The Ram 1500 pickup has been on a roll this year, with dramatic improvements in quality and equipment, new suspension design borrowed from the larger Ram pickups and a segment-first diesel engine. Those improvements have paid off, as the Ram 1500 is Motor Trend’s 2014 Truck of the Year. This makes it the first consecutive Truck of the Year winner in Motor Trend’s history.
Motor Trend praised the Ram’s air suspension, adapted from the Ram 2500HD, and its improved interior. The new upscale Laramie Longhorn received high marks thanks to its real wood trim and high-grade appointments.
“For 2014 we had a large and highly competitive field of contenders for Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year,” said Edward Loh, Editor-in-Chief of Motor Trend. “At the end of the day, though, the Ram 1500 quickly rose to the top.”
Also in the running for the award were the new Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Toyota Tundra, Ford Transit Connect, Mercedes Sprinter, Nissan NV200 and Ram ProMaster. The Ram even faced its own Heavy Duty stablemate, but emerged victorious after Motor Trend’s rigorous testing at the Continental Tire Automotive Proving Grounds in Uvalde, Texas.
The Ram’s new EcoDiesel V6 produces up to 420 pound-feet of torque and still returns up to 28mpg on the freeway. It’s also capable of towing up to 9200 pounds, making it a serious alternative to some much larger trucks.
