The 5 Most Expensive Trucks Of 2009
Jason Lancaster | Dec 30, 2009 | Comments 18
Instead of simply listing off the 5 most expensive trucks, we’re going to mix it up and list the most expensive trucks in 5 different categories:
- Highest overall cost
- Highest cost per pound of towing capacity
- Highest cost per pound of payload capacity
- Highest cost per horsepower
- Highest cost per foot-pound of torque
We’re focusing this list on trucks that people can actually buy – no fancy custom jobs or limited production units. The trucks need to have an actual pickup bed, they have to be mass produced, they have to be one ton or smaller, and the trucks had to be available for sale in the USA during 2009 (09′ or 10′ models are OK). Simple, right? Here’s how it shook out:
The Most Expensive Trucks Overall
| Model | MSRP |
| 2010 Cadillac Escalade EXT AWD Premium | $69,950 |
| 2010 Hummer H2 SUT Luxury Package | $68,695 |
| 2010 Ford F350 Crew Long Box Harley Davidson 4WD 6.4L Diesel | $58,560 |
| 2010 Ford F350 Crew Long Box Chrome King Ranch 2WD 6.4L Diesel DRW | $57,915 |
| 2009 Ram 3500HD MegaCab Laramie 4×2 Diesel Resistol Edition | $54,830 |
As you can see, the Escalade is the most expensive truck you can buy, followed very closely by the Hummer H2 SUT. Special-edition diesel trucks round out the top 5. NOTE: Comparing the value between a luxury one-ton diesel truck and a Cadillac “truck,” it’s easy to see why diesel pickups are popular as luxury vehicles.
Highest Cost Per Pound of Payload Capacity
| Model | MSRP | Payload (lbs) | $/lb of Payload |
| 2010 Cadillac Escalade EXT AWD Premium | $69,950 | 1,150 | $60.83 |
| 2010 Hummer H2 SUT Luxury Package | $68,695 | 2,200 | $31.23 |
| 2010 Chevy Silverado 1HY 1500 Hybrid 2WD | $42,485 | 1,473 | $28.84 |
| 2010 Toyota Tundra CrewMax 4×2 Platinum Edition 5.7 | $46,377 | 1,645 | $28.19 |
| 2010 Ford Explorer SporTrac Limited Adrenalin 2WD V8 | $38,120 | 1,380 | $27.62 |
The Tundra Platinum edition makes this list largely because it includes a host of extras, and once again the Escalade EXT is the big “winner.”
Highest Cost Per Pound of Towing Capacity
| Model | MSRP | Towing (lbs) | $/lb of Tow Capacity |
| 2010 Cadillac Escalade EXT AWD Premium | $69,950 | 7,500 | $9.33 |
| 2010 Hummer H2 SUT Luxury Package | $68,695 | 8,200 | $8.38 |
| 2010 Chevy Silverado 1HY 1500 Hybrid 2WD | $42,485 | 5,900 | $7.20 |
| 2010 Honda Ridgeline RTL 3.5L V6 4WD | $35,291 | 5,000 | $7.06 |
| 2010 Ford F150 SuperCab Raptor 4WD 5.4L | $38,995 | 6,000 | $6.50 |
The Hummer and Escalade are at the top of most of these lists, but there are some interesting changes at 3-5. The Raptor, Ridgeline, and Silverado Hybrid aren’t made for big towing…but unlike the high mileage Silverado Hybrid and the off-roading Raptor, the Ridgeline has no excuse for being such a weak tow vehicle.
Highest Dollar Per Horsepower
| Model | MSRP | Horsepower | $/hp |
| 2010 Hummer H2 SUT Luxury Package | $68,695 | 393 | $174.80 |
| 2010 Cadillac Escalade EXT AWD Premium | $69,950 | 403 | $173.57 |
| 2010 Ford F350 Crew Cab Long Box Harley Davidson 4WD 6.4L Diesel | $42,485 | 350 | $167.31 |
| 2010 Ford F350 Crew Cab Long Box Chrome King Ranch 2WD 6.4L Diesel DRW | $35,291 | 350 | $165.47 |
| 2009 Ram 3500HD MegaCab Laramie 4×2 Diesel Resistol Edition | $38,995 | 350 | $156.66 |
Diesel trucks dominate this metric simply because high HP is dependent on high RPMs. Diesel engines are low-revving when compared to gas engines, so they typically have lower HP figures than one would expect.
Highest Dollar Per ft-lb of Torque
| Model | MSRP | Torque (lbs-ft) | $/lb-ft |
| 2010 Cadillac Escalade EXT AWD Premium | $69,950 | 393 | $167.75 |
| 2010 Hummer H2 SUT Luxury Package | $68,695 | 403 | $165.53 |
| 2010 Honda Ridgeline RTL 3.5L V6 4WD | $35,291 | 247 | $142.88 |
| 2010 Ford Explorer SporTrac Limited Adrenalin 2WD V8 | $38,120 | 315 | $121.02 |
| 2010 Ford F150 SuperCrew Platinum Edition 2WD 5.4L Max towing max payload | $43,680 | 365 | $119.67 |
Once again, the comparative weakness of the Honda Ridgeline becomes apparent. Of all the trucks we spec’d, only the Double Cab Tacoma had a lower MSRP…and even the Tacoma had more ft-lbs of torque.
Some more notes about the comparison:
- The MSRP numbers came from each manufacturer’s website. The base package MSRP is used – most trucks don’t include a lot of “extras” like sunroofs, navigation systems, etc., unless these features are included in a package.
- In the interest of being as equal as possible, all trucks were priced with automatic transmissions.
- All the trucks were priced with 2wd, unless 2wd was not available.
Question – Are the Ridgeline, H2 SUT, and Escalade EXT trucks? Should they be included in this analysis?
Filed Under: TundraHeadquarters.com
Sure they should since I’m pretty sure the DOT lists them as a truck class. No offense Jason, but none of the vehicles listed interest me at all. I think all of these vehicles are overpriced and pretty much useless or overkill.
mk – Thanks. We priced out 23 vehicles for the comparison – thinking about doing something with all the “left over” data…maybe I’ll just post it here at the end or offer a pdf.
Just good to know info. Comparison is the key for this. Truly thinking about a Platinum Crewmax.
Why not compare half tons with half tons, hybrid vs hybrid, special interest vs special interest. Where does a diesel one tons come in to play, mite as well have thrown in 1 ton +. How about the cheapest trucks for same categories? Most of the listed are the top of the line luxury lines. Over kill or useless is in the eyes of the beholder. As for the Ridgeline having no excuse for being such a weak tow vehicle, its the only V-6 4wd on the list and is not a 1/2 ton. So the Ridgeline is very comparable to other trucks of its class, Tacoma, Ranger, Dakota. H2 on the other hand, what is it really. Yes it is a truck but is it a 1/2 ton? So what is the cheapest base model 1/2 ton, base engine, base options?
Anonymous – Good feedback. thanks.
The Ridgeline and Escalade sxt are definately trucks. The Hummer H2 SUT is well, in its own catagory. I don’t see why the Ridgeline and Escalade wouldn’t be trucks. The only reason I think the Hummer isn’t really a truck, is because the bed is unbelievably small, and because it is so far off from looking like a truck its not even funny. Just because the Ridgeline and Escalade have slanted beds doesn’t mean their not trucks. The only thing you could really do with the Hummer is put a small table in it and go off roading. I don’t know about the Escalade, but I know the Ridgeline is an excellent value. Consumer reports said that the Ridgeline has average owner cost, which is second best in all the trucks (tacoma trd is best).
You question the Ridgeline to be a truck? The Ford Explorer Sport track is in my opinion, much less of a truck than the Ridgeline. That thing is rediculous!
How is the Ford Explorer Sport less of a truck when they offer a bigger motor and a larger towing capacity?
The Ridgline beats the Explorer Sport Track V6 all out. It doesn’t beat the V8 so much power wise. I don’t like the bed because it is over ten inches shorter than the Ridgelines and with the wheel wells, only a few inches wider. To me, it looks cheap.
That’s great, so Explore Sport beats the Ridgeline in towing and power. If you don’t like it don’t look at it. Problem solved! I think the Ridgeline should be compared to the Subaru Baja, its more of the same class.
Scott- The Subaru Baja is basically a car with a bed in the back. The Ridgeline and even sport trac are WAY more trucks than the Baja. I just think that the Honda Ridgeline is much more refined than the Sport Trac. The Honda Ridgeline will stomp all over the Baja. Why do you think that the sport trac isn’t in the same class as the Baja? The Ridgeline has a wicked history and record(won the baja 1000, 2008/Won in Car and Drivers 5 compact pick-up comparison).
So can you remove the bed of a Ridgeline? No! Its all one solid piece connected from front bumper to rear bumper. The same is for the Baja. The Ridgeline is front wheel drive along with the Baja. The Baja and Ridgeline are AWD. Baja and Ridgeline are unibody frames. Who has a trunk in their bed? Better yet who makes a trunk on their TRUCK?
The Sport trac is rear wheel drive until you engage the 4wd unless you get the AWD model. The bed is not part of the cab. It has a low range 4wd. It comes in multiple arrangements, 4.0, 4.6, 2wd, 4wd, AWD, tows 5000 to 7000 lbs. And the most important it has a frame. The Avalanche is its own thing. One solid piece of sheet metal from bumper to bumper. Has a frame. Comes in 1/2 and 3/4 ton. High/low transfer case. Doesn’t have a trunk. The rear part of the bed folds down to extend the bed.
As for the BAJA 1000.
Ridgeline finished first in Mini stock class. Just that stock MINI truck.
Raptor R Class 8 finished 3rd. Class 8 is FULL size 2wd trucks.
Can you buy a race ready Ridgeline? You can buy a race ready Raptor from Ford to compete in the FULL size truck class. Can you jump a Ridgeline straight off the dealership lot and drive away with no issues as the Raptor is advertised to with stand?
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You said it “Won in Car and Drivers 5 compact pick-up comparison” COMPACT.
There is maybe a comparison between the Ridgeine and others but it is not a full size truck. Neither is the Sport trac!
Scott- The Ridgeline and Sport trac are both WAY more than the Baja. What’s wrong with a unibody frame? If anything, the Sport Trac is more in the same class as the baja, the bed in it is smaller than the Ridgelines. The biggest change on the Stock Mini truck series Ridgeline, was the shocks and Tires(look on honda.com/ridgeline). I’m sure the Raptor had a few tweaks on it also. Yeah, the Ridgeline is a compact to midsized truck, but so is the Sport trac. I think honda is smart putting a trunk in the bed of the Ridgeline. That way you won’t have to take up 16″ of length in the bed for a tool box.
I know a bunch of guys that love their ridgeline’s, and I also know a bunch of guys that hate their sport tracs
I know a bunch of guys that love their ridgeline’s, and I also know a bunch of guys that hate their sport tracs.
Sorry about the repeated comment. There is no race ready sport trac. Whats your point?
Lonely, Bored, tired of all those other people, looking for someone new to talk to? Call Steve at 1-800-GIVEITUP.
very funny