The clock is ticking for those interested in buying a diesel-engine version of the Ram 1500
. Diesel trucks are being phased out across automakers, and the Ram
1500 will be no more after January of 2023. Read on with the car ownership experts
at Jerry
to learn why the Ram 1500 is saying goodbye to diesel, why diesel engines are losing popularity across the U.S., and what it means for future truck owners. Why diesel is dying
According to Kelley Blue Book
, Ram’s 3.0 EcoDiesel V6 was first introduced in 2014 to provide truck owners with a hard-working engine option with some massive towing power. The EcoDiesel V6 produces a whopping 480 pound-feet of torque at just 1,600 rpm for towing and even has an EPA highway fuel economy rating of up to 33 mpg.
Many truck owners prefer diesel because it's more powerful and fuel-efficient, but diesel also tends to emit a slightly higher percentage of pollution than gas-powered vehicles.
Diesel emits a lower amount of carbon dioxide than gas, but also produces 25 to 400 times more mass of soot and sulfur per mile.
In spite of the improvements made to diesel engines to make them more eco-friendly, they’ve been losing popularity as more and more brands shift to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Back in 2021, Ford similarly took away the diesel engine for the F-150 truck. The F-150 is one of only two vehicles that outsell the Ram.
Does Ram still offer any diesel trucks?
Ram Heavy Duty trucks like the Ram 2500 and 3500 will still carry the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine option, but lighter-duty trucks like the 1500 will no longer offer a diesel engine option.
Both the Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra also still offer a diesel engine option. They offer a 3.0-liter turbodiesel 6-cylinder for the 2023 model year, which delivers a comparable 460 pound-feet of torque at 1,500.
If you still want to get your hands on a diesel Ram 1500, time’s not out just yet. Ram released a statement that consumers have a final opportunity to order the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel model before it goes out of production in January.
Diesel-equipped Ram trucks start at $42,290, and diesel engines are available on the Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, Limited Longhorn, and Limited trims.
Electric trucks are the next frontier
From the looks of it, it sounds like Ram is going in a similar direction to Ford, perhaps egged on by the F-150 Lightning’s remarkable success.
According to Ram, a 1500 battery-electric vehicle (BEV) pickup truck is coming in 2024. If you’re in the market for an electric truck, don’t get stuck overpaying on car insurance. To get the best deal on car insurance, try out the Jerry app.
With Jerry, finding the right coverage at an affordable price takes less than a minute. All you need to do is answer a few questions, and Jerry will compile a comprehensive list of the best coverage options across providers.
To ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price.
MORE: 2024 Ram 1500 EV: What We Know So Far
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