Think of the Ram 1500 as a fuel-efficient midsize sedan with a really big trunk.
If pickups have a near-universal downside, it’s poor fuel economy. The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel is an exception to that rule, however. What sets this version of the Ram’s full-size, half-ton pickup apart is what’s under the hood, namely a spunky 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6.
Offered on every Ram 1500 trim level from lowly work trucks to the top-of-the-line Limited model that we tested—which came in priced at a breathtaking $75K, more than twice the MSRP of the base Ram—this impressively efficient powertrain makes it possible to go more than 1,000 miles between fill-ups with the available 33-gallon tank.
And the Ram 1500’s car-like attributes extend beyond fuel economy. Ride quality is surprisingly smooth, especially with the available four-corner air suspension, and handling is responsive enough to make this big truck feel substantially smaller than it is—not an easy feat to pull off.
And lest you think the diminutive engine hamstrings the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel in any way, think again. It offers class-leading towing capabilities, with the ability to pull trailers up to 12,560 pounds. Its payload is just as respectable—between 1,740 and 2,040 pounds, depending on the trim level. Add what are some of the plushest interiors on four wheels, plus a wealth of available technology—including a giant, 12-inch reconfigurable center display—and you’ve got quite possibly the least truck-like pickup on the road.
