For many, a pickup truck is as much a daily drivable vehicle as it is a tool for getting the job done. How much horsepower and torque a powertrain puts out is a big part of that. Most want enough to get the job done while keeping an eye toward fuel economy.
What’s the difference between horsepower and torque? In simple terms, torque is the pull of the powertrain that gets you off the line from a full stop. Horsepower is what gets you going the speed you want and keeps you there.
Diesel engines tend to have more torque than gasoline-powered engines but have less horsepower. There’s no perfect torque to horsepower ratio. It’s all about which combination works best for you.
The engines on this list have the highest amount of torque and are available in 2021 model year pickup trucks in the U.S. To see the most powerful pickup trucks ranked by horsepower click here. See the 2020 horsepower champs by clicking here and the 2020 torque winners by clicking here.
No. 5 – 2021 Ford F-150: PowerBoost hybrid powertrain
570 pound-feet of torque
Not surprisingly, Ford’s new hybrid F-150 powertrain (a 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine paired with a 35-kilowatt electric motor) delivers more torque than almost any other light-duty truck. It’s rated at 570 pound-feet, which matches up well with the engine’s 430 horsepower to provide up to 12,400 pounds of towing capacity in certain configurations.
No. 4 – 2021 Ram 1500 TRX: Supercharged 6.2-liter V8
650 pound-feet of torque
The Ram 1500 TRX isn’t just the fastest and most powerful light-duty truck on the market, it’s also got the most torque. Rated at 650 pound-feet of torque, the supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 also produces a staggering 702 horsepower. That’s good enough for a 0-60 mph time of just 4.5 seconds and an 8,100-pound towing capacity.
No. 3 (tie) – 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD: 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V8
910 pound-feet of torque
General Motors’ trucks have attracted attention in recent years for their innovative trailering and tailgate technologies, but both Chevrolet and GMC Heavy Duty trucks are offered with a truly attention-grabbing powertrain. The 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V8 produces a massive 910 pound-feet of torque, which is in addition to a respectable 445-horsepower output. That gives the trucks a maximum conventional-trailer towing capacity of over 14,000 pounds in some configurations.
No. 3 (tie) – 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 HD: 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V8
910 pound-feet of torque
Under the hood of the GMC Sierra 2500 HD is a 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V8 that produces 910 pound-feet of torque and 445-horsepower, just like the Silverado 2500 above. The truck has a maximum conventional-trailer towing capacity of over 14,000 pounds in some configurations.
No. 2 – 2021 Ram 3500HD: 6.7-liter Cummins diesel V8
Photo courtesy of FCA US LLC
1,000 pound-feet of torque
Here, we enter the realm of outlandish torque numbers. The 2021 Ram Heavy Duty lineup is available with a 6.7-liter C
Cummins diesel V8 that produces 1,000 pound-feet of torque. It’s offered in a “normal” output version that makes 850 pound-feet, but the four-digit torque number available in the high-output version is truly headline worthy. Ram says that the 3500 can pull up to 35,100 pounds with this engine on board.
No. 1 – 2021 Ford F-Series Super Duty: 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V8
Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
1,050 pound-feet of torque
Ford’s 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V8 is the top of the torque hill for 2021. It makes 1,050 pound-feet of the stuff, which is in addition to a solid 475 horsepower. The F-450 truck equipped with the engine can tow up to 37,000 pounds, which is both insane and far above the weight limits for a standard Class A driver’s license.
