2014 Ram EcoDiesel Gets 28 MPG, Sets Benchmark

Chrysler’s Ram pickup trucks took a big risk when they jumped to and eight-speed automatic transmission to boost fuel economy, but the new diesel is setting a new industry benchmark.

The company announced today that its diesel half-ton will return up to 28 mpg during highway driving or 23 on average between city and highway speeds. Last year, Ram grabbed the segment’s fuel miser title with its V6-equipped 1500 pickup, which returns 25 mpg on the highway, a rating that remains the same for this year.

SEE ALSO: 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Review

“To put the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel in context, it gets six mpg better fuel economy than the best F150 Eco-Boost. Overall, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel has outstanding pickup truck capability with compact-car-like fuel economy,” said Ram truck boss Reid Bigland.

The truck also offers 420 lb-ft of torque , but it doesn’t come cheap. The Outdoorsman model is the lowest-possible trim Ram offers with its 3.0-liter oil burner, and that truck comes with a starting price of roughly $35,500 for the base V6 gasoline engine. It’s going to cost another $4,000 to add the diesel engine plus another $500 for an upgraded transmission, bringing the truck within spitting distance of $40,000 before other options. Ram says that compared to a “similarly equipped” Ram 1500 with a Hemi V8, the diesel version comes at a $2,850 premium.

GALLERY: 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel

Discuss this further at our Ram EcoDiesel 1500 Forum