- The Ford F-150 is America’s best selling vehicle, and has been for
years. Ram Trucks (don’t call them Dodge) have been clawing their way up
from the bottom of the truck sales list. To stay competitive, both
manufacturers offer a fuel efficient alternative to a traditional V8
engine that also offers good towing capacity.
Ford calls their turbocharged V6 an EcoBoost engine. This engine
makes more power and torque than the 5.0L V8 engine that comes standard
with many F-150s.
Ram introduced a V6 diesel engine to their 1500 lineup. Called
EcoDiesel, the engine makes more torque than the Hemi V8 that comes with
many 1500s.
Both engines are turbo, but they run on different types of fuel. Both
are also a unique way each brand is trying to capture new customers
from the rest of the competition.
If you are looking at a new truck, which engine option should you look
at? If you aren’t already sold on the particular brand, these economical
engine options might sway you one way or the other. We take a look at
both company’s offerings and recommend what we think is best. Read on to
find out.
Ford F-150 EcoBoost
The Ford F-150 equipped with an EcoBoost engine.
Ford’s approach to providing better fuel economy while not
sacrificing capability comes in the form of an EcoBoost V6 engine. It
makes 365 hp and 420 lbs/ft of torque. Aside from the gas guzzling 6.2L
V8 that Ford offers, the EcoBoost V6 makes the most torque in the F-150
line of vehicles. The EcoBoost is a $2,395 option on the Ford F-150.
The turbo V6 gets 22 highway mpg. The mileage is decent, but where
the EcoBoost engine shines is with towing capacity. An EcoBoost equipped
F-150 has a towing capacity of 11,300 lbs.
Turbo engines are fuel efficient when the driver isn’t working the
engine hard. Towing, or rapid acceleration, can dramatically lower the
fuel economy of a turbo. When Car and Driver reviewed an EcoBoost F-150,
they got 12 mpg.
Turbo engines make a lot of torque, which helps with the towing
capacity. Since trucks are usually work tools, extra towing capacity
outweighs fuel economy in many buyers’ minds.
Ram 1500 EcoDiesel
Ram 1500 EcoDiesel.
Ram’s approach to getting better fuel economy is to utilize a modern,
clean-burning diesel engine. The EcoDiesel option for the Ram 1500 adds
$2,850 to the cost of the truck over the V8 option. The EcoDiesel makes
10 more lbs/ft of torque than the Hemi V8.
On the road, the EcoDiesel’s 28 mpg highway fuel economy rating bests every other half-ton truck sold. From our experience with diesel engines, getting a higher miles-per-gallon number is easy on long highway trips.
In addition to getting best-in-class fuel economy, the Ram 1500
EcoDiesel can still tow 9,200 lbs of stuff. Buyers have to sacrifice
very little in the Ram 1500 to get good towing and fuel economy.
Nick Cappa, head of Ram Truck’s media relations, sums up the
EcoDiesel’s success. “The No. 1 unmet need in half-ton trucks is fuel
economy,” he says. “Combine that with the long-time request for a diesel
engine in the segment and along comes the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel. It not
only answers both customer demands, it achieves a best-in-class 28 MPG.”
Diesels aren’t what they used to be. We drove the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel
both on and off road last fall and couldn’t really tell we were in a
diesel truck.
Verdict
We prefer the EcoDiesel option over the EcoBoost in this comparison.
