Once used solely as mechanical workhorses, pickup trucks have changed a lot since the good ol' days of carbureted V8 engines. Now used for pretty much everything that one can imagine, the pickup truck got a taste of performance in the late 1970s with the introduction of the short-lived Dodge Li'l Red Express.
The ultra-collectible classic packs a high-output 360 engine with a four-barrel carburetor. Derived from the police-spec 360, said lump cranks out a respectable 225 horsepower and 295 pound-feet (400 Nm). Fast forward to July 2023, and the 2023 model year Ram 1500 promises 305 horsepower from the base Pentastar V6.
Factory-built performance trucks really took off in the early 1990s with the likes of the Chevrolet 454 SS, GMC Syclone, and Ford SVT Lightning. In the late 2000s, the Ford Motor Company opened a new segment for go-faster pickups with the first-gen SVT Raptor.
At press time, straight-line performance and off-road capability are perfectly intertwined. Be that as it may, regular trucks are pretty fast in their own right nowadays. Categorized by top speed, the following top 20 also includes a few modified pickups from Shelby American and Hennessey that fully deserve to be on this list. That said, let's kick things off with – shocker – an electric truck, one of three to have made our list.
20. Ford F-150 Lightning – 110 mph (177 kph)
Photo: Ford
The F-150 Lightning isn't the Blue Oval's first zero-emission truck. Remember the Ranger EV from 1997 to 2002? Yeah, that's the progenitor, and it's very slow compared to heavier and more practical Lightning.
According to Southern California Edison, the Ranger EV needs 17.45 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour) with a fully charged battery. The F-150 Lightning with the extended-range battery is capable of hitting that speed in under 4.0 seconds.
Rated at up to 2,235 pounds (1,014 kilograms) for payload and 10,000 pounds (4,536 kilograms) for towing, the independent rear suspension-equipped Lighting also makes easy work of the Ranger EV in terms of driving range. The EPA's estimate for the larger battery pack is 320 miles (515 kilometers) compared to 65 miles (105 kilometers) at 65 mph (105 kph).
19. Ford Maverick – 110 mph (177 kph)
Photo: Ford
The Maverick comes standard with front-wheel drive and a 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain. It's equipped with an eCVT, a better design compared to a regular CVT because it does not include a belt or a chain.
The most affordable new truck on sale in the United States today also happens to be the most frugal of the bunch. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, prospective customers and owners should look forward to 37 miles per gallon (6.4 liters per 100 kilometers) on the combined driving cycle.
If hybrids aren't your thing, fret not because there's also a 2.0-liter turbo available with either front- or all-wheel drive. Going for all-wheel drive also elevates the rear end to a multi-link suspension setup, which should pay dividends in ride quality and handling as well.
18. Shelby Super Snake Sport Ford F-150 – Over 110 mph (177 kph)
Photo: Shelby American
The first tuner truck of this top 20 is the only two-door truck on the list, which makes it quite a rare breed. Everyone and their dog want double cabs for the practicality they offer, especially now that pickups are often used as the household's main vehicle.
Shelby American couldn't be bothered specifying the top speed of the Super Snake Sport, but we do know that Robert Prilika clocked an impressive 110 miles per hour while racing up Pikes Peak this year. He completed the 12.42-mile (20-kilometer) course in 13:03.579.
Typical of Shelby American, the 2023 model year Super Snake Sport hides a thumpin' great supercharger under its hood. In perfect conditions, the single-cab truck is much obliged to run 60 in merely 3.45 seconds.
17. Honda Ridgeline – 111 mph (179 kph)
Photo: Honda
Advertised as being a mid-size adventure truck, the Ridgeline paved the way for both the Maverick and Santa Cruz. The unibody truck started production back in 2005 for the 2006 model year, and the second generation rolled out in 2016 for model year 2017.
It's a rather expensive pickup, though, with Honda charging $38,800 (sans destination charge) for the most basic specification available today. On the upside, it features V6 muscle and i-VTM4 AWD as standard.
It's also a clever truck, especially due to the dual-action tailgate and in-bed trunk. The payload and towing capacities leave much to be desired because of the unibody design, and its relatively high price makes body-on-frame midsizers that bit more attractive.
16. Rivian R1T – 111 mph (179 kph)
Photo: Rivian
Originally rated at 125 miles per hour (201 kilometers per hour), the R1T is currently limited to 111 miles per hour (179 kilometers per hour) from the factory. Coincidentally, it hits the top speed limiter as it crosses the quarter mile in a very respectable 11.9 seconds.
The base configuration is the dual motor, which needs 4.5 seconds to reach 60 with the help of 600 ponies and 600 pound-feet (813 Nm). At the other end of the spectrum, the quad motor is rated at 3.0 seconds thanks to 835 horsepower and a heavy-duty turbo diesel truck-shaming 908 pound-feet (1,231 Nm) of torque.
Priced at $73,000 from the outset – or $3,850 more for the All-Terrain Upgrade – the R1T slots between the mid- and full-size truck segments. It is manufactured in Illinois at the Normal assembly plant, which Rivian purchased from Mitsubishi for just $16 million.
15. Hyundai Santa Cruz 2.5 – 112 mph (180 kph)
Photo: Hyundai
Similar to Honda's award-winning Ridgeline, the Santa Cruz is advertised as an adventure vehicle rather than a bonafide truck or a crossover with an open bed. One size smaller than the Ridgeline, the Santa Cruz is offered with either a naturally aspirated or a turbocharged 2.5-liter powerplant running dual fuel injection.
Differences between said mills go beyond the spinny lad, though. For example, the free-breathing lump is connected to an auto as opposed to a DCT. Rated at 1,411 pounds (640 kilograms) for payload, the 2.5 NA is limited to 3,500 pounds (1,588 kilograms) for maximum trailer weight compared to 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms) for the AWD-equipped turbo.
But still, a naturally-aspirated engine is – generally speaking – more reliable than a force-fed equivalent. It's also sufficiently powerful and torquey for dailying, and the gas mileage is very similar to the turbo engine.
14. Ford Ranger Raptor – 112 mph (180 kph)
Photo: Ford
Ford hasn't finalized the acceleration and top speed estimates for the US market Ranger Raptor, but we do know the overseas model is limited to 112 miles per hour. Over in Australia, where the off-road truck is more powerful than its European counterpart, motoring publications recorded high 5s to 60 miles per hour.
Twinned with the original the United States never got, the second-generation Ranger Raptor comes with a familiar 3.0-liter EcoBoost. Shared with the Bronco Raptor and Explorer ST, this engine makes 405 horsepower and 430 pound-feet (583 Nm) as long as you fill 'er up with high-octane gas rather than regular.
While the entry-level XL with its 2.3-liter EcoBoost starts at $34,160, the Raptor is a whopping $56,960 (including the destination freight charge). Given that it's the very first Ranger Raptor for the US market, said pricing won't put off too many prospective customers, at least not in the first year or two years of production.
Law enforcement vehicles is big business for American automakers. General Motors capitalized on the need for police trucks with the Silverado 1500 SSV, the three-letter acronym standing for Special Service Vehicle.
Available solely as a crew cab with either short or standard beds, the SSV is rated at 112 miles per hour. Other configurations top 106 miles per hour (170 kilometers per hour) and 98 miles per hour (158 kilometers per hour), respectively, and every single configuration tops 37 mph (60 kph) in reverse.
The SSV comes with the 5.3-liter small block instead of the big-boy 6.2 engine. It's also fitted with a column shifter for the 10-speed automatic transmission, as well as cruise control and a locking rear differential.
12. Jeep Gladiator EcoDiesel – 112 mph (180 kph)
Photo: Jeep
To be discontinued after the 2023 model year, the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel is better for top speed in the Jeep Gladiator compared to the 3.6-liter Pentastar. The V6 gasser is governor limited to 97 mph (156 kph).
What's truly surprising is that Car and Driver ran 7.3 seconds to 60 and 15.6 seconds in the quarter mile with both engine choices. Of course, combined fuel economy is far better in the EcoDiesel at 24 compared to 19 miles per gallon (9.8 and 12.4 liters per 100 kilometers).
One of the more expensive midsizers currently in production, the Gladiator is listed by Jeep's online configurator at $38,990 for the Sport to $54,825 for the High Altitude. Not long now, the EcoDiesel will be replaced by the 4xe powertrain of the Wrangler.
11. Nissan Frontier – 113 mph (182 kph)
Photo: Nissan
Not related to the global version, the 2022-and-newer Frontier features a V6 connected to a nine-speed automatic. The transmission may be produced by Nissan subsidiary JATCO, but it's actually a Mercedes-Benz 9G-Tronic in disguise. Said tranny is also shared with the full-size Titan and the Nissan Z sports car.
An evolution of the D40 instead of a complete redesign, the D41 is manufactured – with pride – in Mississippi at the Canton assembly plant. Back in October 2022, said facility celebrated the production of 5 million vehicles, the celebratory vehicle being a 2023 Nissan Frontier.
Beginning in 2025, this plant will serve as the stomping ground for two all-electric sedans. Nissan advisory board chairman Tyler Slade recently confirmed that the Japanese automaker is exploring a mid-size electric truck, although no decision has been made thus far.
10. Toyota Tacoma – 113 mph (182 kph)
Photo: Toyota
Unveiled in May 2023, the all-new Tacoma is a huge departure from the third generation. We don't know whether it will exceed the top speed rating of the outgoing model, though, leaving the 2023 model as the fastest Tacoma available new in dealer showrooms.
Be it the 2.7-liter I4 or the 3.5-liter V6, the best-selling midsizers of them all stops gaining speed at 113 miles per hour. Not bad for such antiquated engines and six-speed transmissions, right? Said engines and gearboxes have also proven reliable, which is one of the biggest selling points of this pickup compared to its rivals.
As a brief refresher, the newcomer can be specified with either a 2.4-liter turbocharged I4 or with hybrid assistance. The hybrid, unfortunately, isn't available with Toyota's new Intelligent Manual Transmission.
9. Ford F-150 Raptor 37 – 114 mph (183 kph)
Photo: Ford
Criticized for carrying over the same ol' 3.5-liter EcoBoost as the previous generation, the F-150 Raptor on sale today builds on its predecessor's off-road capability in a few notable ways. One of them is the 37-inch tire package, which retails at… uhm… $5,250.
It's a lot of money, alright, but you do get 17-inch forged aluminum beadlock-capable wheels too. Raptor 37 graphics are included as well, along with retuned shock absorbers. The tires in question are KO2s which measure 37 inches in height by 12.5 inches in width.
Similar to the 35-inch Raptor, we're dealing with 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet (691 Nm) on full song. The 35-inch Raptor is a wee bit faster, though…
8. Ford F-150 Raptor R – 114 mph (183 kph)
Photo: Ford
Extra weight and 37-inch tires hinder the Raptor R's top speed by default. Alas, the Predator-engined Raptor R offers the same 114 mph as the Raptor 37.
Nobody in their right mind needs a Shelby GT500-derived supercharged V8 in a half-ton pickup truck, but that argument falls flat on its face because we're emotional creatures. The Raptor R is an emotional truck one buys with their heart rather than their head.
Not as powerful nor as torquey as the Ram 1500 TRX, the R-ified Raptor is hugely expensive. The net price change over the Raptor 35 is $30,575, bringing the grand total to nearly $110,000 before other extras.
7. Lordstown Endurance – 118 mph (190 kph)
Photo: Lordstown
Lordstown Motors Corporation recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Ohio-based company also sued Foxconn for not following through with an investment, and that's only the latest development in the Lordstown Endurance electric pickup truck's saga.
From the very beginning, both Lordstown and the Endurance were hindered by problems. The pickup, for example, has no fewer than three recalls to its name, issued between February 2023 through April 2023.
Certain publications tried to paint a better picture of this disaster of a truck, but to no avail. The biggest issue is range, with the EPA estimating a meager 174 miles (280 kilometers) from 109 kWh of juice.
6. Ram 1500 TRX – 118 mph (190 kph)
Photo: Ram
2 ponies and 10 pound-feet up on the Raptor R, the TRX features a larger yet more archaic engine. Its 6.2-liter Hellcat supercharged HEMI V8 is a cam-in-block pushrod design, translating to a slightly more compact package than the double-overhead-cam'd Predator.
There's also a difference in supercharger make and design. The Ram flaunts an IHI-supplied blower of the screw-type variety, whereas the Ford Motor Company's off-road warrior features a Roots-type Eaton TVS.
In regard to 0-60 times, Ram claims that 4.5 seconds will get you there at wide open throttle. Be that as it may, a lot of motoring publications and owners ran high 3s with the standard tires. Car and Driver, for example, recorded 3.7 seconds to 60, onto a 12.3-second quarter mile.
120 miles per hour in a full-size pickup designed for police duty isn't bad at all. The Ford F-150 Police Responder comes exclusively with 3.5-liter EcoBoost muscle to the tune of 400 horsepower and 500 pound-feet (678 Nm), automatic four-wheel drive with a torque-on-demand transfer case, and a police-specific calibration of the 10-speed automatic transmission.
Equipped with 265/70 by 18-inch rubber specially developed for this application, the pursuit-rated truck further sweetens the deal with the FX4 Off-Road Package. An optional extra in the civilian F-150, said package includes an electronic-locking rear axle, off-road shocks, and a handful of underbody skid plates.
Michigan State Police ran 5.4 seconds to 60 while testing the truck, 1.2 seconds quicker than the previous generation. The Police Responder is produced at the Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri.
4. Ford F-150 Raptor – 120 mph (193 kph)
Photo: Ford
It may have the aural qualities of a vacuum cleaner, but the 3.5-liter EcoBoost in the Raptor offers the highest top speed of all Raptors out there. As long as the go-anywhere truck is equipped with 35-inch tires, that is.
The Baja-bred truck combines port and direct fuel injection. Made popular by Toyota, dual fuel injection has all of the advantages of DI and PI without the disadvantages of DI (think carbon buildup) and PI (think gasoline droplets deposited on the intake port walls).
One of the more expensive F-150s out there, the Raptor can be yours from $76,775 at press time. For reference, the Coyote V8-powered Tremor starts at $60,970.
3. Hennessey Venom 775 Ford F-150 - Over 120 mph (193 kph)
Photo: Hennessey
As if the F-150 wasn't fast enough, Hennessey Performance Engineering can make it faster still. As implied, the Venom 775 supercharged upgrade adds 375 horsepower to the stock engine's 400 horsepower.
The Whipple-supplied blower is joined by less restrictive air filtration, an air-to-water intercooler, new injectors, and a stainless cat-back exhaust system. Every example of the breed carries three years or 36,000 miles (around 60,000 kilometers) of limited warranty.
Good for 685 pound-feet (929 Nm) at 4,800 revolutions per minute, the Venom 775 comes in two forms: Performance and Off-Road. The latter is easily distinguishable from its brother due to a 6.0-inch lift kit and 35-inch rubber, and power running boards.
The Ram 1500 TRX isn't a truck for the faint of heart. The Mammoth 1000 package from Hennessey Performance Engineering takes it to a different level altogether for $150,000 (including the base truck).
Available with two axles or as a 6x6 leviathan, the Mammoth 1000 is the Texas-based tuner's most powerful truck yet. With 1,012 horsepower and a simply ridiculous 969 pound-feet (1,314 Nm) of torque to play with, the Mammoth 1000 is best described as the truck world's take on the Challenger SRT Demon 170.
Even though it wasn't designed with the drag strip in mind, the Hennessey-modified pickup conquers the quarter mile in 11.4 seconds at 120 miles per hour. Given that the Hellcat engine will be discontinued in the near future, the Mammoth 1000 may be the zenith of internal combustion-engined performance trucks.
Can you believe that a Hyundai is faster than Hennessey's 1,012-horsepower brute by 3 miles per hour? The truth is, the Santa Cruz is closer to a car than a conventional truck due to its unibody construction.
The 2.5-liter turbo engine also happens to be quite a bit punchier than the free-breathing version, with Hyundai quoting 281 horsepower at 5,800 revolutions per minute and 311 pound-feet (422 Nm) at 1,700 revolutions per minute. By comparison, the 2.5 GDI makes 191 horsepower at 6,100 revolutions per minute and 181 pound-feet (245 Nm) at 4,000 revolutions per minute.
More powerful and torquier than the 2.0-liter turbo Maverick, the Santa Cruz with said engine retails at $36,060 for the Night limited-edition trim level. The naturally-aspirated lump is $25,700 for the SE grade or $28,190 for the SEL, not including the freight charge.
If you still have any curiosities in regard to fast trucks, please refer to the FAQ section below.
What version of the Ford F-150 is the fastest as of 2023? By top speed, the F-150 Raptor bests the 37 and R with 120 miles per hour to its name. By acceleration, Ford says the F-150 Lightning can scoot to 60 in less than 4.0 seconds. In terms of instrumented testing, Car and Driver clocked 3.6 seconds in the F-150 Raptor R. What version of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is the fastest as of 2023? 112 miles per hour for the SSV 5.3 makes it the fastest Silverado 1500 in production today. Acceleration favors the 6.2-liter small block, which runs 5.3 seconds according to Car and Driver. What version of the Ram 1500 is the fastest as of 2023? Obviously enough, the 118-mph and 4.5-second TRX. If you give one to Car and Driver for instrumented testing, they'll claim 3.7 seconds from zero to 60. What is the most powerful production truck as of 2023? General Motors wins this one – hands down – with the three-motor GMC Hummer EV's 1,000 horsepower. As for torque, the 2023 model year Ford F-Series Super Duty promises 1,200 pound-feet (1,627 Nm) from the 6.7-liter Power Stroke high-output turbo diesel V8. What is the most powerful tuner truck as of 2023? Not surprising in the least, those crazy peeps at Hennessey extracted 1,012 horsepower and 969 pound-feet (1,314 Nm) from the Ram 1500 TRX's supercharged V8. What is the most powerful electric truck as of 2023? The GMC Hummer EV rocks 1,000 horsepower, while the quad-motor Rivian R1T offers 835. The Ford F-150 Lightning Extended Range Battery makes 563 ponies. Why didn't the Tesla Cybertruck make the list? Delayed time and again, the weird-looking electric pickup from Texas hasn't entered mass production as of July 2023.
What are the fastest trucks by top speed as of 2023?
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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