Lucas Bell 
As the entire auto industry finds itself jockeying for position in an electrified world to-be, Ram has yet to join in on the fun. In fact, the automaker has yet to share any sort of real plans involving an electrified pickup truck, other than saying one is eventually coming. That said, the automaker hasn’t entirely abandoned their environmentally conscious fans. Just this morning Stellantis announced the arrival of the all-new 2021 Ram 1500 HFE EcoDiesel, which now holds the crown as the most fuel efficient half-ton truck on the market. Here is everything you need to know about the new fuel-sipping offering.
As the name might suggest, the 2021 Ram 1500 HFE EcoDiesel is powered by the company’s 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine. Output is rated at 260 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque, a torque figure only bested by the PowerBoost V6-equipped Ford F-150’s 570 lb-ft rating. The Ram is actually more efficient than the hybrid Ford however, thanks to an EPA rating of 23 MPG City, 33 MPG Highway and a combined rating of 26 MPG. Ford’s PowerBoost puts out a rating of 24 MPG in all three categories.
Equally as impressive, the estimated range of the 2021 Ram 1500 HFE EcoDiesel is 1,000 miles per tank. That’s New York to Iowa City. That’s Portland to Los Angeles. That’s longer than Chicago to New Orleans.
Meanwhile at General Motors, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax is rated at an EPA-rated 27 combined mpg. So if you want the fuel economy leader, the Chevy wins by a narrow margin, but the tradeoff is a significant difference in towing, compared to the 2021 Ram 1500 HFE EcoDiesel.
Thanks to a maximum towing capability of up to 12,560 pounds, this truck is also the most capable light-duty diesel money can buy. Combine that figure with a usable range of over 1,000 miles per fill-up, and the new Ram makes a fairly strong case for itself. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax is rated at 9,300 pounds by comparison.
That said, there are a few reasons why the 2021 Ram 1500 HFE EcoDiesel might not be for everyone. The truck is only available in the Tradesman trim, specifically in crew cab / short bed guise. 20-inch aluminum wheels are also the only option for buyers, as are the Bright White Clear Coat or Diamond Black Crystal paint colors. You will receive a few nicer touches over a standard Tradesman however, including a black bumper and grille, a tonneau cover, and wheel-to-wheel side steps.
Stellantis say that the 2021 Ram 1500 HFE EcoDiesel is slated to go on sale at some point during the second quarter of 2021. The truck isn’t all that cheap, thanks to a $42,240 MSRP that excludes the $1,695 destination charge. That said, owners are certainly going to spend less on fuel than other truck owners, so perhaps it evens out.
