Tools & Equipment Review: Work TrucksThrill Rides: The latest work trucks are extra-luxurious and energy efficient, too.

Once upon a time, a truck was a truck. It looked like hell and smelled like sweat. You threw your tools in back, muddy boots in front, and headed off to the job. A work vehicle was just that–no frills, no fooling, maybe even no radio.

But this is the 21st century. The hot pickup upgrade for 2006 is satellite radio and leather is standard on some models. Now, crew comfort is important, with rear-seat legroom growing and drop-down DVD movie players optional.

"Pretty much anything you can get in a luxury vehicle, you can get in a truck now," observes Lisa Barrow, eastern manager for DaimlerChrysler and its Dodge Trucks division. "Heated seats, power roof and tailgate windows, navigation systems, side-curtain airbags, you name it."

OK, we're spoiled. But who's complaining? Many pickup owners use their work vehicles for family and play, and manufacturers are just giving buyers what they want. Four-door cabs–the predominant body style–have made pickups more comfortable and roomy, so truck makers keep piling on the options. It's no surprise that pickups rank at or near the top sales category for the top three U.S. carmakers, with the imports (most of which are made in America) quickly catching up.

Ford's venerable F-150 has long been the best-seller among light pickups, with General Motors' Chevy and GMC trucks running a close second. But during the past three years, Toyota and Nissan introduced V8-powered full-size pickups and Honda recently added a mid-size that acts more like a full-size. And this year, Mitsubishi becomes a contender with its first pickup, a mid-size V8 model.

Luxury Reigns

If it's luxury you want, the new Lincoln Mark LT is what you need. Built on the Ford F-150 platform, the Mark LT can pull its weight and carry a load when required. Its 24-valve, 5.4-liter Triton V8 engine produces a very respectable 300 hp with 365 pound-feet of torque, enabling it to tow up to 8,900 pounds and tote 1,620 pounds in the bed.

Available as a four-door Crew Cab model only, it features soft, pleated, pebble-grain leather seats; plush carpeting; and an ebony-wood-accented interior. Special attention was given to soundproofing, with liquid-filled engine mounts, extra body insulation, thicker glazing, and double door seals.

Also new is the Honda Ridgeline. Introduced as a sport utility truck, or SUT, this mid-size pickup still has the chops to call itself a truck–with a 5-foot steel-reinforced composite box, integral bed tie-downs, 1,550-pound payload, and 5,000-pound towing capacity.

The Honda's only engine option is a 3.5-liter single-overhead-cam V6 that offers 247 hp with 245 pound-feet of torque. Although advertised as a 4-wheel-drive vehicle, normal operation is front-drive only with rear-wheel power automatically kicking in when needed. Unique attributes include independent rear as well as front suspension, a two-way tailgate that drops down or swings open, and an 8.5-cubic-foot-deep, molded-in, lockable storage compartment in the pickup bed floor.

Other new mid-size truck models, the Mitsubishi Raider and Isuzu i-350 and i-250 pickups, are derivatives of recently introduced U.S.-manufacturer vehicles. Mitsubishi's mid-size Raider is a sportier, more youth-oriented version of the Dodge Dakota. Built on the same platform, the Raider shares Dakota's 16-valve 4.7-liter V8 and 12-valve 3.7-liter V6 engines. The V8 produces 230 hp with 290 pound-feet of torque, while the V6 provides 210 and 235, respectively.

Depending on equipment, maximum towing capacity for this vehicle is 6,500 pounds, and payload capacity is 1,700 pounds. A four-door Double Cab version seats up to six, and a two-door Extended Cab with rear access doors also is available. Both models come in 2- or 4-wheel-drive. Youthful options include a Sirius satellite radio system, Bluetooth hands-free phone interface, and a sound system with built-in MP3 player.

Isuzu's products are versions of the mid-size Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups. Like the GM twins, Isuzu's i-350 has the same in-line five-cylinder 3.5-liter engine that produces 220 hp and 225 pound-feet of torque. This adds up to a 4,000-pound towing capacity with a max payload of 1,190 pounds. The i-280 model has a 2.8-liter in-line four-cylinder engine with 175 hp and 185 pound-feet of torque, also like the GM models, and can carry a 1,500-pound bed load and haul 3,200 pounds.

Big and Beefy

Tradesmen looking for a manly truck should look to Dodge. The new mammoth four-door Ram MegaCab is the largest pickup in the category with a 143.3-cubic-foot interior and 44.2 inches of rear legroom. It comes standard with a 5.7-liter Hemi high-compression engine that churns out 345 hp and 375 pound-feet of torque. An optional 5.9-liter Cummins turbo diesel offers up to 610 pound-feet of torque. Maximum payload is 2,580 pounds with a 15,550-pound towing capacity.

The Dodge truck lineup also includes the SRT-10, a full-size pickup with an 8.3-liter Viper V10 engine that produces 500 hp and 525 pound-feet of torque, the heavy-duty Hemi-equipped Power Wagon, and the workhorse 1500 series.

As for other pickups, 2006 is a "between" year for most models. Little will change as manufacturers go about refining and hammering any bugs out of their new iterations.

Green Machines

After the 1970s gas crisis, everyone forgot about conserving fuel–until now. Suddenly we're reminded that gas and oil are volatile commodities. And contractors are feeling the pinch because big trucks are among the worst gas-suckers.

Manufacturers are developing vehicles that offer increased fuel efficiency through alternate-fuel or "hybrid" gas/electric engines. In 2005 GM introduced innovative hybrid pickups, which have a standard gasoline engine augmented by a 14-kilowatt electric starter generator. The electric motor, mounted between the engine and transmission, supplies supplemental power (including 120-volt alternating current to power electric tools) and allows the vehicle to shut down instead of idling.

Dodge also unveiled a Ram hybrid-electric diesel pickup last year, but its rollout has been curtailed because parent DaimlerChrysler announced an unprecedented collaboration with competitor GM to jointly develop an improved hybrid engine that's "vastly superior to what's out there today."

For now, GM offers 5.3-liter V8 hybrid gas/electric engines in its 2006 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. Chevy heavy-duty HD Silverado pickups also are available in bi-fuel models that run on gasoline or compressed natural gas (CNG). Natural gas is considered a green fuel because it produces little or no hydrocarbon emissions.

Meanwhile, GM developed a "displacement-on-demand" (DOD) engine that runs on only half of its eight cylinders when full power is not needed, such as when driving with light loads or cruising on overdrive at highway speeds. GM offers DOD as standard equipment in nine cars and SUVs. Unfortunately, due to engineering requirements, it won't be available for Chevy or GMC pickups until the 2007 model year. DOD can reduce fuel use by as much as 25 percent, depending on the type of vehicle and driving conditions, according to the manufacturer.

A similar cylinder-deactivation system is available on Dodge Ram 1500 pickups and other Dodge vehicles powered by 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engines. According to the maker, this Multi-Displacement System (MDS) saves up to 20 percent in fuel under normal driving conditions. That's a good thing, considering that Ram 1500s rank among the top five least fuel-efficient vehicles, according to the EPA.

Ford, which says it will produce 250,000 hybrid-electric vehicles a year by 2010, offers flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV) technology on all F-150 pickup engines. These vehicles operate on either gasoline or a corn-based ethanol mixture, and the engines will run exclusively on E85, an 85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline blend.

Buyers who want FFV engines must request them, but there's no upcharge, according to Ford. Nonetheless, the vehicles require special fuel pumps, injectors, sensors, and other parts designed to withstand the highly corrosive ethanol. Flex-fuel technology is widely used in Europe; however, in the United States there are fewer than 500 fueling stations nationwide.

Efficient Choices

Beside green options, auto manufacturers are increasing overall fuel efficiency. Several offer on-demand 4-wheel-drive systems that operate normally–and more efficiently–in 2-wheel-drive, then automatically switch to all-wheel-drive when towing or hauling heavy loads.

Honda has an active 4-wheel-drive in its Ridgeline mid-size pickup, but doesn't stop there. According to the manufacturer, Ridgeline also gets better fuel economy due to the truck's high-strength steel frame. In addition to making the truck body stronger and safer, the frame keeps the vehicle weight down and therefore contributes to greater fuel efficiency, Honda claims.

So although there aren't any jazzy introductions, the real news is that pickups have gradually morphed into the mainstream with features, styling, and luxury appointments to match almost any vehicle out there. Furthermore, more fuel-efficient technologies are on the horizon that will make all that luxury easier to pay for at the pump.

–BP

–This story first appeared in Tools of the Trade magazine.

Lincoln

Lincoln. The Mark LT is built on the Ford F-150 platform and features a 24-valve, 5.4-liter Triton V8 engine that produces 300 hp with 365 pound-feet of torque, enabling it to tow up to 8,900 pounds and tote 1,620 pounds. It is available as a four-door Crew Cab model only. Special attention was given to soundproofing, the maker says. 800-521-4140. www.lincoln.com.

Dodge

Dodge. The Dakota comes with a choice of two available class-exclusive V8 engines and a standard V6. The new 4.7-liter high-output Magnum V8 engine provides 260 hp and 310 pound-feet of torque; the 4.7-liter Magnum V8 provides 230 hp and 290 pound-feet of torque; and the standard 3.7-liter Magnum V6 engine has 210 hp and 235 pound-feet of torque. 800-423-6343. www.dodge.com.

Honda

Honda. The Ridgeline sport utility truck features a 5-foot steel-reinforced composite box, integral bed tie-downs, 1,550-pound payload, and 5,000-pound towing capacity. The 3.5-liter, single-overhead-cam V6 engine delivers 247 hp with 245 pound-feet of torque. A two-way tailgage drops down or swings open. 800-999-1009. www.honda.com.

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi. Built on the same platform as the Dodge Dakota, the Raider features 16-valve, 4.7-liter V8 and 12-valve, 3.7-liter V6 engines. Maximum towing capacity is 6,500 pounds and payload capacity is 1,700 pounds. Options include a Sirius satellite radio system, Bluetooth hands-free phone interface, and a sound system with built-in MP3 player. 888-648-7820. www.mitsubishicars.com.

GM

GM. The company offers a 5.3-liter V8 hybrid gas/electric engine in its GMC Sierra pickup. It includes a standard gasoline engine augmented by a 14-kilowatt electric starter generator which supplies supplemental power and allows the vehicle to shut down instead of idling. The technology is also available on the company's Chevy Silverado pickup. 800-462-8782. www.gmc.com.

Isuzu

Isuzu. The company's i-350 has an in-line five-cylinder, 3.5-liter engine that produces 220 hp and 225 pound-feet of torque. The i-280 model has a 2.8-liter in-line four-cylinder engine with 175 hp and 185 pound-feet of torque. They are versions of Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups. 800-255-6727. www.isuzu.com.

GMC

GMC. The Regular Cab Canyon has a towing capacity of up to 4,000 pounds and a payload of 1,547 pounds. The Canyon also comes in Extended Cab and Crew Cab models. Engine options include a Vortec 2800 in-line four-cylinder or Vortec 3500 in-line five-cylinder engine. 800-462-8782. www.gmc.com.

Toyota

Toyota. Available in Regular, Access, and Double Cab models, the Tundra features an available 271-hp 4.7-liter i-FORCE V8 engine, 6,800 pounds of towing capacity, and seating for up to six in the Access and Double Cab models. A leather-trim package includes leather-trimmed captain's chairs with a power-adjustable driver's seat and wood-grain-style interior trim. 800-331-4331. www.toyota.com.

Nissan

Nissan. The Titan King Cab features a 5.6-liter, 305-hp V8 Endurance engine that produces up to 379 pound-feet of torque. Available towing is up to 9,500 pounds of maximum capacity. The Utili-track bed organizer and 350-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system are also options. 800-647-7261. www.nissanusa.com.

Ford

Ford. The F-350 King Ranch model comes equipped with all of the standard features of the company's Heavy Duty Truck and also includes unique King Ranch heated leather seats, lighted cab steps with diamond plate inserts, and a manual telescoping trailer mirror with power/heated glass. TorqShift heavy-duty five-speed automatic transmission is offered alongside the standard six-speed manual transmission. 800-392-3673. www.fordvehicles.com.