2020 RAM 1500 EcoDiesel Review

The 2020 RAM 1500 is the best all-around full-size cartridge you can buy. With excellent technology options, a functional and elegant design, capable off-road performance and comfortable ride quality, there's a lot to love.

With the new EcoDiesel engine under the hood, you can upgrade to better fuel economy and additional towing and payload capacity. This is a great motor choice to definitely consider compared to the 2020 RAM 1500 HEMI with eTorque.

Driving the 2020 RAM 1500 EcoDiesel

At first glance, the new Deisel engine may appear very similar to the model it replaced, but under the hood it is made up of 80% new parts. This includes a new turbocharger and thanks to a collection of intelligent upgrades you get more power and more torque.

The 3.0L V6 Ecodiesel in our RAM 1500 Limited delivers 260 hp and 480 lb.-ft. of torque. That torque is even more useful and fun, as it arrives early to give you good acceleration before smoothing out the rest of your ride. You won't experience the old telltale diesel engine noise and vibration with the 2020 RAM 1500 EcoDiesel. RAM did an excellent job of removing the harshness of diesel.

The 2020 RAM 1500 EcoDiesel offers a great driving experience.

Acceleration is good, but falls short of the speed of the petrol V8 Hemi with eTorque that we tested. When you step on the gas, the Deisel engine delivers smooth power that you will feel. This engine is an improvement on the freeway and on errands around town.

The ride quality is very good thanks to the air suspension system included in our rental car. This is a must if you plan on spending a lot of time on the road. It does a great job of soaking up bumps in the road, making for a comfortable and safe ride. The steering is well-weighted, helping to avoid over-feeling on the freeway or when maneuvering through city parking lots.

Payload is 2,040 and towing capacity is 12,560 pounds. That's a class-leading towing capacity for diesel-powered full-size pickup trucks. With the air suspension, you can expect a smoother towing experience as it automatically levels itself during towing.

The EPA rates the 4×4 2020 RAM 1500 Limited EcoDiesel at 24 mpg combined with 21 mpg city and 29 mpg on the highway. This is consistent with our observations when testing the truck and is significantly better than the 5.7-liter V8 Hemi with eTorque that we previously tested.

2020 RAM 1500 Interior & Features

The tailgate, RamBox and RamBin make it easy to transport tools and get the job done.

The 2020 RAM 1500 Limited offers a very comfortable cabin and there are many exciting and useful features packed inside and outside the pickup. The crew cab has plenty of room and RAM does a great job of keeping essential controls within easy reach. There is room for two adults in the front and two more in the back.

The design of the center console is particularly practical thanks to the sliding cup holder element and the versatile storage. You can slide the center portion of this setup forward to hide clutter in the storage area, or slide it back for more space. A wireless charger and a phone holder are located on the front edge of the compartment.

The seats are comfortable and up front the Limited offers heated and ventilated seats, as well as heated second-row seats and a heated steering wheel.

We like the memory storage capability of the rear seat. The seats fold up to make room for cargo that you want to lock or protect from the elements. With Ram Bin storage there are also two compartments built into the base, perfect for storing essentials that would otherwise clutter up your back seat.

Say yes to the RamBox.

The bed of the RAM 1500 is packed with useful features. Our rental car came with an easy-to-open cover and a load management system that acts as a divider that you can place throughout the bed.

The RamBox storage compartments are hands down one of our favorite RAM features. These lockable boxes on the side of the bed allow you to easily transport tools and equipment or store groceries.

While the multi-function tailgate doesn't offer as many options as the GMC Sierra Multi-Pro tailgate, it is very useful. We like the gullwing door's opening style, which makes getting into the bed or reaching deep into the bed easier than a standard liftgate. It's also fully cushioned on opening, meaning it opens slowly and smoothly. This trim level also featured a remote release.

If you choose the off-road groupset that came with our rental car, you'll get 20-inch wheels, an electronically lockable rear axle, skid plates, a full-size spare wheel, and hill-descent assist. Trust us, you'll need these if you plan any serious off-road adventures.

2020 RAM 1500 Technology & Safety

The 12-inch UConnect system is one of the best infotainment systems you'll find on the road today. The huge screen shows the information you need at the right time, and you can customize the display to show the controls and options that are important to you.

This system also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, providing access to calls, messages, apps and navigation. We prefer using these over the built-in controls, but you can still stream or make calls via Bluetooth. Thanks to the huge screen, you can hold CarPlay or Android Auto at the top and then a separate set of controls at the bottom, so you don't have to keep turning them on and off to access vehicle functions.

The huge screen is perfect for CarPlay, Android Auto and all other technology and control functions.

You can also control almost all vehicle functions for heating, cooling and stereo control with physical buttons. The buttons and large knobs are all easy to operate with gloves.

RAM truly offers connectivity, including nine USB ports, wireless charging and three standard outlets to power your gear, laptops and tools. The RAM 1500 includes four USB-C and four standard USB. The premium 19-speaker Harmon Kardon sound option is great for listening to your favorite tunes on a car ride, and in-car calls sound great.

RAM also offers all the essential comfort and security features. The RAM 1500 Limited we tested includes;

• Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
• Extended brake assistant
• Full Speed ​​Forward Collision Alert Plus
• Lane Departure Warning
• Parallel and perpendicular parking assistant with stop
• Surround view camera
• Automatic high beam
• Blind spot with cross traffic
• ParkSense
• Rain sensitive wipers

Adaptive speed worked very well, and blind spot monitoring provided extra confidence on the freeway. Parallel and Perpendicular Park are really useful when you need help parking on the street or in parking lots. Once the parking space is detected, the vehicle can automatically turn the wheel to move the pickup into the parking space and then stop when parked.

I miss the Ford F-150 Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which lets you twist a knob when reversing to control the direction of the trailer. It's nice to have automatic trailer detection in blind spot monitoring for the RAM 1500. We haven't tested this feature, but it's a nice option if you plan to draw frequently.

By: 2020 RAM 1500 EcoDiesel Review