Ram Is Eyeing 30 MPG Future

Earlier this year, Dodge Ram began offering the 1500 EcoDiesel, which became the first light-duty diesel pickup in the United States in more than ten years. Even more impressive, at an advertised 28 miles per gallon on the highway, the 1500 EcoDiesel has the highest EPA rating of all-time for a full-sized pickup!!!

But according to some reports, 28 miles per gallon may even be a conservative estimate. Autoblog’s Sebastian Blanco reported after an official 1,000 mile long test that the truck was getting 35.7 miles per gallon.

In an interview with Automotive News, Ram’s brand director Bob Hegbloom addressed the rumors by saying, “What’s happened in reality with the EcoDiesel is that people are taking screen shots (of the fuel economy gauge), and we’ve heard third-party endorsements of people who say they are blowing away 28. We’ve got people out there who are saying they are getting into the low 30s consistently with their truck.”

Adding to the fountain of riches is the fact that the increase in gas mileage has not affected the 3.0-liter V6 truck’s performance.

In a New York Times review from earlier this year, Tudor Van Hampton says, “With all that diesel torque engaging the pavement, it’s a blast to drive. Acceleration from a stoplight is a bit lazy at first but as the turbo spins up, a powerful jolt quickly follows. And it’s well refined. With the windows rolled up, I could barely detect the diesel’s typical clatter. Thanks to its emission controls, there was not a whiff of smoke visible from the tailpipe, either.”

So far this year, these factors have helped the new Ram truck kill in the sales department, even helping Ram increase total sales by nearly 20% since 2013. This, of course, was a much needed boost for a company that has been struggling ever since being devoured by Fiat.

The temporary resurgence with the new 1500 EcoDiesel, however, isn’t enough for Ram. They want to continue progressing and putting out trucks that operate at the highest level. In his interview with Automotive News, Hegbloom even hinted that the company has its eye on an official 30 mile per gallon tag in the near future, saying that whatever manufacturer can hit that mark will “win” the pickup battle.