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Exploring the World’s Top 5 Most Expensive Semi-Trucks
Semi-trucks stand alone on the road — powerful, large, and helmed by some of the most experienced drivers around. They move goods across the land to make sure that our economy keeps moving along and that people get the goods they need. Sure, semi-trucks cost more than your average passenger vehicle, with base models running anywhere between $70 – $120k — or more, but with that price, you are getting access to 400 or even 600 horsepower, unmatched hauling power, advanced driving technology, superior comfort for long days on the road, and many other features that set this class of vehicle apart. But not all semi-trucks are created equal, and some exist in a pricing league of their own.
In this post, we’re exploring the world’s most expensive factory semi-trucks that go far beyond just hauling freight. These high-performance machines are designed for discerning truckers with a taste for the cutting-edge of technology, comfort, and efficiency. We asked truck drivers, what they thought was the top five best semi trucks and got several different answers.
Whether you’re a seasoned trucker or just a truck enthusiast, these five most expensive semi-trucks are sure to get you excited. But before we get started, remember that even the most expensive semi-truck needs the right maintenance to stay driving. At LubeZone, we are proud to support our trucker partners with fast, professional, and comprehensive maintenance services that will keep your rig running as you expect it to, no matter how much the sticker price is.
Mercedes Benz Actros — $250,000
Mercedes Benz is a highly-respected name in the worlds of luxury, adventure, and trucking automobiles — and for good reason. The German auto company has a long history (over 100 years!) of producing boundary-pushing engineering, including advanced driving technologies, safety features, and impeccable design, to name a few.
The Actros, a Mercedes-Benz semi-truck, was originally unveiled in 1996, and each subsequent update to the model has continued to turn heads. As with all things Mercedes-Benz, the unmistakable badge tells a story of safety, over-engineering, innovation, and quality. Behind the wheel of this truck, you can enjoy sophisticated driver assistance systems and exceptional collision protection along with a luxurious ride.
From a technical standpoint, the Actros is a highly efficient truck for long-hauling with 2,212 lb-ft of torque and up to 480 hp of engine power and boasts exceptional toughness, off-road traction, and versatility in the applications it can be used for. You may choose to use your Actros as a platform truck or a hauler, and the Actros will perform either job with the same ease.
But like any Mercedes-Benz automobile, the other impressive benefits of this truck come with the comfort of the ride. The Actros is customized to keep drivers comfortable during long-haul journeys. It also has a wide array of impressive safety features, making this truck a great option for a driver who can afford the hefty price tag.
Volvo FH16 — $220,000
You may not be surprised to see Volvo on this list, a well-known and highly-respected company in the worlds of both passenger and trucking automotive. Volvo is renowned for innovative safety features, impressive reliability, and a commitment to pushing driving technology to the next level. The FH series by Volvo stands for “Forward control High Entry,” and this model is numbered 16 because the engine has a 16L capacity. This configuration means that the cab is forward, over the engine, and there is a high entry into the vehicle, which maximizes space and ergonomics for the driver. There is no long hood to see past in this truck, so visibility is impressive.
The FH16 has been through a number of revisions since first being introduced in 1993 alongside an FH12 option, and each revision has included a host of safety, efficiency, and comfort improvements. The latest FH16 boasts up to 750hp and over 2600 ft-lbs of torque, an undeniable powerhouse on the road. Inside the cab, drivers are living in luxury with an ergonomic dashboard, noise-dampening, and plenty of space to move around when parked.
One feature that really sets the FH16 apart from other vehicles in its class is the I-Shift transmission, an automated manual system that keeps the engine operating optimally in regards to fuel consumption, emissions, and, of course, drive experience and comfort.
Unsurprisingly for a Volvo vehicle, the FH16 also comes with a range of safety features including things like dynamic steering, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and a collision warning with an override function that will engage the emergency brake to avoid a crash.
Worth the price? If you have the means, we think so.
Mack Titan – $160,000
Mack is one of the most trusted and well-recognized names in the industry after decades of delivering high-quality workhorses to truckers across the globe. The Titan is, like the name suggests, an absolute beast built for road trains, logging, oil work, heavy equipment transport, and multi-trailer hauling. The Titan was originally launched in the Australian market in 1995, where it’s common for truckers to haul heavy loads over exceptionally long distances in an unforgiving climate.
The Titan’s price tag makes sense once you pop the hood and take a look at the MP10 engine. The 16-liter monster produces 605 horsepower, 2,060 lb-ft of torque, and has an 18-speed transmission with a few other options available. The Titan has a massive hood for additional cooling power, a raised cab for exceptional visibility, and the frame is made from heavy-duty triple rails so it can handle massive loads and the abuse of unpaved roads. An air brake system allows for great stopping power even with a maxed-out load, and there are many other heavy-duty accessories that you just won’t find on many other trucks.
With all of that power, don’t think for a second that Mack skimped on comfort. Inside the spacious cab, you’ll find all sorts of safety features and comfort options like Mack Road Stability Advantage, which uses state-of-the-art sensors to identify potential jackknife and rollover situations and take active steps to avoid them.
Unfortunately, the Titan was discontinued in the American market in 2017, but many of the features and capabilities can be found in the Mack Pinnacle and Mack Granite models that boast even more impressive horsepower and torque with the Mack MP8 13-liter engine under the hood. If you are in the market for a Titan, you may need to search high and low to find one in good enough shape to be worth it. Since these trucks are designed to be worked hard, the secondhand market for these trucks will be scarce if you are looking for something mint. Add in shipping costs if you decide to purchase one in Australia and have it shipped to the US, and you have yourself a very expensive truck!
Scania R730 V8 – $160,000
The Scania R730 is the flagship model from Swedish truckmaker Scania, a company known for efficient and powerful trucks that excel in long-haul and heavy-load situations. The R730 is powered by Scania’s 16.4 liter V8 that can put out a whopping 730 horsepower and 2,581 lb-ft of torque, making this truck a total beast on the road.
One of Scania’s most popular features is their Opticruise transmission system, which has automatic gear shifting that optimizes performance and fuel economy without skimping on raw power, cutting down on a driver’s operating cost without limiting their hauling options.
As you can imagine, the Swedish truckmaker also spared no expense when it comes to in-cab comfort and safety features. The dashboard is exceptionally ergonomic to keep you comfortable on the road, and there are a lot of different safety features like electronic stability control, lane departure warnings, and emergency braking systems.
Sure, an R730 with all of the options is going to run you a fair chunk of change, but you can enjoy great mileage, a wide range of hauling capabilities, and an extremely safe cab, so it’s up to you to decide how valuable the investment is.
THOR 24 – $13.2 million
Just for laughs, we threw in this custom-built 1984 Peterbilt 359 Ultra Custom TT Crew Cab, which auctioned for $12 million in Saudi Arabia. After the auction house added their fees, the buyer paid $13.2 million for this one-of-a-kind animal.
The truck has two 14-liter V12 engines, 12 blowers, and 8 superchargers that produce 3,974 horsepower while riding on independent suspension, a manual transmission, and power disc brakes. You might not be surprised to learn that all of this amounts to a significant curb weight, tipping the scales at 32,000 lbs and measuring 44 feet long. According to the builder, this truck can hit speeds of up to 130 mph when using the nitrous system, and you can deploy parachutes to help bring the truck to a halt after you burn through your boost.
Since being auctioned, THOR 24 hasn’t made any public appearances. In fact, nobody knows where it ended up. For now, it’s probably tucked away in a temp-controlled garage along with the rest of someone’s collection. This is one rig we’re going to say is NOT worth the money for a working trucker!