Cowboy Cadillacs
These days, it’s alarming the ease with which one can option a light-duty pickup truck to nearly $50,000. It isn’t for lack of discipline, either; once you get through adding four-wheel drive, power options, and a family-friendly number of doors, the price tag of most any full-size truck invariably starts with a “4” and rises from there.
But that’s only the beginning—with a little effort, you can have a luxury-lined behemoth for $60K, $70K, or even $80 grand. We’ve gathered just such a crew here, with the only prerequisites being that the truck is on sale at the time of publication and carries a base price of at least $50,000 for the given trim level with the minimum number of driven wheels. (If four-wheel drive is an option, the qualifying price reflects the two-wheel-drive iteration of a given rig.) If a trim level starts at less than $50,000 in its minimum form, say, with a regular cab, it doesn’t qualify. Simple.
To show how expensive each truck can get, we loaded them up to the hilt with every reasonable option available (short of niche bits such as snow-plow prep packages, gooseneck tow hitches, etc.), and ranked them from least- to most-expensive.
2016 Nissan Titan XD SL: $56,225
Base price: $53,225
Every 2016 Nissan Titan XD is a four-door crew cab with a 5-foot, 7-inch bed powered by a 5.0-liter Cummins diesel V-8 engine, leaving buyers to choose only their preferred trim level. (Later this year, a gasoline V-8 engine will become available, giving buyers one more decision.) Among five available trim levels—S, SV, Pro4X, SL, and Platinum Reserve—three start at over $50,000. With two-wheel drive, pricing for the uplevel SL model begins at $53,225, and we got that up to $56,225 with a single option.
2016 Nissan Titan XD SL: $56,225
That’s right, our list of most-expensive pickup trucks is auspiciously led off by a Nissan Titan with four-wheel drive. Believe it or not, but that’s the sole option available on the Titan XD SL. Happily, the truck is well-equipped out of the gate, with LED headlights, 20-inch wheels, chrome trim, a Class IV tow hitch, front and rear parking sensors, dual-zone automatic climate control, proximity key, remote engine start, rain-sensing windshield wipers, leather upholstery, power-adjustable and heated front seats, a 12-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system, navigation, and more. TITAN REVIEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
2016 Nissan Titan XD Pro4X: $58,085
Base price: $52,165
Nissan charges less for a Titan XD Pro4X than an SL model, even though the former comes with standard four-wheel drive—but it allows Pro4X buyers more latitude with the options. We were able to pile on more than $6000 in extras via three comprehensive option packages. As the off-road-oriented model in the Titan XD lineup, the Pro4X comes standard with Bilstein off-road shocks, underbody skid plates, all-terrain tires, and purposeful-looking 18-inch wheels.
2016 Nissan Titan XD Pro4X: $58,085
Without dipping into Nissan’s dealer-installed accessories catalog, we fully optioned the Pro4X to $58,085 by adding the following: The $1100 Utility and Audio package, which includes a 12-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system, remote engine starting, power-sliding rear window with a defroster, LED bed lighting, a 120-volt power outlet for the bed, front and rear parking sensors, and Nissan’s Utili-track bed-rail tie-down system. Next up is the $3310 Convenience package, which adds leather seats (heated front and rear), a power-adjustable steering column, memory function for the driver’s seat and steering wheel, an auto-dimming mirror, a power passenger seat, and a Homelink garage opener. Finally, the $1510 Luxury package adds cooled front seats, Nissan’s 360-degree Around View parking camera, and a reverse tilt-down feature for the door mirrors. TITAN REVIEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
2016 Ram 2500 Power Wagon: $60,930
Base price: $52,355
Yes, we know, the Power Wagon was just updated for 2017, so expect these prices to change later this year with the arrival of the new version. For now, the 2016 Ram 2500 Power Wagon is still on sale, and easily makes our list of $50,000-and-up pickup trucks. Unlike most of the trucks on this list, the Power Wagon comes standard with four-wheel drive. A 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 is also standard, as are off-road shocks, locking front and rear differentials, and all-terrain tires on 17-inch rims. Inside, the Power Wagon is somewhat Spartan, with cloth seats, but we addressed that with over $8000 in options.
2016 Ram 2500 Power Wagon: $60,930
Most of our upgrades came in the form of reasonably priced individual options, stuff like power-folding tow mirrors ($180), a rear-window defroster ($195, and inexplicably not standard on a $50K-plus truck), and Ram’s exclusive “Rambox” cargo compartments in the bed ($1295). Yet, after adding remote engine starting, an Alpine audio system, front and rear parking sensors, heated seats and steering wheel, and more, we attained the heady $60,930 price tag you see above. POWER WAGON REVIEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
2016 Nissan Titan XD Platinum Reserve: $61,715
Base price: $58,665
As the top-dog Nissan Titan XD, the Platinum Reserve certainly has the right to demand no less than $58,665 in base form. That said, one cannot really apply the term “base form” to the Platinum Reserve, which comes standard with glitzy chrome 20-inch wheels, LED headlights, Titanium-painted bumpers, dark chrome exterior trim, running boards, navigation, Nissan's 360-degree Around View parking camera, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, premium leather upholstery, and more.
2016 Nissan Titan XD Platinum Reserve: $61,715
Nissan threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Platinum Reserve, and offers no factory options for the snazziest of Titan XDs. The only choice is four-wheel drive, which we added, bringing the total price to $61,715. TITAN REVIEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
2016 Ram 1500 Limited: $62,855
Base price: $53,515
The astute will notice that, aside from the few mono-spec Nissan Titan XD models, this list is heavy with trucks loaded with nearly $10,000 in options. The Ram 1500 Limited is just such a rig. Despite offering a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 and plenty of luxury items as standard—such as “Filigree leather seats,” navigation, an 8.4-inch touchscreen, power-adjustable pedals, heated front and rear seats (cooled in front), air suspension, and more, we are able to balloon its price by an additional $9,000.
2016 Ram 1500 Limited: $62,855
Helping us to swell the 1500 Limited’s price beyond $60,000 were the EcoDiesel V-6 option ($3120), Ram Box bed compartments ($1295), and four-wheel drive ($3580). A sunroof, chrome bumpers, an “anti-spin” rear axle, and towing mirrors did the rest. RAM 1500 REVIEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
2016 Ram 2500 Power Wagon Laramie: $64,745
Base price: $58,775
For buyers seeking the Power Wagon’s roughneck style but who can’t stand living without leather seats and a cushier interior, the $58,775-to-start Power Wagon Laramie might be more fitting. It’s the most expensive Ram 2500 offered, with the same off-road goodies as the regular Power Wagon but with extra chrome, heated front and rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. Four-wheel drive is standard.
2016 Ram 2500 Power Wagon Laramie: $64,745
Of course, we built on the Power Wagon Laramie’s cost bona fides with a spray-in bedliner ($475), chrome towing mirrors ($180), a rear-window defroster ($195), a cargo-bed camera ($325), a tonneau cover ($500), a sunroof ($995), power-adjustable pedals ($150), proximity key with remote start ($350), Ram Boxes ($1295), and navigation ($600). The $395 Convenience Package (automatic high beams and rain-sensing wipers), brought the total to $64,745. POWER WAGON REVIEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
2016 Ford F-150 King Ranch: $66,161
Base price: $51,131
It’s striking that Ford now offers no fewer than three high-spec F-150 trim levels priced above $50,000, and the King Ranch is the most affordable of that group. Even so, it comes standard with special (and pungent) leather seats, real wood trim, Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system, navigation, heated front and rear seats, 20-inch chrome wheels, two-tone paint, and Ford’s 5.0-liter V-8.
2016 Ford F-150 King Ranch: $66,161
Where did $15,000 in options come from? To swell the King Ranch’s $51,151 base price to $66,161, we added Ford’s 365-hp twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine and four-wheel drive for $3130, a chrome package for $1245, the FX4 Off-Road package for $770, and adaptive cruise control for $1250. The massive 601A package ($3190) adds safety gear such as rear seatbelt airbags, blind-spot warning, and automatic high beams, along with power-deployable running boards, a tailgate step, and special 20-inch wheels. A few other odds and ends did the final damage. F-150 REVIEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
2016 Ford F-150 Platinum: $66,191
Base price: $53,596
The F-150 Platinum is nearly identical to the F-150 King Ranch, with the key difference being a more urbane design ethos inside and out. The list of standard features nearly mirrors that of the King Ranch—as does its optional equipment. The two can loaded to equally dizzying heights.
2016 Ford F-150 Platinum: $66,191
Need more proof that there’s very little content difference between the Platinum and the King Ranch? Fully loaded by our hand, the Platinum costs just $30 more ($66,191), and we added the same four-wheel drive, 3.5-liter EcoBoost powertrain, $1295 panoramic sunroof (a notable option not offered by the Ford’s full-size pickup competition), and gigantic safety-feature-laden option package that’s named 701A instead of 601A. F-150 REVIEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country: $66,450
Base price: $50,735
In Chevrolet’s light-duty truck portfolio, the Silverado 1500 High Country is the gilded child, resplendent in a leather-lined cabin and chrome trim, not to mention niceties such as navigation, a Bose sound system, 20-inch wheels, and heated and cooled front seats. Even so, it starts at an entirely reasonable $50,735 in two-wheel-drive, crew-cab guise. (The High Country is crew-cab-only on the 1500.)
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country: $66,450
Base prices can be deceptive, however. Right off the bat, four-wheel-drive adds $3575. Stir in the more-powerful 6.2-liter V-8 ($2495) in place of the standard 5.3-liter V-8, and you get $6070 in powertrain upgrades alone. The $1095 High Country Premium package, $2095 rear-seat entertainment system, $995 sunroof, and $950 tonneau cover contributed to the other $9645 we were able to add to the Silverado 1500 High Country’s price tag. SILVERADO 1500 REVIEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali: $67,110
Base price: $52,085
Similar to Chevrolet’s Silverado 1500 High Country, the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali, which sits apart from the rest of the Sierra 1500 lineup, is a relative bargain in base form. Ringing in at just $52,085, the truck comes with a 355-hp 5.3-liter V-8, MagneRide adaptive dampers, navigation, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, leather, a Bose sound system, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals, and more. But GMC gives buyers plenty of room to build out the Sierra 1500 Denali into something much, much pricier.
2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali: $67,110
As on the Silverado High Country, our fully loaded Sierra Denali’s $15,000-plus in options started with $3450 for four-wheel drive and the larger available “standard-length” bed in place of the standard shorter box, followed by $2495 for the more powerful 6.2-liter V-8 engine. Other big-hit extras included the $5255 Denali Ultimate package (22-inch wheels, automatic high beams, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, power running boards, a sunroof, chrome tow hooks, a trailer brake controller) and a $2095 rear-seat entertainment setup, a $950 tonneau cover, and the $385 convenience package (floor mats, center-console bins, rear under-seat storage). SIERRA 1500 REVIEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
2016 Ford F-150 Limited: $68,335
Base price: $59,965
Among light-duty pickups, Ford’s F-150 Limited, fully loaded, is the priciest there is. It also isn’t hugely different, content-wise, from the F-150 Platinum or King Ranch models outside of its $59,965 base price, which is much higher. The three top-rung F-150s’ pricing similarities, at least when fully optioned, reveals that the King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited versions are more like theme packages than anything else, albeit with different levels of standard equipment.
$68,335: 2016 Ford F-150 Limited
At $59,965, the Limited comes with most items that are optional on lesser F-150s, but there’s still room to add a bit more price. Big-ticket items include the four-wheel drive ($3425), Trailer Tow package ($895), a hard tonneau cover for the bed ($995), a long-range fuel tank ($395), and Ford’s Active Park Assist self-parking feature ($440). F-150 REVIEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
2016 Ford F-250 Platinum: $70,390
Base price: $58,235
It’s telling that the least-expensive heavy-duty truck in this roundup can be loaded to just above $70,000. But then, heavy-duty trucks offer buyers more big-ticket items than most light-duty rigs, from optional diesel engines to myriad capability-enhancing tidbits such as dual alternators, dual rear wheels, and more. The already high-grade F-250 Platinum comes standard with four-wheel drive, leaving only the available 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V-8 and a handful of options.
2016 Ford F-250 Platinum: $70,390
Just because Ford’s option sheet for the F-250 Platinum is fairly limited doesn’t mean we weren’t able to tack on a few thousand dollars; we merely did so with fewer options. The Power Stroke V-8 alone adds $8480 to the truck’s bottom line. After that, we ticked the boxes for the $685 FX4 Off-Road package (skid plates, hill descent control, FX4 stickers) and its attendant locking rear differential, the $495 spray-in bedliner, the $995 sunroof, $380 dual alternators, $300 heated rear seats, and a few other odds and ends to reach $70,390. F-250 REVIEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 High Country: $71,045
Base price: $54,785
To streamline this list—and because the differences between “2500” and “3500” branded trucks (or, in Ford’s case, F-250 or F-350 rigs) is minimal—we’ve combined most 2500 and 3500 models within trim levels. The Silverado 2500 High Country and the 3500 version are nearly identical, so our base price reflects the least-expensive Silverado 2500 High Country, while our peak price represents a fully loaded 3500 High Country. The standard equipment list largely mirrors that of the Silverado 1500 High Country that also appears on this list, only with the heavy-duty trucks’ beefier frames and expanded capability.
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 High Country: $71,045
Whereas the entry-level Silverado 2500 High Country packs single rear wheels, a gasoline-fed V-8, and a crew cab/short box body, the maxed-out 3500 model has a dual rear wheels, a long bed, and of course the available Duramax diesel V-8. Without the V-8, this combination rings in at $59,090—only a short way from the stock 2500 High Country’s $54,785 price of entry. However, the $7815 Duramax Plus package kicks things off with the 6.6-liter diesel V-8, power-adjustable pedals, a heated steering wheel, Allison six-speed automatic transmission, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, and front and rear parking sensors. Toss in dual alternators ($380), skid plates ($150), rear-seat entertainment system ($2095), a sunroof ($995), and a few smaller items, and you get a $71,045 truck. SILVERADO 2500 REVEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
2016 GMC Sierra 2500/3500 Denali: $72,345
Base price: $55,770
Much like its Silverado High Country sibling, the heavy-duty GMC Sierra 2500/3500 Denali twins boast a relatively low base price, but can be optioned beyond $70,000. In the Sierra’s case, the $55,770 rear-drive, crew-cab, short-box 2500 model can be easily transformed into a $72,345 3500 dually model with a diesel engine.
2016 GMC Sierra 2500/3500 Denali: $72,345
As well-equipped as the Sierra 1500 Denali, minus that truck’s adaptive suspension, the heavy-duty Denali offers as much upward (price) mobility. Stepping up to the long-bed, dually 3500 model adds $3000 right away, while a High Country–like Duramax Plus package adds $7545 to the Denali’s price tag for the same 6.6-liter diesel V-8, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, park assist, and heated and cooled front seats. Adding a sunroof, chrome accents, a rear-seat entertainment system, and special paint brings the 3500 HD Denali to $72,345. SIERRA 2500 REVIEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
2016 Ford F-350 Platinum: $73,230
Base price: $57,345
Like GM’s heavy-duty rigs, Ford’s Super Duty trucks offer expansive choices to bloat prices into silly territory. The F-350 Platinum sits apart from the F-250 Platinum on our list—you’ll notice the F-250 appeared earlier—because it comes standard with rear-wheel drive, whereas the F-250 model is four-wheel-drive-only. This is enough to earn the Platinum Super Duty a second shot at max-priced truck glory.
2016 Ford F-350 Platinum: $73,230
As on other Ford Super Duty trucks, the optional 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V-8 engine requires $8480 of your hard-earned cash, while four-wheel drive adds $3190 and the dually rear axle another $1200. The rest is earned through the FX4 off-road package and its attendant all-terrain tires and limited-slip rear differential (total of $1210), a bed extender, spray-in bedliner, heated rear seats, special paint, a sunroof, dual alternators, and an engine-block heater. F-350 REVIEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
2016 Ford F-250/F-350 King Ranch: $73,385
Base price: $54,125 (F-250)
Reiterating the similarities between the King Ranch trim level and the slightly pricier Platinum trim level in Ford’s hierarchy is our F-350 King Ranch that’s somehow barely more expensive when fully loaded than an equivalent Platinum model. Once again, the differences between the two trucks are negligible. For what it’s worth, the F-250 King Ranch is $3220 cheaper than the Platinum—and yet it can be equipped nearly identically, which is how we took it all the way to $73,385.
2016 Ford F-250/F-350 King Ranch: $73,385
As you’d expect, stepping up from the single-rear-wheel rear axle, short-box crew-cab, gas-powered F-250 King Ranch to a diesel-fed, dually, four-wheel drive, long-box F-350 model adds serious dough to the bottom line. In this case, $12,780. After that outlay, $395 for special paint, $300 heated rear seats, $695 for extra chrome trim, and $1210 for the FX4 off-road package and its included skid plates, limited-slip rear axle and all-terrain tires look like freebies. Even with $19,260 in options, the F-series Super Duty King Ranch represents only the third-priciest full-size truck out there. F-250 REVIEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
2016 Ram 2500/3500 Laramie Longhorn: $77,260
Base price: $53,410 (2500)
We’re getting richer, aren’t we? With a $23,850 spread between the base Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn and a loaded 3500 Laramie Longhorn, the big Ram is among the most option-intensive trucks out there. The process starts with upgrading from the 2500’s standard crew cab to the extra-long Mega Cab with more rear-seat legroom and four-wheel drive, and takes flight from there.
2016 Ram 2500/3500 Laramie Longhorn: $77,260
Ram sure knows how to put the “big” in big-ticket items. There are two available diesel Cummins engines, the larger of which, a 6.7-liter hulk, costs $8995. For the truly brand-conscious, there’s an available Aisin six-speed automatic for $2595 to replace the standard non-Aisin six-speed auto ‘box. The dually rear axle adds $1200 (forgoing this option still affords buyers the chance at adding an equivalent sum in the Ram Box bed compartments for $1295 and $600 full-length side steps, neither of which can be paired with the dually axle), and a handful of alternators, a self-leveling rear air suspension, a sunroof, tonneau cover, and other odds and ends. Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, a rear-window defroster is NOT standard; we needed to add it as a $195 option. RAM 2500 REVIEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
2016 Ram 2500/3500 Limited: $80,240
Base price: $56,695 (2500)
The award for largest option outlay is essentially a tie between Ram’s heavy-duty Laramie Longhorn and the top-spec heavy-duty Limited model. We found $23,545 in Ram’s order sheet to add over and above the base 2500 Limited’s $56,695 price, once again largely in the forms of four-wheel drive, the Mega cab, $11,590 in Cummins 6.7-liter diesel engine and Aisin six-speed automatic, and $1200 dually rear axle.
2016 Ram 2500/3500 Limited: $80,240
Curiously, Ram fits its Ram Box bed compartments as standard here—it disallows 3500 Laramie Longhorn buyers from even opting for it with the dually rear axle—and also puts a spray-in bedliner into the deal, too. Even so, there’s plenty of room for extras, from the $250 chrome bumper package to the $995 sunroof, a $325 bed-view camera, a $500 tonneau cover, the $90 cold weather group, and a $50 “protection” package. Oh, and let’s not forget—even on this $80,000-plus cowboy Cadillac, you’ll need to pony up for that infernal rear-window defroster. That’ll be $195, hopefully you can afford it! Thus we crown the Ram 3500 Limited the most expensive pickup you can buy in America—although one suspects that Nissan, GM, Ford, and Ram are, even now, working to create even more expensive variants. Can the $100,000 pickup be far off? RAM 3500 REVIEWS, SPECS, AND MORE >>
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