Is a Ram Hybrid Worth It?
Everything you need to know about the Ram hybrid model begins here.
Written by Mariza Morin
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Ram first attempted to create plug-in hybrids back in 2011, and less than a decade later the renowned pickup truck manufacturer now offers their eTorque Mild Hybrid System in any of their latest
1500
models. Pickup trucks are not necessarily known for their fuel efficiency, but that’s changing quickly with the introduction of hybrid trucks in recent years. Since 2019, Ram has jumped on the hybrid bandwagon with their eTorque system for added electric support to their popular 1500 truck.
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2022 Ram 1500 with eTorque
So what is the eTorque system? It’s a mild hybrid technology that is meant to improve fuel economy without affecting capacity, power performance, and torque. However, since this is a “mild” hybrid system, Ram 1500s are not considered full hybrid trucks.
Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric car: what’s the difference?
Before we go any further with our discussion of the Ram 1500 with eTorque, let’s delve into the differences between a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicle.
Standard hybrid vehicles are powered by an electric motor (usually one or two) and a gas engine. A hybrid battery is charged by regenerative braking and still relies on gasoline.
Similarly, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is also powered by an electric motor and gas engine, but it can function as an electric car for shorter trips when fully charged due to its much larger battery. The gas engine will step in once your charge runs out.
Full-electric vehicles—often referred to as EVs (electric vehicles) or BEVs (battery electric vehicles)—come equipped with an electric motor instead of a regular internal combustion engine.
The best Ram hybrid cars
As mentioned before, Ram is newer to the hybrid game and only currently offers their eTorque mild hybrid system in their popular 1500 full-size pickup truck.
Best Ram hybrid overall: 2022 Ram 1500
The 1500 may be Ram’s only hybrid option, but the legendary pickup truck is still a winner! Since 2019, the Ram 1500 has received glowing reviews with nearly perfect ratings from top car experts, including a 10/10 rating from Car and Driver every year since the mild hybrid technology was introduced three years ago.
The 2022 Ram 1500 starts at $37,695 and features a peppy V6 or V8 engine assisted by a 48-volt hybrid system. V6 engine Rams provide up to 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, while the more powerful V8 engine Rams fall slightly behind at 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. The 1500 was also given a
five-star NHTSA safety rating
due to its extensive driver-assistance technologies, like adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. Is it better to buy a used 1500 with eTorque? A used 2019 Ram 1500 can start at around $35,000, which is under $3,000 less compared to the starting price of a brand-new 1500. While the 2019, 2020, and 2021 1500s are all great options, it might be worth it to go with the latest Ram 1500 that comes with more features and special editions like the BackCountry Edition, which is built for serious off-roading adventures.
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Are Ram hybrids worth it?
Let’s look at what makes the Ram 1500 with the eTorque Mild Hybrid System a big winner.
Performance
Most 2022 Ram 1500 models—from Tradesman to Limited Longhorn trims—come standard with a 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine with eTorque that produces 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque. All that power has the full-size pickup truck going from zero to 60 in 7.5 seconds.
But if you opt for the more powerful Limited model, you’ll be bumped up to the 5.7L V8 HEMI MDS VVT engine with eTorque. It growls with 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque that will have you soaring from zero to 60 in an impressive 5.9 seconds. It’s not the fastest vehicle around, but it’s not too bad for a truck this size!
Reliability
When it comes to reliability, Ram delivers! The latest Ram 1500 has a 86/100 rating from J.D. Powers, which makes a great choice for quality and reliability, and it’s also ranked #3 in their Large Light Duty Pickup category. RepairPal also gave the popular pickup truck a 3.5/5 rating, which is considered above average.
Cost of ownership
Though the Ram has excellent performance and reliability ratings, you still need to consider the ongoing costs that come with a powerful full-size truck like the 1500.
Let’s look at the cost of ownership specifically for the 2022 Ram 1500 Tradesman equipped with a V6 engine with eTorque. Edmunds calculates the five-year cost of ownership as $45,045. That includes:
- Insurance: $7,410
- Maintenance: $3,879
- Repairs: $842
- Financing: $3,960
- Taxes and fees: $2,974
- Fuel: $11,406
- Depreciation: $14,574
But on the other hand, the five-year cost for the highest Limited level (V8 engine with eTorque) jumps up to $60,113, including:
- Insurance: $8,242
- Maintenance: $3,301
- Repairs: $842
- Financing: $6,237
- Taxes and fees: $4,494
- Fuel: $13,195
- Depreciation: $23,802
How to get sustainable rates on car insurance
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Do you pay less tax on a hybrid car?
Unfortunately, not for hybrid cars. However, the federal government does offer
tax credits
if you purchase brand-new electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). You could potentially earn up to $7,500 in tax credits!How much does it cost to replace a Ram 1500 hybrid battery?
The average cost to replace the mild hybrid battery in a Ram 1500 ranges from $2,426 to $2,472. However, this could depend on the specific engine and replacement needed, along with where you're taking your truck to get serviced.
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