- Bonus: Hennessey Ram 1500 TRX Mammoth
- 1. Ford Maverick
- 2. Hyundai Santa Cruz
- 3. Ford Ranger Performance Pack Level 3
- 4. Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Hybrid
- 5. Ford F-150 Raptor
- 6. Ram 1500 TRX
- 7. Ford F-150 Raptor R
- 8. Ford F-150 Lightning
- 9. GMC Hummer EV
- 10. Rivian R1T
- Fastest Pickup Truck Question Answered
Haul your stuff from 0-60 mph in three seconds flat.
Fast pickup trucks have been a part of the automotive landscape since Dodge introduced the Li'l Red Express in 1978, but in the year 2023, they're different beats entirely, which is why we gathered a list of the 10 fastest pickup trucks (and quickest, as we've arranged this list by 0-60 time). But before we get to the new stuff, let's take a look back at the origins of the fast pickup.
The first performance pickup, the Li'L Red Express, had a naturally aspirated 5.9-liter V8 that gulped fuel through a four-barrel carburetor.
In modern terms, its power output is quite sedate; this lump of an engine produced 225 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, all of which was sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission. As you can imagine, it was quite lively with no weight on the back, so it was also equipped with a limited-slip differential. The Li'l Red Express is fast, even by modern standards. It can sprint from 0-60 mph in 6.7 seconds, and it's way more charming because of the noise it makes.
Back then, vehicles weighing over 6,000 pounds were excluded from catalytic converter regulations. The Li'l Red Express weighed 6,100 lbs, which is why it sounds so fruity.
Only 7,306 were built, and they are relatively cheap to buy, considering the limited production. We found one on sale for $20,000, but there are records of customers paying as much as $50k for a pristine example.
The GMC Syclone only arrived in the early '90s with a turbocharged V6 producing 280 hp. The GMC Syclone was slower to 60 mph, however, but arguably birthed the modern performance pickup. After these two pickups, this particular segment was effectively dormant until the Dodge Ram SRT 10 arrived, powered by a V10 engine, which made it stupidly quick but tough to handle. For a while, it was one of the fastest. Unfortunately, the Dodge Ram SRT 10 was ahead of its time, so it died quickly.
With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the fastest available currently. First, we'll give you our 10 contenders, and then, we'll clarify the result, as there's some confusion about fast vs. quick. Where possible, this list also relies on manufacturer-claimed figures.
Bonus: Hennessey Ram 1500 TRX Mammoth
What is the fastest vehicle with a load bin? Here you go. No list of the fastest pickup trucks available would be complete without the fastest pickup truck of them all. Hennessey starts out with a standard Ram 1500 TRX and replaces the OEM supercharger with its own 2.65-liter high-flow supercharger.
The resulting power is rated at 1,000 hp and 969 lb-ft of torque. All that power can catapult the 7,200 lbs truck from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Simply put, it's the fastest truck down the drag strip. Unfortunately, the top speed is capped at 130 mph. That goes way beyond beating mere sports cars. It can likely out-accelerate a standard sports car while using its impressive towing capacity to tow another sports car.
This truck is supercar fast in a straight line, yet it doesn't count on a list of the fastest production trucks. It's a capable truck, don't get us wrong, but for this list of fastest pickups, we're sticking with OEM cars.
1. Ford Maverick
Here's an example of having your cake and eating it too. There are two engine options for the Ford Maverick and the hybrid will certainly increase your driving range and fuel consumption.
But this list is about the fastest trucks, so we're going with the EcoBoost model.
The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot engine under the hood produces 250 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. It's not one of the most powerful engines on this list, but the Maverick only weighs 3,600 lbs.
Equipped with the optional all-wheel drive system, this little truck is quick. It can get to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. Ford doesn't claim a top speed, but forums suggest it's somewhere around 110 mph.
With some light off-road capability, the Maverick is also an interesting alternative for customers who don't want a crew cab truck like the 2023 Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra, or GMC Sierra pickups. It has just the right amount of ground clearance and does without hardcore off-road features like a two-speed transfer case that adds weight.
The Maverick is not the fastest Ford truck, but think of it as a lightweight Ford SVT Raptor.
2. Hyundai Santa Cruz
Hyundai's Santa Cruz is another compact truck for those not interested in full-size crew cab pickups. It has loads of benefits, like agreeable fuel economy, an eight-speed automatic transmission (dual-clutch), and loads of standard safety features. Two powertrain choices are available, and once again we're going to focus on the turbocharged four-cylinder.
Hyundai uses a larger 2.5-liter turbocharged four-pot that produces 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. It's direct competition to the Maverick but has failed to make a dent in the sub-Toyota Tacoma market, mostly due to a poor 5,000-lb tow rating and higher starting prices.
Even though it has more power, it makes the 0-60 sprint in the exact same time as the Maverick and its top speed is capped at 112 mph.
Once again, it's not the fastest around, but it's potent enough to be fun and reach quite high speeds.
3. Ford Ranger Performance Pack Level 3
The outgoing model is still available for now, and the incoming all-new Raptor will likely be an interesting alternative to the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor. The standard model will go head-to-head with the Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon pickups.
But back to what you can get right now, or what you'll get on the used market in a few short months.
To unlock the Ranger's full potential and transform it into one of the fastest Ford pickups, you need to add the $8,995 Level 3 Package, which builds on the Level 3 Package's ECU tune. Ford adds a cat-back exhaust and some exterior tweaks.
If you go for this option, the engine produces more power and torque. The 315 hp and 370 lb-ft are good for a 0-60 mph sprint time is six-ish seconds. All Rangers have an electronically governed top speed of 111 mph.
And, if you're willing to wait a while longer, there's a brand new Ranger and a new Ranger Raptor on the way with circa 400 hp.
4. Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Hybrid
The third-generation Toyota Tundra hopes to get closer to the sales figures posted by the 2023 Ford F-150, GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate, and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
Pricing is good, starting at roughly $40k, but if you want the fastest version, it has to be the hybrid. Yup, you read that correctly. A hybrid Tundra is faster than the famous Toyota Tacoma X Runner.
The hybrid engine uses a 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 and an electric motor to produce a combined output of 437 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque. This mid-range hybrid produces more power than the famous Toyota Tundra TRD Supercharged from 2009. Toyota does not quote a 0-60 mph time, but independent tests have shown figures ranging from 5.7 to 6.1 seconds. The top speed is electronically governed and set at 108 mph.
It's available in rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive and can tow 11,175 lbs. The new Tundra also puts its power down better thanks to a coil spring rear suspension, which replaces the old-school leaf springs.
For the privilege of owning the Toyota truck powered by the most potent engine, you'll have to pay in the region of $57,000.
5. Ford F-150 Raptor
The first-generation Ford F-150 Raptor is the reason why we're wondering about the fastest trucks in the world. The first generation had two standalone go-faster models, both equipped with a V8 engine. The 6.2-liter Boss V8 engine was the most powerful engine you could get in a full-size truck at the time, churning out 411 hp and 434 lb-ft. The original definitely counts as one of the fastest production trucks ever made, with a top speed of 107 mph.
Ford downsized for its successors, and a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 powers the current F-150 Raptor. It has been usurped by the Raptor R, but it remains one of the fastest production trucks out there.
The 450 hp and 510 lb-ft are not the most powerful we've seen, but any reasonable person will think it's enough.
Power is sent to a part-time four-wheel-drive system via a 10-speed automatic transmission. It can get to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, and it can tow a useful 8,200 lbs. The top speed was also bumped to 120 mph.
Pricing for the lesser 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor starts at roughly $75,000.
6. Ram 1500 TRX
You might have gone into this thinking the Ram TRX would be both the fastest and the quickest pickup truck around, but it's neither. In fact, it's only the second-quickest combustion-powered truck around.
It's the fastest OEM Ram 1500, powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 engine that produces 702 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. Dodge claims a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds, but we have it on good authority that it can do it in 3.7 seconds. Even if we use that time instead of the manufacturer's claim, it's still not the quickest. The top speed is electronically governed and set at 118 mph. It's officially the most powerful production gas-powered pickup truck, producing two horsepower more than the Ford Raptor R.
But that's not enough because the Rivian R1T is faster to 60 mph, and the standard F-150 Raptor has a higher top speed.
Prices start at $83,890, though it's pretty tough to find one these days.
7. Ford F-150 Raptor R
Ford couldn't let Ram get all the glory, so it borrowed the supercharged V8 engine from a Mustang Shelby GT500, adapted it for use in a pickup truck, and the result is 700 hp and 640 lb-ft.
Ford claims a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 13.29 seconds. The top speed is limited to 114 mph, meaning it's slower than the regular Raptor.
The rest of the car wasn't left unchanged. Raptor R's ship standard with 37-inch tires and a coil spring rear suspension.
Did Ford meet expectations? It depends on how you want to define the fastest production truck in the ICE category. The Ford F-150 Raptor R runs the quarter-mile in 13.29, while the Ram 1500 TRX takes 13.31. The Ram is faster off the line, but the Ford is faster over a quarter-mile.
You decide.
8. Ford F-150 Lightning
The electric truck changed the go-faster pickup truck landscape forever. It started an entirely new debate about the fastest pickup trucks. The all-electric pickup truck has many things that count in its favor: favorable fuel economy (calculated according to a gas equivalent formula) and brisk acceleration due to instant torque. The only current downside to electrification is driving range. It has been proved by now that the range dips significantly when towing.
But back to the Ford F-150 Lightning, the second electric pickup launched in the USA. It is one of the fastest accelerating pickup trucks with a 0-60 time of 4.4 seconds but is electronically capped at 110 mph. The quarter-mile is completed in 12.7 seconds.
Prices for the F-150 Lightning pickup start at roughly $60,000, and for that, you get 580 hp. The torque output depends on whether you go for the Standard Range or Extended Range battery. Opt for the latter, and you get 775 lb-ft. That's 135 lb-ft more than the Ford F-150 Raptor R.
9. GMC Hummer EV
Like combustion-powered Hummers, the Hummer EV pickup is all about excess. It's the heaviest vehicle on this list, weighing 9,000 lbs. Most of that weight is down to the battery, which takes a while to charge even when using DC fast charging. The styling is ostentatious, and it has the power to match. Thanks to that impressive weight, it has a towing capacity of 7,500 lbs.
Even though it weighs as much as a house, the Hummer EV pickup produces 1,000 horses, translating to a 3.3-second 0-60 mph sprint when you use its Watts-To-Freedom (WTF) launch control. Mercifully, the top speed is capped at 106 mph. We can't imagine what braking from that speed must feel like in such a heavy car.
This is thanks to three electric motors, with two mated on the rear axle. This also allows for trick rear differentials, taking off-roading to the next level. But even 1,000 hp isn't enough to secure the top spot on this list of fastest pickup trucks.
10. Rivian R1T
The Rivian R1T was officially the first electric truck available in the USA, beating all the legacy manufacturers, including Ford. Rivian started this new trend in performance trucks that use electricity for motivational purposes. It's one of the most exciting pickup trucks in the world.
The Rivian is not a full-size truck but slots in between bigger models like the Ram 1500 EV pickup and midsize trucks like the Ford Ranger.
Even so, Rivian saw it fit to equip the top-spec model with quad-motor AWD, which is one electric motor for each wheel. Even though it has more electric motors than the Hummer, the combined output is only 835 hp. Even so, it is officially the quickest production truck and can get to 60 mph in three seconds flat. Like most of its rivals, the top speed is capped at 110 mph or in that region.
The range is not that great, but Rivian has promised to introduce an extended battery like Ford later this year.
Fastest Pickup Truck Question Answered
What is the fastest truck in the world? When talking about speed, we need to differentiate between quick and fast. Quick is 0-60 mph, while fast is all about top speed.
Basically, we end up with two answers.
The quickest truck in the world is the Rivian R1T, thanks to its three-second 0-60 mph time. The fastest is the F-150 Raptor, and its top speed of 120 mph.
This list will likely change soon because other trucks are coming. Ram hinted at a faster TRX on the combustion side, and GM's electric trucks will debut next year. Ram's first EV will follow a year after that, and it wants to set a new standard in the segment. Then there's the Ford Ranger Raptor and, if it ever arrives, the Tesla Cybertruck.
Keyword: Need For Speed: The 10 Fastest Trucks You Can Buy Today