My 2020 Ram 1500 pick-up has the 5.7L HEMI V8 w/eTorque. It is the first V8 engine I have owned.
On this site (and others), there is a lot of discussion about the superiority of a Naturally Aspirated (NA) V8 engine over a turbocharged V6 engine in a light-duty pick-up truck. Or just in general. Whenever there is an option to choose between a NA V8 and a turbocharged V6 option, the overwhelming consensus is to choose the V8.
Hypothetically, if Ram had offered a turbocharged V6 option in this truck, I would have chosen it in a heartbeat. There is nothing special about the HEMI V8 in this application aside from the soundtrack it offers. IMO, there are more modern and more efficient ways to deliver the performance and capability that most V8's in this segment are able to deliver.
For example, I have driven F-150's with the 2.7 Ecoboost and the 5.0. I see no advantage to the 5.0 over the 2.7. The 2.7 delivers better performance for a daily driver with better fuel economy.
From a reliability standpoint, I also do not see any advantage to any of the current domestic V8 options (in the light-truck segment). Although the NA V8's are less mechanically complex, the HEMI has cam/lifter issues that have never been fully resolved. The GM 5.3L V8 with AFM has similar cam/lifter issues but to a lesser extent. Ford has oil consumption issues with the newest iteration of the 5.0 V8. Point is, I do not a significant reliability advantage by choosing the V8 option.
So aside from a pleasant exhaust soundtrack, why would anyone choose a V8 over a turbocharged V6 IF you are given the option? Seems like the V8 is just the thirstier and more dated way of delivering power.
On this site (and others), there is a lot of discussion about the superiority of a Naturally Aspirated (NA) V8 engine over a turbocharged V6 engine in a light-duty pick-up truck. Or just in general. Whenever there is an option to choose between a NA V8 and a turbocharged V6 option, the overwhelming consensus is to choose the V8.
Hypothetically, if Ram had offered a turbocharged V6 option in this truck, I would have chosen it in a heartbeat. There is nothing special about the HEMI V8 in this application aside from the soundtrack it offers. IMO, there are more modern and more efficient ways to deliver the performance and capability that most V8's in this segment are able to deliver.
For example, I have driven F-150's with the 2.7 Ecoboost and the 5.0. I see no advantage to the 5.0 over the 2.7. The 2.7 delivers better performance for a daily driver with better fuel economy.
From a reliability standpoint, I also do not see any advantage to any of the current domestic V8 options (in the light-truck segment). Although the NA V8's are less mechanically complex, the HEMI has cam/lifter issues that have never been fully resolved. The GM 5.3L V8 with AFM has similar cam/lifter issues but to a lesser extent. Ford has oil consumption issues with the newest iteration of the 5.0 V8. Point is, I do not a significant reliability advantage by choosing the V8 option.
So aside from a pleasant exhaust soundtrack, why would anyone choose a V8 over a turbocharged V6 IF you are given the option? Seems like the V8 is just the thirstier and more dated way of delivering power.
Last edited: