The SUV craze kicked off back in the early 2000s. Station wagons started being replaced by vehicles of similar cargo, but with much higher ground clearance. Soccer moms nationwide got their hands on beefy off-road-ready machines. While SUVs were increasing in popularity among family-oriented individuals, it simply was not enough for some people.
As time went on, SUVs started losing their appeal. Work-oriented vehicles such as pickup trucks became a must-have. Some of the coolest daily driver pickup trucks to buy right now will not disappoint anyone. They are practical, and comfortable, and often pack just as much power as some sports cars and super SUVs.
10 1964 Dodge D100 Sweptline
The mid-60s were an interesting period. Ford was actively developing its timeless Mustang. Around the same time, Chevy released its mighty Camaro. A rivalry was born. As a result, other brands such as Dodge ended up being completely overlooked. Although cars such as the Charger made it to the main stage, several other Dodge vehicles never received the attention they deserve.
The '64 D100 Sweptline is one of the classic American trucks piston heads would love to own. First, it embodies the golden age of the American car. Second, it is equipped with a 426 Street Wedge V8 that produces 365 hp and 407 lb-ft of torque. Dodge showed since day one that its pickup trucks meant business.
9 1991 GMC Syclone
First established in 1900 by the Grabowsky brothers, GMC as gearheads know it today would eventually become part of General Motors in 1911. Purposed as the division that would only build trucks and big rigs, GMC was never meant to design mean machines ready to tear up the tarmac.
The 1991 GMC Syclone pickup truck is an oddity that is now worth its weight in gold. Made essentially to annihilate muscle cars of its era, the GMC Syclone paved the way for a variety of muscle trucks. Underneath the hood sits a meaty turbocharged 4.3L LB4 V6 that pumps out 280 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. In comparison, the engine found on the Mustang GT of the same year develops 225 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque.
8 2005 Dodge Ram SRT-10
The muscle car scene was slowly recovering from decades of poorly designed vehicles and the invasion of outstanding imports back in the mid-2000s. Dodge brought back two of its legendary nameplates, namely the Charger and the Challenger. However, the Dodge vehicle that truly caught the attention of piston heads nationwide was the monstrous Ram SRT-10.
In 2005, the muscle car scene was a huge snooze fest. Things were pretty dead at Dodge. To shake things up, executives at Dodge decided to move forward with a super truck. First released in 2004, the Dodge Ram was maintained in 2005. The truck kept the same 8.3L Viper V10. With a power output of 510 hp and 535lb-ft of torque, the Dodge Ram SRT-10 deserves a sinister moniker.
7 2008 Toyota Tundra TRD Supercharged
Japanese carmakers are not popular for their pickup trucks. However, the best-selling pickup truck in the world comes from Japan. The Toyota Tacoma and its cousin the Hilux are the sturdiest and most versatile mid-size pickup trucks on the market. Toyota did not stop there. The Japanese automaker decided to enter the large-sized pickup truck market with the Tundra.
The Toyota Tundra must be one of the most reliable trucks ever made. It is a Toyota after all. The Tundra is a great alternative to large-sized American-made trucks. In 2008, Toyota released a version of its Tundra that would kill the competition on the drag strip. The powerplant found underneath the hood is unlike any other Japanese engine. The supercharged 5.7L V8 pumps out 504 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque. Scary.
6 2019 Mercedes-Benz X350d
German car companies hopped on the SUV bandwagon rather quickly. However, it took quite some time for them to wrap their minds around the pickup truck craze. However, Mercedes-Benz grabbed the bull by the horns and released a pickup truck that combined both practicality and luxury.
The Mercedes-Benz X350d is a truck that deserves the attention of gearheads looking to set themselves apart from the crowd. Its elegant looks combined with the turbo-diesel 3.0L V6 make the X350d a very attractive truck. The engine is rated at 258 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Mercedes' experiment is a serious machine.
5 2021 Rivian R1T
The number of electric vehicles boomed in the last 20 years. From the soporific Prius to the more exciting Tesla Model S, electric vehicles are becoming increasingly prevalent. Despite not getting much love from hardcore car fans, electric vehicles are here to stay. As a result, startups such as Rivian mushroomed.
Most petrol heads will discard the R1T simply because it is electric. With that said, these haters are missing out. The R1T looks great inside and out. Moreover, the medium-sized battery develops 835 hp and 908 lb-ft of torque. Though electric vehicles indeed feel different, these numbers would put a smile on the most hardcore anti-EVs.
4 2021 Dodge Ram TRX
Ford shook up the truck scene when it released its infamous F-150 Raptor. It was at the time the ultimate super truck. Since then, other domestic carmakers offered their own version of the ultimate offroad beast. So far, the most insane super truck ever made remains Dodge's Ram TRX.
The Dodge Ram TRX is massive, scary-looking, and fast. Executives at Dodge seem to have no limit when it comes to ideas. The TRX comes with a supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 that creates 702 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. It is the same amount of power found on some older Lamborghinis and Ferraris.
3 2022 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2
Chevy's Silverado is by definition Ford's F-Series nemesis. First introduced in 1998, the Silverado quickly became one of America's favorite trucks. After more than 20 years on the market, the Silverado underwent several transformations to remain attractive. Today, the Silverado can be a real Ford F-150 killer.
There are several reasons why gearheads like the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2. Though not as aggressive as the Ford Ranger Raptor R, the Silverado ZR2 remains a true off-road beast fitted with a potent engine. The Silverado ZR2 rocks a naturally-aspirated 6.2L V8 that develops 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.
2 2022 Volkswagen Amarok
Volkswagen is the only German brand that is not considered luxurious. Despite having released outstanding vehicles such as the Phaeton and the Touareg R50, Volkswagen does not get as much love as more prestigious German car brands. However, Volkswagen is the very first German carmaker to come up with a pickup truck.
German pickup trucks maybe not be as attractive as mid-sized trucks made by Chevrolet, Ford, or Toyota. They are nonetheless great trucks. The Amarok comes in several trim levels. The most interesting one sports a turbocharged 2.3L inline-four engine that pumps out 298 hp and 333 lb-ft of torque. That is not bad for a single-turbo four-cylinder engine.
1 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor
The Ford Ranger first came out in 1983 as a compact pickup. Noticing the success of the Tacoma, Ford turned the Ranger into a mid-size truck in order to rival Toyota's amazing off-road machine. The revisited Ranger is outstanding. To attract more truck fans, Ford offered the Raptor trim level for the Ranger.
The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor will be made available. Although the truck looks increasingly similar to the F-150, it remains smaller in size and easier to maneuver in an urban landscape. The truck is powered by the same twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6 unit found on the Bronco Raptor. With a power output of 392 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque, the Ranger Raptor is a serious mid-size super truck.