The new Ram EcoDiesel is quite affordable. In fact, it’s the most affordable full-size diesel truck on the market. Compared to its competitors, you’ll get far more bang for your buck. So what makes the 2021 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel model so affordable? A combination of performance and features, coupled with a hard-to-beat price point, helps it outclass the competition.

The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel’s features

The Ram 1500 is a smooth-handling truck with a 3.0-liter V6 engine that gets a solid fuel economy of 32 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg in the city. The EcoDiesel model comes in the Ram 1500’s variety of trims like Rebel and Tradesman and allows you to customize the vehicle considerably. But one of the most impressive features of the new EcoDiesel is how quiet it is for a diesel vehicle. Rather than noisy and loud like most diesel-powered vehicles, EcoDiesel drivers have the luxury of a relatively quiet truck with few vibrations, even when on the road.

EcoDiesel drivers will have heavy-duty towing capacity as the engine gives you 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. It will also get you from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds. Its max towing weight is a best-in-class 12,560 lbs, and its maximum payload is 2,040 lbs. Ram’s Rebel EcoDiesel, with its 33-inch tires, is going to give you the off-road capability and power you want to pair with its diesel engine. And with a formidable suspension and braking systems, you’ll get smooth handling as well.

Other EcoDiesel features

Despite its formidable nature, the EcoDiesel is also quite comfortable. With vinyl upholstered seats, excellent legroom, and considerable storage space, you’ll almost forget the size of the behemoth you’re driving in. More upscale trims will yield features like heated and ventilated seats, larger infotainment displays, and more speakers for Ram’s built-in audio system.

You’ll also receive built-in safety features standard with most trims, such as forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Again, a broader suite of safety options is available with more upscale trims or available for purchase separately. And buyers will be able to add 4WD (RWD comes standard) and cab size and bed length as well.

Ram makes it easy to trick out the EcoDiesel with a variety of accessories. And in addition to all of these features, as well as the EcoDiesel’s innate power and performance, it still costs less than most of its competitors. Much less.

Pricing and competition

The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel’s MSRP is $38,535, which is not a bad price for a full-sized pickup as robust as the Ram. And when you take a look at the EcoDiesel’s competitors, its price point becomes even more respectable.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator EcoDiesel comes with an MSRP of $39,565, even though it has half the max towing capability and less horsepower and torque than the RAM. The Chevrolet Duramax with a 2.8-liter four-cylinder engine starts at $36,615. And the GMC Canyon Duramax, with the same engine as the Chevrolet, starts at $38,130.

Both the GMC Sierra 1500 Duramax and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax with their 3.0-liter V6 engines come close to matching the EcoDiesel in horsepower and torque. Still, the former starts at $45,100, while the latter starts at $43,620. Perhaps the closest to the Ram 1500 in terms of performance, power, and critical praise is the Ford F-150 Power Stroke. However, it comes with an MSRP of $43,415.

Let’s not get started on pricing for heavy-duty trucks. The Ford Super Duty, which can tow an astounding 37,000 lbs, starts at $50,410. And the numbers only range higher from there. But even when just considering the competition, the EcoDiesel is clearly the most affordable full-sized diesel truck in its class.