Smaller EcoBoost Packs a Punch Few V-8s Can Match

After spending a lot of time with almost a dozen light-duty pickup trucks between our and during December 2014, we found there are a few things that deserve more attention.

It's worth calling out how impressive Ford's all-new 2.7-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine performed against full-size V-8 engines (although each of the V-8 crew-cab 4x4s that were in our V-8 Challenge were at least 500 pounds to 1,100 pounds heavier than the pickups in the Annual Physical). In full-out drag racing with empty beds, the little EcoBoost performed very close to the V-8s in both zero-to-60-mph and quarter-mile times. However, the benefits of the twin-turbos were really seen when it was running at wide-open throttle with a full payload of 1,240 pounds — it handily beat the Ram, Ford and Toyota V-8s.

It's also interesting to see how the Annual Physical's Ford Platinum F-150 with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 and upgraded six-speed transmission compared with the V-8s in the Light-Duty Challenge, especially the dominant Chevrolet Silverado 1500 6.2-liter V-8 and GMC Sierra 1500 6.2-liter V-8, both of which had the all-new eight-speed transmission.

We are presenting the basic data here in separate charts, each comparing powertrains and weights. We've got a few more tests planned for both Ford's big and small EcoBoost engines as well as the all-new naturally aspirated base V-6.

Cars.com images by Evan Sears