Contrary to what you might see on the nightly news, Americans do not despise pickup trucks these days. In fact, they still buy them in huge numbers, quite possibly because they need them, or maybe just want them.
The ability to tow large things is one of the most often cited reasons for owning a truck, so we gathered four of the best half-ton crew cabs currently available and headed for the desert with trailers in tow. The players consisted of the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado, 2009 Dodge Ram, 2009 Ford F-150 and a 2008 Toyota Tundra.
The premise was simple: find out which truck is a true jack of all trades. Dan Edmunds, our Director of Vehicle Testing, not only conducted an array of instrumented tow tests, he also let the trucks loose in the dirt for some off road fun. He also track tested each truck and lived with them for two weeks on his daily 100-mile round trip commute. Care to guess which truck came out on top?
Comparison Test: 2009 Full-Size Pickup Truck Comparison
isaacl says:
05:57 AM, 05/ 4/09
Excellent article. Although I dont think i would ever buy a Ram ever....ever ever, I enjoyed reading how it stacked up.
I do have a question on just exactly where the TITAN was in all this... unavailable? seems costly for Nissan.
rsholland says:
06:16 AM, 05/ 4/09
Exactly my question: Why was the Nissan Titan not included?
rick8365 says:
07:04 AM, 05/ 4/09
Okay.... I'll chime in with the same question - especially as a satisfied Titan owner - why no Titan? I know it is now the old dog in this category and it is being phased out, but I still think it competes well. And, did it not win all of these comparos just a couple of years ago? Are these new versions from the other manufacturers that much more superior that the Titan can't be considered / included?
bankerdanny says:
07:32 AM, 05/ 4/09
Rear seat entertainment units? Do you think that lots of families with kids are buying these vehicles for long trips with $1,000+ rear seat entertainment units (we called them books when I was a kid in the 70's)? Hell, $100 buys a nice portable DVD player, buy 1 for each kid and save $800-$1,200.
Aren't families likley to buy an SUV and a trailer for the dirt bikes?
Lastly, it's hard to believe that Ford has stuck with the 5.4L unchanged for so long while all the other makers have forged ahead. Is it really that hard to squeeze another 50-60 hp out of the engine? I know Ford is getting pounded today for its reliance on SUV's and trucks, but the 5.4 was outmoded 3 years ago before all this hit. Shame on Ford for not keeping up with its competition.
arumage says:
07:42 AM, 05/ 4/09
Yeah, the 6.2L V8, 5.0L V8, and Ecoboost engines can't come soon enough for the F150.
brn says:
08:21 AM, 05/ 4/09
Rick, you answered your own question.
Bob, see Rick's post.
I agree about the Ford 5.4L. It's a good engine, but it doesn't compete well. I'd really like to see it brought up to current standards or replaced.
Having said that, I've had a few opportunities to drive the 2009 F150 recently. It's a hell of a nice truck. I'd have a real hard time choosing any of those others over a F150.
stovt001 says:
08:36 AM, 05/ 4/09
The Tahoe's interior was given as the reason for its third place finish, but the Tundra finished second? The Tundra's interior is so bad it was even routinely criticized on the Toyota love fest that is the Edmunds long term blog. I'm wonder if these trucks were tested long enough for the Toyota's camshaft, transmission, and tailgate to break if that would change the results or it would just be ignored too.
rick8365 says:
09:10 AM, 05/ 4/09
Brn - I agree with you to some extent, but the Titan was brand new in '04 and did very well that year and the years that followed - and it was refreshed for '08. Maybe I should have said it like "old dog" because I really don't feel as though it has been bettered by a significant margin. I think the truck is still relevant and competitive. Even if it finished 5th here, IMO it wouldn't be a distant 5th.
rick8365 says:
09:13 AM, 05/ 4/09
And....if Nissan had opted or opts to redo the Titan - build upon a great foundation - it would likely win this comparo IMO.
isaacl says:
09:42 AM, 05/ 4/09
Inline with Rick's statements, this comparo should be a snapshot of what you can BUY TODAY in this genre, it shouldn't matter if the Titan goes away in X amount of months/years, it's competing ON THE SALES LOTS with these 4 trucks as this test was done! It's a member of this group. I am puzzled as to why the eventual demise of the Titan would cancel it's rightful spot on this test released early 2009.
estreka says:
10:19 AM, 05/ 4/09
Of all the 1/2 ton trucks out today, I'd buy the Titan.
desmolicious says:
02:29 PM, 05/ 4/09
I've asked Edmunds this question before w/ the Caddy Escalade Hybrid test.. Are these vehicles legal to park on city streets? In LA I think you are not allowed to park a vehicle over night that weighs over 6000 lbs on city streets.
carlisimo says:
02:47 PM, 05/ 4/09
47-foot turning circle on the Ford, wow! I realize it's for the longer version of the truck, but that's just monstrous. I've driven Acuras with 40-ft turning circles and that was enough of a nuisance.
aspade says:
02:58 PM, 05/ 4/09
I think it's BS that the Chevy 6.2 shows up to accolades in every magazine comparo when it's only available in the LTZ crew and basically a special order proposition even there.
I can count the 6.2 engined trucks on the closest seven Chevy lots on one finger, and the 6.0 is about as bad.
That's what I call a ringer.
firstwagon says:
04:05 PM, 05/ 4/09
"In LA I think you are not allowed to park a vehicle over night that weighs over 6000 lbs on city streets."
Why not? Strange rule.
billt9 says:
05:44 PM, 05/ 4/09
I would buy the Titan.
1487 says:
07:34 AM, 05/ 5/09
why did the silverado come in 3rd? it has a better interior and better performance than the Tundra. Makes no sense.
bbechtel16 says:
11:18 AM, 05/ 5/09
Moral of the story: Tow ratings should be ignored.
firstwagon says:
12:07 PM, 05/ 5/09
It would have been interesting to have 3/4 tonne with a diesel from one of the big 3 included for comparision.
Once you get past 6000lbs trailer weight, it's a much better choice... especially if you live in an area with mountains.
canddmeyer says:
12:56 AM, 05/ 6/09
I'm one of those tow test "confused" readers who bought the Dodge. No regrets, folks!