Best V6 Pickup Trucks for 2023

Characteristics of The Best V6 Trucks

With the move to electrification and the availability of smaller-displacement turbocharged mills and the brawny V8 power plants still on the market, what do the best V6 trucks have to offer?

They usually power mid-size and full-size trucks
They provide strong outputs and good performance
They can usually tow heavy loads and have a high payload capacity
The V6 engine can be hybridized for efficiency and power
They are slightly more expensive than trucks with less potent powertrains

What to Consider When Buying V6 Pickup Trucks

With some trucks offering as many as four different engine options, how do you know whether V6 pickup trucks are still the right option?

Pros

Trucks with hybrid V6 engines are frugal and powerful
V6 engines weigh less than V8 engines
More fuel-efficient than eight-cylinder options
The status of V6 is important to some
Higher outputs and better performance than four-cylinder engines

Cons

Not the most fuel-efficient configuration
Higher starting price
Complexity of the engine may mean higher maintenance costs

FAQs

Is a truck with a V6 engine more reliable than pickups with smaller engines?

While there’s no correlation between how many cylinders there are in an engine and its reliability. Theoretically, a V6 mill has more moving parts and is more complex, so it may cost a little more in terms of maintenance, but it’s just as reliable as other motors are. V6 power plants are known for being extremely durable.

Do trucks with V6 engines cost more than other trucks?

Entry-level trucks with four-cylinder mills are generally cheaper, but nowadays, you can get a V6 truck at around $30k, in the case of the new Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier. In the case of the Ford F-150, the V6 is the cheapest option in the range, with the V8 costing around $2,500 more.

What are the best V6 pickup trucks to buy in the US?

If you’re looking for outright power and performance, the Ford F-150 Raptor and the Ranger Raptor are some of the best V6 trucks to consider. The F-150 Raptor makes 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque from its twin-turbo V6, while the smaller Range Raptor’s V6 mill generates 405 hp and 430 lb-ft.

Best V6 Trucks of 2023