The V8 is No Longer America's Truck Engine—And We Have Evidence

      Ram

      

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      America has its established favorites. Our cherished pastime? Baseball. Our preferred pie? Apple, without a doubt. And when it comes to our top choice for truck engines, we lean towards V6s.

      Apologies for that last statement—it was meant to provoke, not as fake outrage, but because it’s accurate. Just as Ram brought back the Hemi V8 in its half-ton truck lineup last week, I set out to find out which engine type is the most favored among full-size pickup buyers in the U.S. Through discussions with automakers, market analysts, and industry experts, I discovered that the top choice is, without question, the six-cylinder.

      So, what led to this?

      A significant part of the story lies in the options provided by manufacturers. Toyota completely removed the V8 from the Tundra for this generation, opting for a twin-turbo V6 available with or without hybrid support. Until the recent announcement, Ram had eliminated the Hemi in favor of the 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six. With Hemi Ram 1500 production not starting for a few more months, it means two major players in the market currently don't offer a V8, even for those who may desire one.

      Then there's Ford. Although the Blue Oval has consistently offered V8-powered pickups since 1935, it has been promoting its EcoBoost V6s as the more premium option for over a decade. The data supports this shift, with the 3.5-liter variant producing 400 horsepower—the same as Ford's 5.0-liter V8—and generating 500 lb-ft of torque, which exceeds the five-oh by 90 lb-ft. Ford also provides a PowerBoost hybrid variant of the 3.5-liter, in addition to a smaller 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6. Upon contacting Ford, they indicated that each engine variation represents approximately equal sales volume, demonstrating that V6s far exceed V8s.

      General Motors remains the leading manufacturer of V8 half-ton trucks, offering two types—the 5.3-liter and the 6.2-liter—which together account for half of all new Chevrolet Silverado 1500s (42% and 8%, respectively). GM additionally markets a robust 3.0-liter Duramax diesel inline-six, but the most widely sold engine that isn't a V8 is actually the 2.7-liter TurboMax four-cylinder. Following the 5.3-liter, the base 2.7-liter stands out significantly at 36%.

      After gathering this information, I reached out to Stephanie Brinley, principal automotive analyst at S&P Global Mobility. She shared that according to the firm's U.S. data, V8 pickups constituted 64.6% of half-ton truck registrations in 2020; by 2024, that figure has dropped to 38%. In contrast, full-size trucks with six-cylinder engines grew from 32.8% to 47.6% of registrations during the same timeframe. Notably, the four-cylinder GM half-tons represented 11.5% of registrations on their own last year.

      “The shift can be attributed to the fact that V6 and four-cylinder options have become significantly stronger,” Brinley explained. “The Ram 1500 illustrates this well, as its Hurricane six-cylinder engines outperform both in efficiency and power compared to the 5.7-liter V8.”

      Brinley’s statement rings true. The Hemi provides 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque, whereas the standard output Hurricane delivers 420 hp and 469 lb-ft. When opting for the high-output Hurricane, those figures significantly surpass the Hemi, reaching 540 hp and 521 lb-ft. In terms of performance, there is simply no comparison.

      “However, many full-size pickup truck buyers still maintain that a V8 is preferable for their needs. With 38% of registrations in 2024, this translates to roughly 530,000 V8-equipped trucks registered this year,” Brinley further noted. “Offering a variety of engine options remains crucial for the segment, ensuring compliance with regulations while remaining cost-effective. Over time, the demand for V8s is likely to continue diminishing. Nevertheless, there remains a significant number of full-size half-ton pickup buyers seeking a V8, making it beneficial for brands—especially those based in Detroit—to offer this option. As Ram found out, not providing this choice can lead buyers to turn away from the truck, impacting overall sales.”

      This is likely the reason Ford has not yet phased out the V8, even after being the first to introduce a turbo-six. Pickup truck consumers appreciate having options, even if the majority stick to similar choices. Furthermore, brand loyalty holds more weight in this market than in many others. Once a customer is lost,