2002 Truck Comparisons, Accessories, Review & Road Test

Power. Muscle. Brute strength. Call it what you will, performance-oriented sport trucks are all about brawn and long black ribbons of valor left on the tarmac, cupholders be damned. Our annual HI-PO truck test--by far our staff's favorite comparison--is a look at this year's most potent and variegated trucks offered in the marketplace.

Different Faces
Depending on whom you ask, the term "sport truck" takes on different meanings. For instance, Ford's Special Vehicle Team captures a balanced approach in handling, styling, and interior accoutrements on its F-150 derivative. To this package, SVT adds an obscene dose of horsepower to the mix, providing one of the most thrilling rides next to a fighter jet.

The Dodge boys go with a more traditional method, taking a Club Cab Dakota and dropping in their largest truck engine. The result: everyday useability that quickly shortens the rear-tire's life span, while providing the driver with endless grins.

Toyota strategy calls for a hands-off line of attack, giving its Toyota Racing Development arm (www.trdusa.com) free rein to produce bolt-on performance accessories that can be fitted by any Toyota dealer, carrying a full factory warranty.

Absent from this round is GM. The company offers the Chevrolet X-Treme series of S-10 and Blazer (mostly consisting of an appearance package) and the HT version of the Silverado 1500. But without a true sport truck until the SSR is put into production, GM will sit on the bench for now.