2023 Ram 2500 Performance

The engine options from last year carry over for this model year, namely a 6.4-liter V8 with outputs of 410 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque as standard, or a 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel inline-six with 370 hp and 850 lb-ft. Buyers can choose between 4x2 and 4x4 for most trims - only the Rebel, Power Wagon, Limited Longhorn, and Limited are 4x4 exclusively as is any trim optioned with the Mega Cab body.

Trucks are hardly expected to offer smooth engines that purr in refinement, and heavy-duty haulers such as this are designed to be efficient, functional, and hard-working, with the capability to perform - not in terms of acceleration, but in terms of powerful hauling and carrying. As such, the Ram 2500 is pretty damn good. Towing up to 20,000 pounds is possible with the turbodiesel engine and the correct towing attachments, besting the GMC Sierra 2500 HD, but not quite managing the 22,800 lbs of the Ford F-250. Even the default powertrain can manage in excess of 17,500 lbs. Although the 2023 models have not yet been run through acceleration tests, the 2019 model in Regular Cab Tradesman configuration with the turbodiesel engine managed the 0-60 mph trial in 7.2 seconds - marginally better performance than its Ford Super Duty rival.

Equipped as standard to all models is a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine that produces 410 hp and 429 lb-ft, paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. All models, with the exception of the Power Wagon, can be optioned with a 370-hp and 850-lb-ft 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel inline-six. This monster engine gets a rather outdated automatic six-speed transmission. While the default power plant is optimized for efficiency (as far as is possible for an engine that works this hard), the turbodiesel is aimed at maximum towing and payload-carrying capabilities. The result is that the V8 engine is slightly smoother and more pleasant for day-to-day driving, allowing for impressive-for-a-truck acceleration and overtaking in town or on the highway. The rougher, gruffer diesel motor isn't there to impress or charm - it comes to work with hoarse-toned determination and, although the six-shifter isn't the best, it ultimately does what you ask it to do.

Like all heavy-duty haulers, the new Ram 2500 isn't rated by the EPA, and pinning down an exact figure for gas mileage is almost impossible. Buyers of a car like this have varying uses for their trucks, and, depending on what you do with it daily, and how you drive it, your fuel economy estimates can vary greatly. Owners of Ram 2500 trucks report that the 6.4 liter V8 manages anywhere between 13 and 14 mpg combined, while the bigger diesel motor can achieve upwards of 15 mpg. The standard fuel tank size is either 28, 31, or 32 gallons depending on the engine and body style. With the V8 gas engine and the 31-gallon tank, the range won't be much more than 434 miles. Additionally, Crew Cab variants set up with the eight-foot bed can option a 50-gallon fuel tank, which will substantially improve the distance between fill-ups.