Two things used to almost be givens in trucks — or at least available: manual transmissions and diesel engines. Today, it's impossible to find a new full-size truck with a manual transmission. Regardless of brand, they are all automatic. But there is one new full-size truck that still offers a diesel engine. It's the Ram 1500.
There may be some competition later this year or early next year — now that Ford is offering a diesel engine in the 2018 F-150 pickup.
But for now, if you want the low-down torque (and higher mileage) that a diesel engine delivers, the Ram's got the market cornered.
What It Is
The Ram 1500 is Fiat Chrysler's full-size half-ton pickup truck. It used to be sold under the Dodge label, but Fiat Chrysler spun off Ram as a separate trucks-only brand a couple of years ago.
It competes with other full-size half-ton trucks like the Chevy Silverado 1500 and the Ford F-150, as well as import brand half-ton trucks such as the Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan. But it's currently the only half-ton truck available with a turbodiesel engine. The others are powered by gas engines — at least for the moment.
The Ram diesel engine is actually a package that includes an upgraded cooling system, a heavy-duty electrical system, a stouter 3.55 rear axle ratio and a beefed-up transmission. All of that adds $4,495 to the price, which starts at $27,095 for the base Tradesman trim with 2WD. The same truck with 4WD stickers for $31,695 (before adding in the cost of the turbodiesel package).
What's New
There's a new ultra-luxury Tungsten edition — as in a notch above the Platinum. It includes tungsten-chrome exterior trim, body-colored running boards, the RAM name stamped into the tailgate and "satin carbon" wheels. On the inside it includes frost beige leather seats with indigo accents, a swanky suede headliner and the latest generation of Fiat Chrysler's UConnect system with smartphone-emulating pinch/zoom 8.4-inch LCD touch screen.
A backup camera system is standard in all 1500 trims.
What's Good
It has more range on a full tank (754 miles) than a Toyota Prius.
It can pull the equivalent of three Priuses without the appetite of a V-8.
It's quicker than a Prius (zero to 60 mph takes 8.7 seconds).
What's Not So Good
The diesel package is pricey.
Diesel fuel now costs more than gas, eating into the economy advantage of the diesel engine.
The V-8 Ram tows more (10,620 pounds) and costs less ($1,450 less).
Under the Hood
The optional 3.0-liter turbodiesel falls in between the standard 3.6-liter gas V-6 and the top-of-the-line 5.7-liter gas V-8. It hasn't got as much horsepower as the 3.6-liter V-6 (240 versus 305), but its torque output is tremendous in comparison (420 foot-pounds versus 269 foot-pounds). It has more torque, in fact, than the top-of-the-line Hemi V-8 (410 foot-pounds), and it produces all that torque at just 2,000 rpm, whereas the big V-8 does at 3,950 rpm. This makes it ideal for grunt work, including towing. And it is capable of 29 mpg on the highway — spectacular mileage for a half-ton truck.
The V-8 Ram can tow a bit more, but it needs to be refueled more often (22 mpg on the highway). The V-6, meanwhile, can't tow nearly as much (7,600 pounds max) and uses more fuel (18 mpg city, 25 highway).
On the Road
The only thing that can match the swell of the immediate power a diesel delivers is a big V-8. But big V-8s have big appetites. The turbodiesel engine has a moderate one. It uses about as much fuel as a current midsized passenger sedan while giving its owner cut-above capabilities as far pulling and hauling.
There's also the pleasant intangible diesel burble — which just goes with a big truck.
Big as it is, the Ram is easy to drive. It rides better than some cars, in fact — especially with the optional air suspension — and it's only when you're trying to slip into a curbside parking spot that you have to grapple with the size of the thing.
At the Curb
Though it hasn't been significantly updated in awhile, the Ram's distinctive two-thirds Kenworth styling has held up well.
It looks like a truck ought to.
There are almost 80 possible bed/cab/trim configurations to choose from, too —including the new Tungsten edition, which is the Ram one-upping other brands' Platinum (and King Ranch, etc.) editions.
You can pick regular, quad or crew cab and pair any of them with a 5.7-, 6.4- or 8-foot-long bed.
The Rest
The best thing about the diesel Ram might just be that you don't have to buy one of the more expensive trims before you can buy it. It's fairly common for car companies to limit desirable options to the costlier trims.
This one's not — which people who are looking for a work truck are sure to appreciate.
Fiat Chrysler's UConnect touch screen is among the best available in any vehicle — truck or car. It is handsome to look at and easy to use.
The Bottom Line
It has better-than-V-6 mileage with nearly V-8 towing/hauling capability. And no one else has anything to match it.
Not yet anyhow.
Eric's new book, "Don't Get Taken for a Ride!" is available now. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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