaller displacement engines. Still, many truck lineups now feature the 6-cylinder at the entry point. The Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier, both with six-cylinder engines, come in at around $30k, for example, while the Ford F-150’s base price comes in at around $35k.

Are trucks with V6 engines reliable?

One of the benefits of the V6 setup is that these engines tend to be durable and hardy, so expectations for their reliability are high. V6-powered trucks benefit from the same new car warranty that other engines do, and manufacturers catering to the heavy-duty truck segment want their products to be able to go forever, thus prioritizing reliability.

What 6-cylinder diesel trucks are available in the USA?

The 3.0-liter inline-six Turbo Diesel engine used by GM is found in various popular trucks, including the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado. Ram also offers a 6.7-liter Cummins inline-six turbo diesel for its 2500 models.

Best 6-Cylinder Trucks of 2023