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2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Road Test and Review

Nicole Wakelin
by Nicole Wakelin
September 23, 2019
5 min. Reading Time
2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Rebel ・  Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Rebel ・ Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

The Ram 1500 was fully redesigned for 2019 with a fresh look, improved capabilities, the latest safety technologies, and a comprehensive infotainment system. As is typical with trucks, the 2019 Ram offered configurations galore with a variety of bed sizes, cab styles, two-wheel or four-wheel drive, and even a choice of engines. What wasn’t a part of a mix was a diesel engine, but that changes for the 2020 model year with the debut of the third-generation 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel.

 

This new engine offers 480 lb-ft of torque with 12,560 pounds of towing, both of which are the highest of any available half-ton diesel. It’s a capable choice with a comfortable ride and a luxurious interior. Let’s take a closer look at the 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel to see if this diesel-powered truck is the right choice for you.

It has eight available trims and endless configuration choices.

The 2020 RAM 1500 is available in eight trim levels with a wide range of configurations to suit your needs and your budget. Choose from two-wheel or four-wheel drive, quad or crew cabs, and either a 5-foot 7-inch bed or 6-foot 4-inch bed. Along with the newly available EcoDiesel, there are three additional engine options available. Choose from a 3.6-liter V6 with 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque or two variations of the 5.7-liter V8 that boast 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque.

The EcoDiesel trim range starts with the base Tradesman with a quad cab and two-wheel drive at a price of $36,890 with $1,695 destination charge. The EcoDiesel can be added to any trim in the lineup as an option for $4,995. It’s not an inexpensive option, but for its capability and expected fuel economy, it’s still a value.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Its smooth ride makes you forget you’re in a truck.

There was a time when trucks were good for doing work, but not so much for carrying passengers. It wasn’t that they didn’t have room, but that old trucks' ride quality was harsh and unforgiving, especially without a load in the bed. Today’s trucks offer a greatly improved ride, and the RAM 1500 excels at providing a premium passenger experience. While you can get a more luxurious interior by adding options and moving up the trim line, even lower trims of the Ram 1500 offer a smooth and compliant ride.

If ride quality is a priority, then consider the active-level four-corner suspension system. It’s available across the lineup and standard on the top Limited trim. This system not only smooths out the bumps and dips in the road, but also reduces overall vibration and noise so well that you'll forget you’re in a truck.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

What to Know About the EcoDiesel Engine

This third generation of the turbocharged EcoDiesel V6 has best-in-class 480 lb-ft of torque at 1,600 rpm, marking a 14 percent increase over the outgoing engine. It also boasts 260 horsepower at 3,600 rpm, which is an 8 percent increase. It’s not one big change but multiple smaller changes throughout the engine that help it achieve these improved numbers. There’s a more efficient water-cooled turbocharger, redesigned intake ports for better performance and fuel economy, and a revised compression ratio that reduces exhaust emissions.

There’s also a new dual, high-pressure and low-pressure exhaust recirculation system, which is a first for North America. It lowers NOx emissions and improves fuel economy. A piston pin offset of 0.3 degrees minimizes piston slap, and a polymer/metal material in the lower portion of the oil sump pump reduces engine noise. The engineers at Ram were thorough in making the new EcoDiesel more efficient and quieter than ever.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

The available multifunction tailgate provides easy bed access.

Getting access to what’s in the bed of a truck isn’t always easy, but Ram’s new take on the tailgate makes it easier than ever. The available multifunction tailgate has 60/40 split doors that give you plenty of options. The doors open left to right, so you can swing either or both open and reach right into the bed of the truck.

Say goodbye to popping the tailgate down and then having to lean over it to awkwardly reach inside. These split doors also make it easier to step into the truck if you need to get to items that are toward the back, and they allow for forklift loading. Of course, you can still flip the tailgate down in the usual way if it suits your needs and, if you want to take a seat, it’ll hold up to 2,000 pounds.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

The tow rating won’t disappoint.

Chances are good that if you’re buying a truck and looking at a diesel engine, then you’re planning on towing on a regular basis. Diesel engines are ideal for this kind of work thanks to their low-end torque, which helps get you going smoothly when you have a heavy load hooked up to your truck. The 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel has the highest half-ton torque available at 480 lb-ft and it makes short work of hauling large loads. There’s no strain or hesitation with this engine. When you press the gas, it gets to work.

It also gives the RAM 1500 the highest half-ton towing capacity available at 12,650 pounds. That’s more than most people will usually tow in this class. The Ram 1500 with the EcoDiesel engine is ideal whether you tow every day or only every now and then.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

For the first time, the Ram 1500 Rebel gets the EcoDiesel engine.

The outgoing diesel engine, which is still available on what Ram calls the 1500 Classic, had limited availability. This cut out the off-road-focused RAM 1500 Rebel, but for the first time Ram is offering the new EcoDiesel on its full lineup, including the Rebel. That’s not all that’s new for the Rebel. It’s also available with an appearance package that blacks out the wheels and skid plate and gives it either an all-black or red interior.

There’s a Rebel Safety Group that adds adaptive cruise control with stop, go, and hold; forward collision mitigation; a lane departure warning with steering assistance; and automatic high beam headlamps. Finally, the Rebel gets exterior graphic upgrades. Despite its off-road prowess, the Rebel can also be equipped with the 12-inch Uconnect screen, Harman Karon sound system, and leather seating for a more upscale experience.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Easy-to-use infotainment has all the features you need.

The RAM 1500 features Uconnect, which is one of the most intuitive infotainment systems available. A 5.0-inch screen is standard on base trims, while midrange trims get an 8.4-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Top trims get a massive 12-inch vertical touchscreen along with navigation with 3D landmarks and SiriusXM 360L. This large screen adds an element of luxury to the Ram 1500 and makes navigating the system effortless. Think of it as a tablet mounted right on your dashboard.

You can even reconfigure the screen to suit your preferences, including by setting it up as a split-screen to divide functionality. Along with the bigger screen, top trims also get an audio upgrade with a 900-watt 19-speaker Harman Kardon system that includes a 10-inch subwoofer and active noise cancellation. If you’re looking for a truck with all the features of a luxury car, the Ram 1500 has you covered.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Safety features make day-to-day truck life easier.

The 2020 RAM 1500 scores well in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests. Not every possible configuration was tested, but those that were received either a four-star or five-star overall rating. The RAM 1500 incorporates numerous safety features to make driving and towing easier. There’s a standard rearview camera with dynamic gridlines, while blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-path detection and trailer detection, forward collision mitigation, a lane-departure warning, and a surround-view camera are optional on the top three trims.

Those top trims also offer parallel and perpendicular parking assistance and come standard with front and rear parking sensors. Parking in tight spots is always a challenge and even more so in a large vehicle like a truck. These optional features will help make sure you don’t miss any low-lying objects and keep your truck looking new rather than sporting dents and scratches.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Final Thoughts

The 2020 RAM 1500 EcoDiesel adds an efficient and powerful diesel engine to the already impressive engines offered in this full-size pickup. Its impressive torque and towing numbers make it appealing to those who tow on a regular basis, but even those who tow only on occasion will find it a solid choice. At a nearly $5,000 premium, it’s not an inexpensive option, but it is one that will make the workday easier — especially for those who already have diesel equipment on the worksite and don’t want to manage different fuels for different vehicles.

What gives the RAM 1500 an edge over competitors is that it not only offers the capability of a diesel, but it does so in one of the smoothest-riding, most comfortable trucks you can buy. Whether you want a minimalist interior or something straight out of a luxury car, there’s a Ram 1500 EcoDiesel for you.

 Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles


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