The EPA has announced their official fuel economy ratings for the 2014 Ram 1500 with the 5.7L Hemi V8 and the new 8-speed automatic transmission and with figures as high as 22 miles per gallon on the highway – the Hemi/8-speed combo makes the 2014 Ram 1500 the most efficient V8 half ton truck in America.
The 2014 Ram 1500 fitted with the 5.7L Hemi, the new 8-speed automatic transmission and standard rear wheel drive is expected to yield 15 miles per gallon around town and 22 miles per gallon on the highway. The next most efficient V8 currently available in a half ton pickup is the 5.0L mill from the Ford F150 which offers the same 15 around town and just 21 on the highway. That same Hemi and 8-speed drivetrain with four wheel drive offers 15mpg around town and 21 on the highway – beating the 5.0L Ford F150 in both city and highway as the Ford offers 14 city/19 highway. Best of all, the 2014 Ram 1500 with the 5.7L Hemi offers substantially more power than the 5.0L Ford V8 with 395hp to Ford’s 360 and 407lb-ft of torque to just 380 for the F150.
Ford has long been bragging about having the most powerful and most efficient half ton pickup on the market thanks to their twin turbocharged EcoBoost V6 which offers 365hp, 420lb-ft of torque and figures of 16 city/22 highway for 4×2 models and 15/21 for 4×4 F150 pickups. The Hemi offers significantly more horsepower and slightly less torque while also offering nearly identical fuel economy figures. In short, Ford will probably still brag that they have the most efficient half ton pickup since their EcoBoost’d F150 offers 1mpg better on the highway in rear wheel drive form. It should be noted that the least expensive EcoBoost-powered Ford F150 costs around $27,460 while the least expensive 2013 Ram 1500 with the Hemi (Tradesman, 4×2) costs just $24,805…$2,655 less than the Ford.
The Ram brand will almost certainly claim the title of America’s most efficient half ton pickup later this year when the official fuel economy numbers for the new EcoDiesel engine option are announced. In the meantime, Ram can only brag of having the most efficient base V6 and V8 half ton trucks in America.
"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.
