2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn Ecodiesel
“It may have taken forever, but a full-size light-duty diesel is finally available, and thank goodness Ram got it right.”
Average
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Incredibly good mileage
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Smooth, high-torque power from a diesel engine
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Easy and agile to drive
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Practical and comfortable interior.
Against
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High starting price
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Various functions available as standard
Update 11-19-14: This review originally covered the 2014 Ram 1500 Big Horn EcoDiesel. The 2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn EcoDiesel is now in showrooms. No major changes have been made to the car’s bodywork or design, but the latest model shows some cosmetic and fuel-efficiency changes. All the changes are listed below.
- 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine with a consumption of 28 mpg
- 240 horsepower, 420 pound-feet. of torque and a TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission
- 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine getting 25 mpg with standard eight-speed transmission
- The 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with fuel-saving technology and Variable Valve Timing (VVT) produces 395 horsepower, 410 lb-ft. torque
- Segment-first Fuel Saver technology, TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission, thermal management system, pulse-width modulation and active aerodynamics, including louvers and air suspension
- Class-exclusive air suspension improves fuel economy, improves ride control and off-road capability along with entry/exit and loading, and features automatic load leveling
- Drag Coefficient (Cd) at 0.360
- 2015 Ram 1500 3.0-liter V-6 EcoDiesel towing capacity up to 9,200 pounds
introduction
When the new Ram 1500 came out, we, like everyone else, were in awe of its high-tech active aerodynamics and impressive handling. But with the highly efficient new F-150 on the way, and GMC set to roll out its revolutionary diesel-powered Colorado and Canyon midsize trucks, Ram is on the defensive…but not for long.
The American automaker has just delivered a first for the truck market: a light-duty diesel engine. Although the customer may have to pay a lot to get it, it is worth it. The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel is a great engine in a great truck.
Good heart
Almost from the first moment I fired up the Ram EcoDiesel, I was sold on the new engine. I turn the key and a low rumble rises through the floorboards, like a bus with anger management issues.
The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel is a great engine in a great truck.
The source of this sinister growl is a 3.0-litre diesel fitted with a variable-vane turbo. This mill may only be good for 240 horsepower, but the key numbers are torque and fuel economy…and they’re pretty impressive. The EcoDiesel produces 420 pound-feet of torque and an amazing 27 mpg highway and 19 mpg city.
Surprisingly, the Ram can live up to these numbers in practice. During the week I slightly exceeded the city mileage, but easily met or exceeded the highway rating. Not bad for a truck that weighs an earthquake causing 6,950 lbs.
On paper, 240 hp and 420 lb-ft. seem a lot. However, in practice it seems to be even more… at least, most of the time. Due to the EcoDiesel’s small displacement, turbo lag rears its ugly head. It’s not terrible, but at low revs, and especially on hills, the EcoDiesel will hesitate for a moment before taking off with a wave of freight-train fury. Despite the lag, the torque is there when it’s needed, which means that in the EcoDiesel trim, the 1500 can tow 9,000 pounds, or nearly a full Ram 2500.
Once up to speed, the Ram is powerful and smooth, in many ways better than a gas-powered V8. This smoothness is due in part to the excellent eight-speed transmission, which shifts quickly and intelligently to keep the diesel in its power range.
That’s a good thing, too, since diesel is a $4,000 option. If it was just fuel consumption, it wouldn’t be worth it, but I honestly prefer its dynamics to the Hemi V8.
King of the Road
As impressive as the new engine is, however, it wouldn’t shine like it does if it wasn’t mounted in a very good truck.
The 1500 may be the smallest truck in the Chrysler Group, but it’s still the size of a battleship. In fact, the thing is so big that I spent the whole week worried that Vladimir Putin might try to annex it.
Despite weighing more than two average family cars, the 1500 is extremely enjoyable to drive.
It takes more than a good powertrain to squeeze an average 22 mpg out of this leviathan. To increase that number, Ram engineers used more aerodynamic tricks than the average commercial jet. The frame uses an under-bumper diffuser and full-length rails for smooth airflow across the body. The louvers close behind the grill to reduce resistance. And the air suspension lowers on the road to lower the car’s ride height like a brick.
That air suspension doesn’t just improve aerodynamics. It’s smart enough to take a truck that weighs twice as much as most family cars and turn it into a docile, easy-to-drive truck. The ride is firm but comfortable, and all controls react quickly and precisely. It may not be a sports car, but the 1500 is nicer to drive than most crossovers. Also, fill the bed with, well, stuff, and the inner tubes will level out the ride. This not only improves aesthetics, but also ensures that distorted airflow doesn’t ruin fuel economy.
The problem with all this road engineering is that it doesn’t extend to more difficult environments. Of course, there are some aspects to this, like the low-end, four-wheel drive, and skid plates that protect the transfer case and front suspension. But those improvements to aerodynamics and road handling were a double-edged sword.
Take the distributor located under the bumper. It might be a great idea, but if the truck hits something rough, you’d better pull it to the side of the road. The same applies to the relatively low ride height. It’s great for aerodynamics, but it also means surprisingly low ground clearance. In short, this truck is built to handle more highways than back roads.
But in my book, that’s fine. Most truck owners, myself included, rarely take our vehicles off-road, and when we do, it’s on a boat ramp or nasty dirt road. The Ram 1500 can still do those things, and it can absolutely destroy the daily commute.
Uconnect, but not much else
There is another cost to all of these impressive engineering achievements: the actual cost. That means when you add in the $48,425 price tag, there isn’t much room left for automotive tech.
The 1500 EcoDiesel Big Horn may come with one of the best infotainment systems in the business, Uconnect, but it really couldn’t do much in my vehicle.
I expected navigation, satellite radio, adaptive cruise control, and air conditioning.
Specifically, the Big Horn Uconnect package gets Bluetooth connectivity for phone and audio, touchscreen climate control, and a reversing camera. All these features work well and it only takes two clicks to pair the phone.
For that kind of money, though, I expected navigation, satellite radio, adaptive cruise control, and climate control instead of the old fan and temperature controls.
The other Ram’s other features are pretty minimal, but at least the $595 reversing camera package includes parking sensors.
pensive interior
While the Ram 1500 Big Horn isn’t a technological panacea for its price, it is at least very well designed.
The interior is packed with charging ports and connectivity options. The huge center console has a two-layer cover. The upper level has room for a tablet and two USB ports, including one that only charges and doesn’t connect to the head unit. A nice feature if the driver wants to connect something without interfering with the Bluetooth device.
The Ram 1500’s dash also includes something I love and want automakers to consider: the original 3-prong 115-volt power outlet. That means no messing around with cigarette lighter adapters that can only be bought at Radio Shack or hideous truck stops. Instead, just use the plug God intended.
Throw in a smart-car-sized rear seat on its own, and the Ram is a surprisingly utilitarian place, not to mention comfortable.
Conclusion
The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel can cost a lot of money, too much money to be honest. However, it is still worth the price. The trucking segment, like many areas of life, is about commitment. Having it all means paying for it.
The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel manages to deliver the important stuff, even if it’s not quite perfect. The new diesel engine combines better fuel economy than any V6 offering from other automakers with the torque and towing capacity of a V8. And in most driving conditions, the 1500 simply outperforms most other trucks.
It may not be an off-road hero, but as a practical truck that can tow a boat or trailer and tow five adults comfortably, it’s hard to beat…even if they don’t have many buttons to push while seated. .
The best news is yet to come, though: Ram won’t be alone in the light-duty diesel market for long. Nissan will bring its own light diesel to market this fall, and GM has its own diesel Colorados and Canyons. That means competition and hopefully a lower price across the board.
High
- Incredibly good mileage
- Smooth, high-torque power from a diesel engine
- Easy and agile to drive
- Practical and comfortable interior.
falls
- High starting price
- Various functions available as standard
editor’s recommendations
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn