The 2016 Nissan Titan XD’s 5.0-liter Cummins turbo diesel V8 will help bridge the gap between light-duty and heavy-duty trucks. Cummins and Nissan were kind enough to answer my questions about the oil burner when I was in Columbus, Indiana a couple of weeks ago.
There was one question I didn’t ask them, though. I knew only you Ford lovers could provide the proper response to it.
However, before I ask it, let’s look at some numbers.
Ram has two primary diesel offerings: the 1500’s 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 240 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque and the 6.7-liter Cummins I6 which, in the 2015 2500, develops 370 horsepower and 800 pound-feet. Upgrading the 2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn Crew Cab 4X2 to the EcoDiesel costs $4,270; plumping for the Cummins power plant in the 2015 Ram 2500 Big Horn Crew Cab 4X2 requires $8,305.* That amount of coin buys a maximum towing capacity of 17,970 pounds and a max payload of 3,170 pounds.
Pricing for the Nissan Titan XD’s 5.0-liter Cummins turbo diesel V8 hasn’t been released yet, but it will pump out 310 horsepower and 555 pound-feet. Let’s assume Nissan will charge something between $4,270 and $8,305 for the XD upgrade. That truck will be able to carry more than 2,000 pounds in its bed and tow more than 12,000 pounds behind it.
Ford charges $8,480 if you want your 2016 F-250 XLT SuperCrew 4X2 to have the 440-horsepower, 860-pound-feet 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 under its hood. With that engine, you can move a max payload of 2,820 pounds and tow as much as 16,100 pounds.
The Blue Oval doesn’t offer a smaller diesel in its Super Duty trucks. My question – finally – is this: If Ford made the F-250 or F-350 with a Power Stroke diesel that was smaller and less powerful than the current 6.7-liter beast (let’s say between 5.5 and 6.2 liters and between 450 and 725 pound-feet of torque) but at a price well south of $8,480, would you want it? Go to the forum and let us know if you need all of the grunt and capabilities of the 6.7.
*The Ram Build & Price section for the 2500 quotes the Cummins I6 as making 325 horsepower and 750 pound-feet of torque.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
