AutoVault's overall score, weighted for what a truck is actually for — performance, technology, comfort, reliability, safety and value.
Specifications
Engine
3.6L Pentastar V6 eTorque
Horsepower
305 hp
Torque
269 lb-ft
0–60 mph
7 sec
Top speed
110 mph
Drivetrain
RWD
Seats
5
Combined MPG
20 mpg (17 city / 23 hwy)
Range
437 miles
MSRP
$36,995
Body style
Truck
The verdict
What's good
Coil-rear suspension gives notably smoother empty-bed ride than F-150
Wide bed available without upsizing to HD class
eTorque mild hybrid adds low-speed torque fill for towing
Fleet-friendly upfit ecosystem with abundant body-builder support
What's not
Base trim ships without a backup camera display screen
RWD-only base is a liability on wet or snowy job sites
Interior plastics scratch and scuff faster than class rivals
No integrated trailer brake controller at base price
The engine
Pentastar eTorque
3.6L V6 Mild-Hybrid
The Pentastar V6 gains a 48-volt mild-hybrid boost that adds instant launch torque and smooths stop-start and shifts, giving the half-ton truck a more refined low-speed feel.
Chrysler's Pentastar V6 family debuted in 2011 and arrived in the Ram 1500; the eTorque mild-hybrid version became standard on the new DT-platform Ram 1500 for 2019 under Stellantis.
A belt-driven motor-generator and a 48-volt lithium-ion battery replace the conventional alternator, with the small battery pack mounted on the cabin's rear wall.
The system adds up to 90 lb-ft of supplemental launch torque the instant you touch the throttle.
The Pentastar V6 with eTorque has been named to Wards 10 Best Engines list in multiple years.
See the rest in AutoVault
The six sub-scores behind the 77 — performance, tech, comfort, reliability, safety and value