As you all know, the battle in the half-ton truck market raised to the new segment. All big three US companies launched diesel engines. The competition is bigger than ever. But, buyers have more options. The 2020 Ram 1500 Diesel is on par with its main rivals. When the truck debuted, at NAIAS in 2018, it was a star of the show, although we could previously listen more about Ford F150 and Chevy Silverado 1500 and their engine. Later, the Ram 1500 diesel appeared in a commercial at halftime special during SuperBowl. So, the vehicle had a great start.
The 2020 Ram 1500 Diesel will be unchanged if we compare the first edition arrived as 2019 YM. FCA has no reason to update this model, so everything is pretty much the same as before. The company is well-known for special editions of the Ram trucks, so there could be major additions to the lineup. Of course, FCA is not announcing these kinds of changes too frequently, so the new EcoDiesel engine will wait for an appearance on another trim level. Specs and capabilities are similar to its rivals, and details will be decisive again.
2020 Ram 1500 Diesel Specs
Under the hood of the 2020 Ram 1500 Diesel is a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 engine. This drivetrain is making 260 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. Downgraded versions of the engine are available for other vehicles in FCA’s lineup. For example, Jeep Grand Cherokee is getting 240 hp and 420 lb-ft, while the all-new Gladiator truck produces 250 hp and 450 lb-ft of twist. Ram 1500 Diesel is also equipped with various technology that will improve towing capacity. The maximum weight the truck can haul exceeds 12,500 pounds.
Fuel economy numbers are also pretty impressive for this segment, with 28 mpg available for highway drive on 2WD models. Combined, the rating drops to 23 mpg and 22 mpg with AWD. Although it doesn’t stand next to the displacement, the EcoDiesel is Cummins’ engine. The cooperation between the FCA and the engineering company continues in this segment. Cummins also delivers huge powertrains for Ram’s heavy-duty segment. These units are capable to tow over 30,000 pounds.
2020 Ram 1500 Diesel vs Ford F-150 PowerStroke vs Chevy Silverado Duramax
All three US trucks are using turbodiesel engines of the same displacement. The 2020 Ram 1500 Diesel is getting its unit from Cummins, and both other truckmakers still believe in their partners. Duramax is one of the famous engineering company, especially popular among diesel fans. After a 2.8-liter unit for a mid-size Colorado, this nameplate is on the drivetrain for Silverado 1500 half-ton truck. This time, a 3.0-l displacement is capable to produce 280 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. On the other hand, Ford is developing its own engines. After huge displacements for the Super Duty lineup, the Blue Oval automaker prepared a 3.0-l engine for the full-size truck. Well, it is the weakest option of all three, with 250 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque.
The difference between power outputs results with better or worse towing capabilities. The 2020 Ram 1500 Diesel can tow 12,500 pounds, while the lack of torque costs Ford F-150 diesel more than 1,000 lbs of towing capacity. Silverado 1500 Diesel is between these two trucks, with 12,000 pounds. There are no details about sales of these units, but we believe that Ford will still remain a leader, both in diesel class and overall. Last year, they sold nearly 1 million copies of F-150 truck. With a diesel engine as another option, this mark should be breached this year.
Trim Levels and Features
The new 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel will carry over the existing trim packages from the standard petrol editions and its predecessor. As for the entire squad, the Tradesman is the entry-level version. Big Horn, Laramie, and Limited are further options. The company should add the Rebel off-road package to this drivetrain to boost the overall 4×4 performance. Diesel unit will be lighter than large V8 petrol engines, and its torque outputs are close to numbers large mills are delivering.
A 5-inch touchscreen display is standard, while you can upgrade your Uconnect system with a 12-inch screen. Big Horn adds fog lights, leather steering wheel, and unique cosmetic upgrades around the truck. Laramie offers some premium accessories, such as audio system, or heated and cooled front seats. Still, the Limited edition is the top of the class model with Navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, air suspension, wireless charging, and many more.
2020 Ram 1500 Diesel Price
The base Ram 1500 with a petrol engine costs $33,000. Cummins EcoDiesel will add around $5,000 to this price. All-wheel drive increases the cost by another $2,000. So, the base 2020 Ram 1500 Diesel with AWD will have a price tag of $40,000. The Limited package will be available for $55,000. Also, the additional packages allow a buyer to personalize their ride. Towing groups of features are especially interesting if you want to maximize hauling potential.