AUTO
EVERYTHING
NEW CAR REVIEW
2015 DODGE RAM 1500
T
3.0L EcoDiesel V6 engine offers exceptional torque and the best fuel economy of any full-size pickup
he 2015 Ram 1500 leads
pickup truck fuel economy with
winning powertrains: exclusive 3.0-
liter V-6 EcoDiesel with 240
horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque
at 28 miles per gallon (mpg) and
Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 with 305
horsepower
and
best-in-class
gasoline fuel economy of 25 mpg.
Ram 1500 holds the top two spots in
half-ton truck fuel economy, even
beating small trucks.
The 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine is
mated to the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic
transmission. Together, the powertrain system
delivers an outstanding combination of fuel
efficiency at 28 mpg, unsurpassed torque of 420
lb.-ft. and up to 9,200 pounds of towing
capability.
Ram Truck offers the best value in half-ton
trucks with a starting price of $23,970, plus
$1,195 destination and includes a standard 5.7-
liter HEMI V-8. The exclusive V-6 EcoDiesel
with TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic trans-
mission is priced $2,850 greater than a similarly
equipped Ram 1500 with a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8
with Torqueflite eight-speed transmission.
The 2015 Ram 1500 capitalizes on a
truckload of exclusive, pioneering, fuel-saving
systems, including: eight-speed automatic trans-
mission, stop-start system, thermal management
system, pulse-width modulation and active
aerodynamics with grille shutters and air
suspension.
The Ram 1500 earned Motor Trend’s Truck
of the Year in 2013 and 2014, the first time a
vehicle of any type has taken the coveted award
back-to-back. The Ram 1500 also won the
Truck of Texas in 2013 and 2014 – a rare
double, back-to-back combination in the pickup
segment.
Power
Aptly branded EcoDiesel, the 3.0-liter
powerplant is a turbocharged 60-degree, dual
overhead camshaft (DOHC) 24-valve V-6 that
produces 240 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of
torque is more efficient than all V-6 gasoline
engines in the half-ton category. This abundant
torque
12 • EVERYTHING AUTO • FALL 2015
from a 3.0-liter engine is the enabler for 9,200
pounds of towing capacity while delivering fuel
economy of 28 mpg on the highway.
Like the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 and 5.7-liter
HEMI V-8 gasoline engines already offered on
the Ram 1500, the EcoDiesel V-6 is mated to
the TorqueFlite 8, the only eight-speed
automatic transmission offered in the half-ton
class.
The 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine (Ward’s
10 Best Engines Award three years in a row)
with variable-valve timing (VVT) offers 305
horsepower, 269 lb.-ft. of torque and best-in-
class gasoline fuel economy of 25 mpg.
The legendary 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with fuel-
saving cylinder shut-off and VVT provides 395
horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. of torque.
The class-exclusive eight-speed automatic
transmission (TorqueFlite 8) is standard
equipment with 3.0-liter V-6 EcoDiesel and 3.6-
liter V-6 Pentastar models.
BY THE
NUMBERS
Wheelbase: 140.5 in.
Length: 229 in.
Width: 79.4 in.
Height: 77.2 in.
Base Engine: 3.6 liter Pentastar V6,
305 hp, 269 lb. ft. torque
Transmission: 6-speed ECT-i
automatic
EPA Mileage: 18 city, 25 highway