Dodge Dakota R/T vs. Ford SVT Lightning vs. Toyota TRD Tacoma

The Cool Factor
Each of these trucks is a cool ride in its own right and is targeted toward specific demographics. If you want to blatantly stand out from the crowd, the S-Runner--with its side skirts, aggressive front air dam, and lowered stance--screams "boy racer," and kids love it. Its as-tested price of $27,364 puts it right in range if you had to buy a stock truck and add all the aftermarket goodies. The TRD we tested was equipped with the Full Monty--yet it's easy to add TRD accessories as finances allow. And don't forget, all the TRD parts fall under the Toyota new-truck warranty.

The R/T fits in for those who want a wolf in sheep's clothing--its no frills look and low exhaust note don't give away the potential this truck has against unsuspecting victims at signal light romps. It's sleeper character flows to its ground-pounding capability, easily eating sports cars for lunch on canyon roads.

SVT successfully pegged the cool meter off the scale: aggressive good looks, mean sounding exhaust, and a stance that tells you this is no ordinary pickup. After all, what other full-size can blow away select BMWs and Porsches to 60 mph? Wherever we stopped, the Lightning drew a crowd--and lots of burnout requests. In the end, it's all a question of taste. Whichever of these HI-PO trucks fits your bill, there's no doubt you'll be the envy at every drive-through.

By the Numbers...
Truth-Telling on a Paxton Dyno

Getting to the bottom of who really puts the power to the pavement, we enlisted the help of the folks at Paxton Automotive (805/604-1336; www.paxtonauto.com) and its Mustang MD250 dyno. Each truck was given four pulls, in third gear, from idle to redline. Here's how they performed:

With a crank rating of 250 hp, the Dakota posted a loss of 95.3 hp to the rear wheels at 154.7 hp--a lot more than we bargained for, especially since most trucks experience 15-18-percent parasitic loss. The Lightning's SAE rating of 380 hp is impressive, but so is its 303.4 hp at the rear wheels (a 76.6-hp loss). The SVT's first run was a wash, as it effortlessly smoked the tires on the rollers. We had to ease into the throttle to get a successful pull. TRD's S-Runner weighs in at 251 hp, and loses a mere 70.2 hp in the drivetrain, posting a healthy 180.8 hp at the wheels. This was the real surprise of test, proving that the TRD blower is a great match for the 3.4L V-6.--Scott Mead

Second Opinions
Toyo-riffic!
The minute I laid eyes on the TRD I was reminded of the local car club from my hometown high school -- most members owning customized five- to 10-year-old Toyota and Nissan pickups, slammed to the ground and fitted with custom wheels and low-profile tires. The TRD embodies every aspect of that image and adds musclecar-eating acceleration, go-kart-like handling, and factory-backed engineering.

Perhaps the best part about the TRD is that it has the one important thing the trucks from the hometown car club were lacking a warranty!--Brian Vance

Power to the People
Choosing between these three HI-PO trucks is tough. While I'd happily place any of them in my driveway, the Dodge had the best useable interior for day-to-day driving, but lacked the guttural grunt I crave. Toyota's setup brought braking and handling into race-car realm, but the extreme track handling also means you'll experience an extremely lumpy ride on the highway. In true SVT style, the Lightning is engineered to provide spirited handling and a compliant ride, with lots of horsepower on tap. While Dodge and Toyota have done a fantastic job placing big muscle into compact packages, there's nothing quite like the sensation of mashing the SVT's throttle to the floorboard and hurtling into hyperspace. Plus, it makes an appropriate rig for towing something cool, like a 427 Cobra or GT40.-S.M.

Palate Pleasers
These three share a performance-based bias, but that's where the similarity ends. Like good dining, choosing which you prefer is a question of what fits your mood. Dodge's 5.9L R/T is vehicular fast food, representing good value, capability, and convenience in a tasty package. Moving closer to my heart, the SVT Lightning is a thorough package with a huge platter of power and an ample exhaust note that makes you feel like any open stretch of highway is your home. The SVT gives you a belly full of comfort and power in the finest American tradition. For more exotic tastes, there's the super-delicious, supercharged TRD S-Runner. It should really have a dash plaque proclaiming, "This is a TRUCK!" A driver can easily forget. The race-ready looks and sticky motorsport equipment can make this the choice of twisty-road gourmets.

Each a meal. It's simply a question of taste.--Thomas Voehringer