Ram’s light-duty diesel gambit with the Ram 1500 has paid off, at least in terms of fuel-
economy bragging rights. The official EPA numbers for the 3.0 liter EcoDiesel V6-equipped
Ram 1500 are in, and the result is 28mpg on the freeway. This puts the Ram EcoDiesel
solidly at the top of its segment. Four-wheel drive models fare equally well, with a 19/27
rating.
The Ram EcoDiesel’s direct-injection 3.0 liter V6 is coupled to an eight-speed automatic
transmission that makes the most of the engine’s 420 pound-feet of torque. This truck makes
class-beating fuel economy numbers without sacrificing capability. Towing capacity remains
at 9200 pounds. Additional efficiency tricks include active grille shutters, electronic
power steering and lightened components like the hood.
Ram has also snatched the second-place spot on the EPA’s light-duty truck efficiency list
with the 3.6-liter Pentastar-equipped Ram, whose 25-mpg freeway fuel economy rating bests
the Ford F-150 EcoBoost by 6mpg.
The EcoDiesel option is available now, and adds $2850 to price of a 5.7 liter V8-equipped
Ram 1500. The non-cryptic version? The diesel Ram costs about $30,000.
