While I spent the majority of the day in Kentucky driving a 2019 Ram 1500 with the Hemi eTorque system, I did get to log a few miles on the Pentastar V6 with eTorque. This engine option is not yet available, but when it comes to market, this V6 will be the base engine and the hybrid system will be standard. Whereas with the Hemi, eTorque is optional.
I spent about 20 minutes behind the wheel of the white V6 eTorque truck, and I found that in many ways, the hybrid system performed similarly to the one in the Hemi-powered trucks.
Start-up performance and shift smoothness were similar across both engines. As is to be expected, the V6 offers far less power. With that in mind, I would really recommend the Hemi-powered truck to anyone who plans to work their trucks hard. But for those who don’t need the V8 power, the eTorque V6 is a great package that should offer the best fuel economy in the segment once those numbers have been announced.
Best Hybrid Truck to Date
While a great many people will question the usefulness of a full-size hybrid pickup, there is really no downside to the eTorque system in the 2019 Ram 1500. The package is a $1,450 option for the Hemi V8 and for that price, you get significantly better fuel economy, smoother driving dynamics, and what I consider to be a noticeable advantage in the safety and comfort of the horses in a towing situation.
If you are the type of truck owner who truly doesn’t care about fuel economy, who wants the transmission to pop through every gear. and who never tows anything living, then the eTorque system probably isn’t for you. For those buyers, the non-hybrid, Hemi-powered Ram is an awesome truck that offers gobs of power and solid fuel economy for a truck with roughly 400 horsepower. But for someone who wants a more comfortable and more luxurious pickup, the eTorque system provides better fuel economy and smoother driving dynamics without any sort of compromise.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
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