Best 6-Cylinder Trucks Of 2024 (2024)

Alongside SUVs, trucks are the most popular type of vehicle in the USA, and when it comes to these workhorses, buyers have made their demands clear: power, size, capability, and status are what count, and 6-cylinder trucks tick all of these boxes. Whether it’s a V6 or an inline-six, the six-cylinder engine is hallowed for its performance potential, and in a pickup truck, it provides a great combination of power to haul and carry stuff. This is a list of the best 6-cylinder pickup trucks for sale in the USA for 2024.

1 Ford F-150 Raptor

2024 Ford F-150 Raptor

8.5/10

What is Buzzscore?

Base MSRP

$78,440

Fuel Economy

15/18 MPG

Horsepower

450 hp

Engine

3.5L Twin-Turbo V6 Gas

If you need a brawny off-road pickup above all else, the Ford F-150 Raptor is the best vehicle here by some margin. Yes, there is a V8-powered Raptor R, but the standard Raptor’s twin-turbo V6 with 450 hp is no slouch. It will reach 60 in 5.5 seconds, which is plenty quick for something this size. The Raptor gets FOX Dual Live Valve shocks and 24-inch coil springs to help it leap across dunes at insane speeds, yet it’s quite comfortable on normal roads, too. This is a brilliant pickup.

2 Ram 1500

2024 Ram 1500

8.5/10

What is Buzzscore?

Base MSRP

$39,420

Fuel Economy

20/25 MPG

Horsepower

305 hp

Engine

3.6L V6 Gas

For years now, the Ram 1500 has been the class-leader for ride comfort, which is no minor accomplishment for a large pickup truck. Although the latest Ford and Toyota trucks have gotten closer, the Ram is still the nicest pickup to drive. This also stems from its high-quality, quiet interior. The standard engine is a 3.6-liter V6 with a mild-hybrid system that develops 305 hp, so it isn’t the most powerful mill in this segment. However, it’ll be adequate for most purposes, and if you need more grunt, the 2024 Ram 1500 can be fitted with a powerful Hemi V8.

3 Toyota Tundra Hybrid

2024 Toyota Tundra Hybrid

8.4/10

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What is Buzzscore?

Base MSRP

$57,625

Fuel Economy

20/24 MPG

Horsepower

437 hp

Engine

3.4L Twin-Turbo V6 Hybrid

The switch from the old Tundra’s 5.7-liter V8 to a new V6 was a smart one for Toyota, bringing the latest full-size pickup into close contention with bigger-selling rivals. In the Tundra Hybrid, the i-Force Max powertrain pairs a 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with an electric motor to produce 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque combined. This truck only needs 5.5 seconds to haul itself to 60 mph, but it can achieve 22 mpg combined thanks to the hybrid system. That’s better than the non-hybrid Tundra but not class-leading, either. A rear coil-spring suspension contributes to a decent ride and the Toyota has enough available high-tech toys inside.

4 Toyota Tundra

2024 Toyota Tundra

8.4/10

What is Buzzscore?

Base MSRP

$39,965

Fuel Economy

18/24 MPG

Horsepower

358 hp

Engine

3.4L Twin-Turbo V6 Gas

The non-hybrid Toyota Tundras also utilize a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6. In standard form, this engine delivers 348 hp, but a 389-hp version is equipped to upper trims. One notable factor is that the Tundra isn’t available with permanent all-wheel drive, which may be a disappointment to some. It’s a solid pickup in most other respects, capable of towing up to 12,000 lbs and with good acceleration across the range. The modern and spacious interior is pleasing, with a large touchscreen that’s easy to operate. ​​​​​​

5 Honda Ridgeline

2024 Honda Ridgeline

8.5/10

What is Buzzscore?

Base MSRP

$39,750

Fuel Economy

18/24 MPG

Horsepower

280 hp

Engine

3.5L V6 Gas

The Honda Ridgeline is the smooth operator in its segment. It blends a refined 3.5-liter V6 with a well-sorted suspension and unibody construction, making for a particularly comfortable ride. The 280 hp from the V6 is enough to get this mid-size pickup up to speed without any fuss, and the nine-speed automatic is a good match for this engine. We also appreciate the build quality of the interior, which is up to Honda’s usual standards. It’s not the towing or hauling king of pickups, but the Ridgeline is one of the easiest trucks to live with.

6 Nissan Frontier

2024 Nissan Frontier

8.4/10

What is Buzzscore?

Base MSRP

$30,030

Fuel Economy

18/24 MPG

Horsepower

310 hp

Engine

3.8L V6 Gas

The Nissan Frontier isn’t the best-selling truck in its class, but it has enough qualities to be considered. Those include good looks and a 3.8-liter V6 making 310 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Nissan is both powerful and refined. However, it can’t tow as much as rivals from Jeep and Chevrolet. If that’s not an issue, most buyers will appreciate the interior of the Frontier, which is far more pleasing than that of its predecessor, from the materials used to the available features. Eight- or nine-inch touchscreens make it easy to handle infotainment duties.

7 Ram 3500

2024 Ram 3500

8.3/10

What is Buzzscore?

Base MSRP

$49,980

Fuel Economy

TBC

Horsepower

410 hp (V8) | 370 hp (I6 Diesel) | 420 hp (High-Output I6 Diesel)

Engine

6.4L V8 Gas | 6.7L I6 Turbodiesel

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This is Ram’s most capable heavy-duty pickup. It’s available with a 6.7-liter six-cylinder turbodiesel that produces either 370 hp/850 lb-ft or 420 hp/1,075 lb-ft. The diesel allows the Ram to tow over 37,000 lbs, more than the gas V8 engine. This Cummins diesel may be less refined than the V8, but it’s not at all bad for a diesel, and many will prefer it for its extra towing capacity. This is a massive truck, so maneuverability isn’t its strong suit, but it can tow and haul almost anything you can throw at it. The interior is also very comfortable and spacious for family use.

8 Ford F-150

2024 Ford F-150

8.1/10

What is Buzzscore?

Base MSRP

$36,875

Fuel Economy

17/25 MPG

Horsepower

400 hp

Ford used to offer a 3.3-liter V6 on the F-150, but that’s been dropped for the 2024 model year. If you want your F-150 with six-cylinder power, there are three options: a 2.7-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 with 325 hp, a 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 with 400 hp, or a 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost hybrid with impressive outputs of 430 hp and 570 lb-ft. It’s the sheer choice of trims and configurations in the Ford range that make this truck so popular. The latest generation also rides better than before, is packed with towing and safety technologies, and is as rugged and handsome as ever.

9 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

8.0/10

What is Buzzscore?

Base MSRP

$36,800

Fuel Economy

19/22 MPG

Horsepower

310 hp (2.7L)

Engine

2.7L Turbo Inline-4 Gas | 3.0L Turbo Inline-6 Diesel | 5.3L V8

Another giant in the full-size truck segment is the Chevy Silverado 1500. The only six-cylinder option is a 3.0-liter turbodiesel, with useful outputs of 305 hp and 495 lb-ft. Not only does it have good pulling power, but the diesel has the best efficiency in the range by far; it manages 26 mpg combined with RWD and up to 24 mpg combined with 4WD. Chevy’s pickup isn’t the most luxurious truck in its class, but upper trims are packed with amenities and all of them feel surprisingly agile to drive. It can also tow up to 13,300 lbs, an excellent number that betters the Ram 1500 but falls short of the Ford F-150.

10 Ram 2500

2024 Ram 2500

8.0/10

What is Buzzscore?

Base MSRP

$47,740

Fuel Economy

TBC

Horsepower

410 hp (V8) | 370 hp (I6 Diesel)

Engine

6.4L V8 Gas | 6.7L Turbo I6 Diesel

Like the Ram 3500, the 2500 is offered with the 6.7-liter Cummins six-cylinder turbodiesel. However, the 2500 doesn’t get the high-output version of this engine, not that the standard one’s 370 hp and 850 lb-ft are anything to sniff at. Strong towing and hauling capabilities, a smooth ride, and a deluxe cabin on upper trims distinguishes the 2500 as one of the best heavy-duty pickups. Starting at around $45,000, it’s possible to spend double that on the most expensive Ram 2500. This broad price range caters to many different buyers.

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Best Of The Rest

2024 Ram 1500 Classic

7.9/10

What is Buzzscore?

Base MSRP

$38,705

Fuel Economy

17/25 MPG

Horsepower

305 hp

Engine

3.6L V6 Gas

2024 Ford Ranger Raptor

7.5/10

What is Buzzscore?

Base MSRP

$55,470

Fuel Economy

16/18/17 mpg

Horsepower

405 hp

Engine

3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 Gas

2024 Jeep Gladiator

Base MSRP

$37,895

Fuel Economy

16/23 MPG

Horsepower

285 hp

Engine

3.6L V6 Gas

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

Is the 6-cylinder truck the right one to go for? These are some of the pros and cons to consider.

Pros

• Better fuel efficiency than eight-cylinder options
• Potent outputs with loads of torque
• Good towing capacity and payload figures
• Six-cylinder diesel options are strong and frugal
• More refined than four-cylinder options

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

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 just over $30k, for example, while the Ford F-150’s base price comes in at around $37k.

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 turbodiesel 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.