FindItMore | The engineers at Ram have achieved something remarkable. The 2020 lineup of Ram trucks are both excellent pickups for work and perform just as well as comfortable sedans for travel. Taking the Ram 1500 Big Horn Quad Cab as an example truck, this truck has all the features one would want in a half-ton work truck, yet it would be a perfect vehicle for a comfortable long-distance ride to visit family. In this article, we will focus on just one aspect of the Ram 1500 line; the powertrain available.
Engines
The good folks at Parks Space Coast Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram helped us with the low-down on what Ram is offering for engines in the 2020 1500 series trucks.
Base Engine: The base 1500 engine is a 3.6-liter V-6 with 305 horsepower and 269 lb.-ft of torque and it is coupled with RAM’s innovative torque mild hybrid system. This may be the standard engine but it is hardly entry-level. For most users, 305 horsepower and 269 lb.-ft of torque will get the job done. This engine is ranked 20/26 mpg.
Standard V8: The standard V8 in the 1500 series trucks is a 5.7L V8 Hemi with the multi-displacement operation (MDS) and variable valve timing (VVT). It offers with 395 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft of torque and delivers 15/21 mpg.
Hybrid V8: 5.7L V8 Hemi engine with torque. It offers with 395 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft of torque and delivers 15/22 mpg. This hybrid setup is ranked at 15/22 mpg.
Diesel V6: For the diesel enthusiast in your life, RAM offers a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 model, which puts out an impressive 260 horsepower and 480 lb.-ft of torque. This engine offers 22/32 mpg in the2WD configuration.
Transmission
The 2020 RAM 1500’s are coupled with a newly-designed 850RE 8-speed transmission produced by Germany’s ZF corporation. The 850RE is an assimilated electronic transmission command unit that permits incredibly fast shifts. ZF boasts that the 850RE was specifically constructed in order to easily mate with the RAM V-6 and Hemi V8 power plants.
Rear Axle Ratios
The Ram 1500 truck lineup has three rear axle ratios. Firstly, there is an average 3.21 axle ratio, which lowers the rpm when driving on a regular. This aids the vehicle’s designers to abide by the government’s gas mileage guidelines. There are two “greater” axle ratios available to the public, both of which are optional, which range from 3.55 and 3.92 respectively. They help immensely, by providing higher towing capacity by improving the quantity of available torque.
Which is Best?
RAM customer service highly recommends checking out the towing and payload charts on the official RAM sites to make sure customers are buying a truck that meets their needs. The company offers its local dealer franchises to provide assistance if needed.
