Buying a brand-new pickup truck can be more difficult than choosing toppings at a frozen yogurt restaurant. Once you've settled on which trim and cab configuration to buy, you then have to delve into the extensive list of options and color choices. Then, there are the engines. Take the 2020 Ram 1500, for example. Whilt it doesn't even have the most extensive selection of engine options in the full-size truck segment, there are still three different motors to choose from. Four if you count the mild-hybrid V8.
CarBuzz was recently sent a fully-loaded Ram 1500 Crew Cab Limited trim packing the most expensive of the three engines, the EcoDiesel. The diesel engine adds $4,995 to the base price of the Ram 1500. To find out if it is worth the cost, we wanted to delve into each of the Ram 1500's engine options to see which one you should buy.
3.6-Liter V6 (With eTorque)
The base engine choice in the Ram 1500 is a 3.6-liter V6 with 24 valves, variable valve timing, and FCA's eTorque 48-volt mild-hybrid system. This base mill generates 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque, routed to rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive through an eight-speed automatic transmission. By relying on the 48-volt system, the V6 can offer seamless stop-start functionality and greater towing capacity with an added 90 lb-ft of torque.
Ram says the V6 1500 can achieve up to 20/26/23 mpg city/highway/combined with RWD. While efficient and affordable, the V6 is the least capable of the available engines with a towing capacity of up to 7,730 pounds.
5.7-Liter HEMI V8
Upgrading to the larger 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine is a $1,795 option. With two additional cylinders, the HEMI is much more powerful with 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque paired to an eight-speed automatic. Aside from the cost of the engines, you'll pay at the pump for the V8 with fuel economy of up to 15/22/17 mpg city/highway/combined. This is a penalty of three (or more) mpg in each category and in our previous experience testing a Ram 1500 with the V8, these numbers are optimistic. On the plus side, the V8 does have a much greater towing capacity of up to 11,610 pounds.
5.7-Liter HEMI V8 (With eTorque)
For just $200 more than the base V8 ($1,995 total), you can have the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with the mild-hybrid eTorque system found in the base V6. While the system doesn't offer any significant gains in power or torque, the addition of stop-start technology improves the fuel economy to 17/23/19 mpg city/highway/combined. In addition to posting better efficiency figures, the V8 with eTorque also sees a bump in towing capacity to up to 12,750 pounds, making it the most capable offering of the bunch.
Since the eTorque system is such an inexpensive upgrade over the base V8, this is the engine we'd recommend. We loved the low grumble of the V8 engine but it's thirsty when driving in normal traffic. The V8 HEMI with eTorque seems like the best fit for most buyers.
3.0-Liter Turbo Diesel V6 Generation 3
Full-size trucks have only recently started to offer diesel engines but Ram's EcoDiesel is one of the best options. For starters, it boasts a best-in-class driving range of over 1,000 miles when equipped with the optional 33-gallon tank. While not the most efficient in the class (that honor goes to the diesel Silverado), the EcoDisel is the most frugal Ram engine with up to 22/32/26 mpg city/highway/combined. It is worth noting those figures drop slightly to 21/29/24 mpg with 4WD.
The EcoDiesel is down on power with just 260 hp but torque is a whopping 480 lb-ft. This means the diesel Ram can best the base V8's towing capacity with up to 12,560 pounds. It's not as aurally pleasing as the V8, but this Generation 3 EcoDiesel is remarkably unintrusive and offers gobs of smooth passing power.
Whether or not to upgrade to the diesel is really just a question of math. With the higher cost of diesel, we calculate it will take around 6.6 years to earn back the cost versus the base V8. The diesel might be a tough sell to the majority of buyers but those who plan to take long trips should highly consider it.