The Ford F-450 Super Duty Power Stroke is the best diesel truck on sale: 500 hp, 1,200 lb-ft and a 40,000 lb maximum diesel towing rating, from $63,990. The Ford F-250 and F-350 Power Stroke are #2 with 1,200 lb-ft, and the Ram 3500 Cummins is #3 at 36,610 lbs.
The 2027 Silverado starts at $38,600 for the WT, where the Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel is available; the ZR2 with the Duramax starts at $77,200
Buyers who want a light-duty diesel with a lower price entry
Pick by what you want
Best overall
2027 Ford F-450 Super Duty Power Stroke
Most torque
2027 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty Power Stroke
Best 2500 for towing
2026 GMC Sierra 2500HD Duramax
Lowest HD price
2026 Ram 2500 Cummins High Output
Best half-ton diesel
2027 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X Duramax
The ranking
1
2027 Ford F-450 Super Duty Power Stroke
Answrs VerdictThe 40,000 lb tower.
Starting price: From $63,990 for the F-450 XL, which comes with the 6.7L High-Output Power Stroke V8 Turbo DieselTowing: Ford lists a maximum available diesel towing capacity of 40,000 lbs with the High-Capacity Gooseneck Tow PackagePower and torque: Maximum available 500 hp and 1,200 lb-ft of torque from the 6.7L High-Output Power StrokePayload: Maximum available payload of 6,935 lbs with the diesel
The Ford F-450 Super Duty comes with the 6.7L High-Output Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel, which makes up to 500 hp and 1,200 lb-ft. Ford lists a maximum available diesel towing capacity of 40,000 lbs with the High-Capacity Gooseneck Tow Package, and the F-450 XL starts from $63,990.
Go ifBuyers who need the most towing of any diesel pickup on this list
Skip ifYou want a lower starting price
Why #1 over #2: Its 40,000 lbs of towing beats the Ram 3500’s 36,610 lbs, though the F-250 and F-350 start from $46,125.
2
2027 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty Power Stroke
Answrs VerdictMost torque, 1,200 lb-ft.
Starting price: From $46,125 for the F-250 XL and $47,430 for the F-350 XL; the diesel is an available enginePower and torque: 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft for the 6.7L Power Stroke; 500 hp and 1,200 lb-ft for the High-Output versionPayload: Maximum available payload of 6,935 lbs with the High-Output dieselDEF tank: 7.5-gallon diesel exhaust fluid tank listed for the Power Stroke diesel
The F-250 and F-350 Super Duty offer the 6.7L Power Stroke with 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft, or the High-Output version with 500 hp and 1,200 lb-ft. They start from $46,125 and $47,430 and carry up to 6,935 lbs of payload with the High-Output diesel.
Go ifBuyers who want the most torque in a one-ton or three-quarter-ton pickup
Skip ifYou need the 40,000 lb gooseneck rating, which Ford ties to the F-450
Why #2 over #3: Its 1,200 lb-ft beats the Ram 3500’s 1,075 lb-ft and starts from $46,125.
3
2026 Ram 3500 Cummins High Output
Answrs VerdictCummins torque, 36,610 lbs.
Starting price: From $47,195 for the 2026 Ram 3500 Tradesman; the High-Output Cummins diesel is an available enginePower and torque: 430 hp and 1,075 lb-ft of torque from the High-Output 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel I6Towing: Maximum available High-Output diesel towing capacity of 36,610 lbsTop trim: From $78,840 for the 2026 Ram 3500 Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 shown
The Ram 3500 with the High-Output 6.7L Cummins makes 430 hp and 1,075 lb-ft and tows up to 36,610 lbs. The Tradesman starts from $47,195, and the Longhorn shown starts from $78,840.
Go ifBuyers who want the Cummins six-cylinder and the best Ram towing
Skip ifYou want a gooseneck rating above 36,610 lbs
Why #3 over #4: Its 36,610 lbs of towing beats the Silverado and Sierra 3500 HD’s 36,000 lbs.
4
2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Duramax
Answrs VerdictDuramax dually, 36,000 lbs.
Starting price: From $49,395 for the Silverado 3500 HDPower and torque: Duramax 6.6L Turbo-Diesel V8 with 470 horsepower and 975 lb.-ft. of torqueTowing: Maximum available diesel towing of 36,000 lbs with the DuramaxDually towing: Every Silverado HD Dually with the available Duramax can pull over 30,000 lbs
The Silverado 3500 HD with the Duramax 6.6L Turbo-Diesel V8 makes 470 horsepower and 975 lb.-ft. and tows up to 36,000 lbs. Chevrolet says every Dually with the Duramax can pull over 30,000 lbs, and the 3500 HD starts from $49,395.
Go ifBuyers who want a dually with a Duramax and Allison transmission
Skip ifYou want the most torque
Why #4 over #5: It matches the Sierra 3500 HD’s 36,000 lbs and offers the Dually, though the Sierra 3500 HD starts from $48,200.
5
2026 GMC Sierra 3500HD Duramax
Answrs VerdictDuramax, 7,290 lbs payload.
Starting price: From $48,200 for the Sierra 3500 HDPower and torque: Duramax 6.6L Turbo-Diesel V8 with 975 lb.-ft. of torque and 470 hpTowing: Sierra 3500 HD maximum available towing of up to 36,000 lbsPayload: Sierra 3500 HD maximum available payload is 7,290 lbs
The Sierra 3500 HD with the Duramax 6.6L makes 470 hp and 975 lb.-ft., tows up to 36,000 lbs and carries up to 7,290 lbs. It starts from $48,200.
Go ifBuyers who want the highest published payload in the GM heavy-duty line
Skip ifYou want the most torque
Why #5 over #6: Its 36,000 lbs of towing beats the Sierra 2500 HD’s 22,390 lbs, and its 7,290 lbs of payload beats the 2500 HD’s 4,049 lbs.
6
2026 GMC Sierra 2500HD Duramax
Answrs VerdictBest 2500 for towing.
Starting price: From $47,300 for the Sierra 2500 HDPower and torque: Duramax 6.6L Turbo-Diesel V8 with 975 lb.-ft. of torque and 470 hpTowing: Sierra 2500 HD maximum available towing of up to 22,390 lbsPayload: Sierra 2500 HD maximum available payload is 4,049 lbs
The Sierra 2500 HD with the Duramax makes 470 hp and 975 lb.-ft., tows up to 22,390 lbs and carries up to 4,049 lbs. It starts from $47,300.
Go ifBuyers who want the best-towing three-quarter-ton Duramax
Skip ifYou haul heavy payloads
Why #6 over #7: Its 22,390 lbs of towing beats the Silverado 2500 HD’s 22,070 lbs, and it starts from $47,300 against $48,195.
7
2026 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Duramax
Answrs VerdictStrong Duramax, 22,070 lbs.
Starting price: From $48,195 for the Silverado 2500 HDPower and torque: Duramax 6.6L Turbo-Diesel V8 with 470 horsepower and 975 lb.-ft. of torqueTowing: Chevrolet quotes a segment-leading maximum Crew Cab towing capability of 22,070 lbs for the 2500 HDGas option: The 6.6L gas V8 makes 401 horsepower and 464 lb.-ft. of torque
The Silverado 2500 HD with the Duramax makes 470 horsepower and 975 lb.-ft. Chevrolet quotes a segment-leading maximum Crew Cab towing capability of 22,070 lbs, and the 2500 HD starts from $48,195. The gas 6.6L V8 makes 401 horsepower and 464 lb.-ft.
Go ifBuyers who want a Duramax three-quarter-ton with the Silverado interior
Skip ifYou want more towing than the Sierra 2500 HD lists
Why #7 over #8: Its 22,070 lbs of towing beats the Ram 2500’s 20,000 lbs.
8
2026 Ram 2500 Cummins High Output
Answrs VerdictCummins torque, lowest start.
Starting price: From $45,995 for the 2026 Ram 2500 Tradesman; the High-Output Cummins diesel is an available enginePower and torque: 430 hp and 1,075 lb-ft of best-in-class available base diesel torque from the 6.7L CumminsTowing: Maximum available diesel towing capacity of 20,000 lbsTop trim: From $69,755 for the 2026 Ram 2500 shown
The Ram 2500 with the 6.7L Cummins makes 430 hp and 1,075 lb-ft and tows up to 20,000 lbs. The Tradesman starts from $45,995, the lowest start of any heavy-duty pickup on this list.
Go ifBuyers who want Cummins torque in a three-quarter-ton and the lowest HD price
Skip ifYou want the highest 2500 towing rating
Why #8 over #9: Its 1,075 lb-ft and $45,995 start beat the Duramax half-tons’ 495 lb.-ft. and higher entry prices.
9
2027 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X Duramax
Answrs VerdictHalf-ton diesel, 27 highway mpg.
Starting price: From $82,700 for the AT4X, which comes with the 3.0L Duramax Turbo-DieselPower and torque: Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel with 305 horsepower and 495 lb.-ft. of torqueTowing: Up to an available 12,100 lbs max towing with the DuramaxRange: GM-estimated 27 highway mpg (2WD) with the available Duramax and 34-gallon tank gives a range of over 900 miles
The 2027 Sierra 1500 AT4X comes with the Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel: 305 horsepower, 495 lb.-ft. and up to 12,100 lbs of towing. It starts from $82,700, and GMC cites a range of over 900 miles using GM-estimated 27 highway mpg (2WD).
Go ifBuyers who want a half-ton diesel with the best published mpg and off-road gear
Skip ifYou want a low price or a heavy-duty tow rating
Why #9 over #10: Its 12,100 lbs of towing beats the Silverado 1500’s 12,000 lbs, though the Silverado starts from $38,600.
10
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax
Answrs VerdictLight-duty diesel, from $38,600.
Starting price: The 2027 Silverado starts at $38,600 for the WT, where the Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel is available; the ZR2 with the Duramax starts at $77,200Power and torque: Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel with 305 max available horsepower and 495 lb.-ft. max available torqueTowing: 12,000 lbs of max available towing with the DuramaxPayload: 1,870 lbs max available payload with the Duramax
The 2027 Silverado 1500 offers the Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel with 305 horsepower, 495 lb.-ft., 12,000 lbs of towing and 1,870 lbs of payload. It starts from $38,600 for the WT, and the ZR2 with the Duramax starts from $77,200.
Go ifBuyers who want a light-duty diesel with a lower price entry
Skip ifYou tow heavy trailers
How we ranked these
We ranked ten diesel pickups sold in the US on each maker’s official maximum towing capacity, then torque and payload, with the price for the model named from the maker’s own page. Ford lists 2027 Super Duty figures; Ram, Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD pages still show 2026 models, and the Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 show 2027. Those makers list no mpg for the heavy-duty trucks, so mpg is not ranked. Starting prices are for the base trim; the diesel is an available engine except where noted. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What do DEF, SCR and a DPF do on a diesel truck?
Per EPA, a diesel particulate filter physically traps particulate matter from the exhaust, and selective catalytic reduction injects a reductant such as diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) to convert NOx into nitrogen gas and water. EPA says nearly all on-road diesel trucks have used DEF in SCR systems since 2010.
What emissions equipment is on the 2026 Ford Power Stroke?
Ford’s 2026 Super Duty specifications list a 7.5-gallon diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank for the 6.7L Power Stroke diesel, which runs on ultra-low sulfur diesel (B20 listed). We found no Ford page describing its particulate filter, so check the owner’s manual for DPF details.
What happens if a diesel truck runs out of DEF?
EPA says SCR systems can force a vehicle to slow down sharply or stop if DEF runs out or sensors fail, and in August 2025 it issued guidance asking makers to reduce derates that can cut speed to as low as 5 mph.
How does the 2023 diesel truck lineup differ from today’s?
In 2023 the Silverado HD Duramax made 445 hp and 910 lb-ft; since 2024 it makes 470 hp and 975 lb-ft. The 2023 Ram 2500 and 3500 Cummins were rated 370 hp and 850 lb-ft, while the High-Output Ram 2500 now makes 430 hp and 1,075 lb-ft. Ford’s all-new 2023 Super Duty launched with 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft, with a High-Output version up to 500 hp and 1,200 lb-ft.
Maximum available diesel towing capacity (lbs) at a glance
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax12,000 lbs
2027 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X Duramax12,100 lbs
2026 Ram 2500 Cummins High Output20,000 lbs
2026 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Duramax22,070 lbs
2026 GMC Sierra 2500HD Duramax22,390 lbs
2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Duramax36,000 lbs
2026 GMC Sierra 3500HD Duramax36,000 lbs
2026 Ram 3500 Cummins High Output36,610 lbs
2027 Ford F-450 Super Duty Power Stroke40,000 lbs
Maximum available diesel towing capacity (lbs), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
