Pickup trucks saturate the market these days, which isn’t a surprise since they’re in hot demand. The Ram 1500 is one of the most sought after trucks, especially the diesel version. But how well does it stand up to its competition?

CarFax shows you how well it stands in the full-size pickup market. They made it their No. 1 choice on the list of the best full-size diesel pickups. Let’s look at why it’s No. 1. 

An overview of the Ram 1500

The Ram 1500 is a full-size truck that comes with three different cab styles. There’s the standard cab that has two doors and only one row of seats. Then there’s the quad cab that has two sets of doors and has a little bigger passenger space than the regular one. The largest style is the crew cab, which has two sets of doors, like the quad, but has much more room inside. 

This Ram has a 3.6-liter V6 engine that puts out 305 hp with 269 lb-ft of torque. There’s an optional 5.7-liter HEMI V8 motor that delivers 395 hp with 410 lb-ft of torque. You can also choose a turbo-diesel 3.0-liter V6 that can put out 260 hp and run 480 lb-ft of torque. With the regular V6, you’ll receive a mild-hybrid pack. It’s optional with the V8 motor. 

You can choose from seven trim levels, which include Tradesman, HFE, Big Horn, Rebel, Laramie, the Laramie Longhorn, and the Limited. All trims come with an eight-speed transmission and standard rear-wheel drive. You also have the choice to opt for the four-wheel-drive option if you want it. 

What makes it the No. 1 full-size diesel on the list?

The newest offering of a diesel engine, not only puts it at the top for a full-size diesel pickup, but it also makes it the No. 1 truck when it comes to towing capacity. The Ram 1500 can haul an impressive 12,560 lbs, which is over a thousand pounds more than the second-place Ford F-150. 

The Ram doesn’t have the motor with the highest amount of horsepower, though, but it has the most powerful amount of torque. Its 260 hp engine has 480 lb-ft of torque. It’s followed by the Silverado and the Sierra which both have 460 lb-ft of torque in their engines. 

The Ram 1500 also has good fuel economy ratings. The EcoDiesel engine gets 32 mpg on the highway. All others get you 25 highway mpg. The cost of the Ram 1500 ranges from $33,000 to about $53,000. The average selling price falls in the $41,000 price range. 

Which trucks did the Ram 1500 beat out?

In the best full-size diesel pickup list, the Ram 1500 had some stiff competition. Out of four different trucks competing, the Ram pulled out on top and beat out the others. 

The remaining trucks were the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, and the GMC Sierra. With a towing capacity of 11,400 lbs, the Ford F-150 came in at second place on the list. Its diesel engine manages 260 hp and runs with 440 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy ratings aren’t too bad either, with 25 mpg combined, and the price tag is approximately $43,000. 

Sliding in the third-place spot is the Chevy Silverado. This pickup can haul about 9,300 lbs and it can get around 27 mpg combined for fuel economy ratings. The diesel engine runs with 277 hp, which is actually the highest on the list. The price for this truck falls in the $37,500 range. 

The last one on the list is the GMC Sierra, which has many characteristics that the Chevy Silverado does. It has the same towing capacity, the same engine output, and pretty close fuel economy ratings. The cost, however, is quite a bit higher with a price tag of approximately $53,000.

The Ram 1500 diesel pickup is the best one on the market when it comes to full-size trucks. Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado are close competitors for sure, but they just can’t really beat the value you can get from the Ram 1500 pickup.