Yesterday, I crossed the 10,000 mile mark on my 2020 Ram 1500 DT. I was originally in the market for a Ridgeline but the price of the Ram was very attractive and the larger rear seat area is more family friendly. My primary use for the truck is moving larger items that do not fit in a sedan. I do not do any towing, off-roading or any "real truck duties." However, I have found the truck to function well as a large sedan due to its enormous cabin and reasonable ride quality.
This truck is lightly equipped compared to most Rams on the road. It has the Big Horn Level 2 package, bucket seats (w/console), and the Anti-Spin Rear Diff. It is a 2WD Crew Cab with the 5.7L eTorque. 3.21 gear ratio. I find the eTorque's 48V start/stop system to be very smooth and and almost as seamless as the one in my Prius. MSRP was about $46K and I paid $33K plus taxes and fees.
Fuel economy has been reasonable for a 1/2 ton but the HEMI is dated compared to its competitors. In-town, I average between 14-16 mpg depending on driving style and the length of the trip. Highway trips generally yield 20-22 mpg if driven conservatively (e.g. light acceleration and maintaining speeds below 70 mph) but 18-19 mpg if driven aggressively. The HEMI does spec 89 octane and I have noticed a small decline in performance when running 87.
From a repair standpoint, it is about what I expected - there have been some strange quality issues. First, I found a very loose nut on the engine cover mounting bracket that was not caught during PDI. Second, I experienced a small leak from the oil cooler/oil filter adapter assembly, a failed dust seal on the r/f wheel bearing assembly (which caused grease to splatter everywhere) and a stretched left-side tailgate cable. I have also experienced mediocre A/C performance during very hot days but FCA recently released a TSB outlining a resolution for this issue. To date, my dealer's service department has been excellent and resolved the oil leak, wheel bearing and tailgate cable issues to my satisfaction.
Overall, I think the Ram can be an excellent value at lower trim levels if the purchase is timed correctly. For most of us who do not need a truck, it is important to choose a truck that is flexible enough to be used for sedan duties as well. And for that reason alone, I think the Ram was a better buy than the Ridgeline. However, one can easily make the argument that a minivan would have been the smarter purchase and I do not disagree. But for now, I will enjoy the Ram until the family grows large enough to warrant a more suitable vehicle.
This truck is lightly equipped compared to most Rams on the road. It has the Big Horn Level 2 package, bucket seats (w/console), and the Anti-Spin Rear Diff. It is a 2WD Crew Cab with the 5.7L eTorque. 3.21 gear ratio. I find the eTorque's 48V start/stop system to be very smooth and and almost as seamless as the one in my Prius. MSRP was about $46K and I paid $33K plus taxes and fees.
Fuel economy has been reasonable for a 1/2 ton but the HEMI is dated compared to its competitors. In-town, I average between 14-16 mpg depending on driving style and the length of the trip. Highway trips generally yield 20-22 mpg if driven conservatively (e.g. light acceleration and maintaining speeds below 70 mph) but 18-19 mpg if driven aggressively. The HEMI does spec 89 octane and I have noticed a small decline in performance when running 87.
From a repair standpoint, it is about what I expected - there have been some strange quality issues. First, I found a very loose nut on the engine cover mounting bracket that was not caught during PDI. Second, I experienced a small leak from the oil cooler/oil filter adapter assembly, a failed dust seal on the r/f wheel bearing assembly (which caused grease to splatter everywhere) and a stretched left-side tailgate cable. I have also experienced mediocre A/C performance during very hot days but FCA recently released a TSB outlining a resolution for this issue. To date, my dealer's service department has been excellent and resolved the oil leak, wheel bearing and tailgate cable issues to my satisfaction.
Overall, I think the Ram can be an excellent value at lower trim levels if the purchase is timed correctly. For most of us who do not need a truck, it is important to choose a truck that is flexible enough to be used for sedan duties as well. And for that reason alone, I think the Ram was a better buy than the Ridgeline. However, one can easily make the argument that a minivan would have been the smarter purchase and I do not disagree. But for now, I will enjoy the Ram until the family grows large enough to warrant a more suitable vehicle.
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