Ram Sets Price for 2020 EcoDiesel Pickups

Fresh off giving Chevy a good drubbing in the American sales race, Ram has announced pricing for its new batch of EcoDiesel half-ton pickup trucks.

We’ll save you a click and tell you above the fold that the cheapest way to get into a new Ram EcoDiesel is by way of two-wheel drive Tradesman wearing Quad Cab clothes. That truck stickers for $36,890 plus destination. There’s more to it than that, of course, so you’ll want to hit the jump to learn why Ram feels the need to offer not one but two different EcoDiesels in their showrooms at the same time.

Alert readers will be aware that Ram is selling its new and old 1500 half-tons side by each, a decision that has rewarded them with sales prowess over their crosstown rivals at Chevy. Thing is, the new Gen3 engine will not be fitted to the old truck — for reasons that should be quite clear — which soldiers on with the Gen2 EcoDiesel. That mill makes significantly different power numbers than the Gen3, so it would behoove the smart shopper to carefully investigate any dealer claim of “ZOMG NEW ECODIESEL FOR [insert unbelievably low price here].”

Focusing on the new Ram 1500, the EcoDiesel engine will represent a $4,995 option box, which works out to a $3,000 or $3,300 premium over the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 eTorque, depending on trim. We mention this because the Gen3 EcoDiesel is available across all models and configurations of the new Ram 1500 (not the Ram 1500 Classic, which retains the old Gen2 EcoDiesel), including a first-time offering in the Ram Rebel.

Fuel economy ratings will be announced closer to when trucks go on sale early in the fourth quarter of this year. As for power, this mill is good for 260 horsepower at 3,600 rpm and 480 lb-ft of torque at just 1600 rpm. These figures are a 20 hp and 60 lb-ft improvement over the Gen2 engine, respectively.

That torque figure is the highest of all half-ton diesels, by the way.

Company spox are mum on official mileage numbers for now, but it will surely outstrip the old engine’s figures of 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. For comparison, the 3.0-liter GM Duramax inline-six is rated at 23 mpg city, 33 highway for two-wheel drive half-tons, while Ford’s 3.0L Powerstroke half-ton is good for 22 mpg in town and 30 mpg on the open road.

The new Ram EcoDiesel 1500 pickups should appear on dealer lots in the fourth quarter of this year. Check back on these digital pages for a First Drive review next week.

[Images: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]