2021 ram 2500 hemi mpg

• Responsive gas engine, unstoppable diesel
• Power Wagon off-road capability
• Tasteful, comfortable interior

• Diesel could use a newer eight- or 10-speed automatic
• Diesels are slower than the competition

Simply put, the heavy duty Ram is the best truck in its segment and one of the best trucks on the market, as evidenced by its 2020 Truck of the Year win. In that evaluation, we praised the truck's design, which is not only the most aerodynamic in the segment, it's also the most attractive. That design excellence carries over to an interior that looks and functions more like a tastefully appointed mobile office than the cabin of a giant pickup.

This Ram wouldn't be a great pickup if it couldn't tow and haul and work with the best of them, and it accomplishes just that. The truck's strong gas engine is responsive and the 850-lb-ft Cummins diesel makes towing a breeze. As for spec, the Laramie Cummins setup in our Long-Term Ram 2500 seems like the sweet spot.

The current 2500 has a much more comfortable unladen ride quality than its predecessor, too. That comfort and the effortless diesel make the Ram a great road-tripper.

Consider the Ram 2500's price advantage over its rivals from Ford and GM and it becomes all the more appealing. Both entry-level and top-spec models undercut competitors in terms of price. This big rig is the jam.

The smaller of Ram's heavy-duty pickups can be ordered with a gas V-8 or a diesel-fueled inline-six. Gas variants employ a 6.4-liter naturally aspirated V-8 developing 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque. The gas V-8 is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission to drive power to the rear wheels. The EPA doesn't evaluate fuel economy for heavy-duty trucks but when our RealMPG team tested a Ram 2500HD Power Wagon with 4WD and the Crew Cab body style, it returned 10.2/15.3 mpg city/highway.

If you need maximum performance out of your heavy-duty Ram, go for the diesel. It's a pricey option ($9,300 on the 2020 model) but the performance gains are worth it. Shelling out for the diesel swaps the gas V-8 and eight-speed auto for a 6.7-liter turbo I-6 and a beefed up six-speed automatic. The oil-burner makes 370 hp and a stump-pulling 850 lb-ft of torque. We didn't have a chance to RealMPG test a diesel 2500 but a 3500 Crew Cab model with 4WD and a high-output version of the I-6 achieved 13.2/18.0 mpg.

All Ram 2500s are offered with standard RWD and available 4WD except the Power Wagon, which is only available with 4WD.

The strongest argument for a heavy-duty truck is that it can accomplish more work than a more plebeian half-ton pickup. Rear-drive regular cab diesels achieve the highest towing capacity; these trucks can tug as much as 19,680 pounds. Similarly configured 2500s with the gas V-8 pull 17,350 pounds.

If you're after maximum payload capacity, it makes more sense to opt for the gas engine. Regular cab RWD gas trucks can carry up to 4,380 pounds while equivalent diesel-powered examples are rated for 3,060 pounds.

Unlike truck offerings from Nissan or Honda, the Ram 2500 is offered with a wealth of cab and bed options. The heavy-duty Ram can be ordered with a single-row regular cab, two-row crew cab, or a roomier two-row mega cab.

Regular cab models can only be ordered with an 8-foot bed; crew cab trucks are available with the 8-footer or a 6-foot-4-inch bed; the 2500 mega cab is exclusively offered with the shorter box. Cab and bed availability changes by trim.

Heavy duty pickups are rarely evaluated for crash safety, but the big Ram 2500 is available with a collection of driver-assist features. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams are all part of the Safety Group that's optional on all trims.

The Ram 2500 offers seating for two or three in regular cab form and five or six if you opt for the crew or mega cab version. All body styles include 40.9 inches of legroom up front; crew cab variants offer 40.2 inches of rear legroom while the mega cab provides a limo-like 43.1 inches. Opting for the shorter 6-foot-four-inch bed yields 57.5 cubic feet of cargo volume whereas the 8-footer provides 74.7 cubic feet.

The headline here is the 2500 Limited's standard 12-inch portrait-style touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Most variants feature an 8.4-inch display with similar functionality, but the big screen is available as an option on all but the entry-level Tradesman.

That truck makes do with a basic 5.0-inch display with Bluetooth connectivity and little else. Six-speaker audio is standard on lower trims while premium models get a 10-speaker premium system and a 17-speaker setup is optional.

Based on performance, value, MPG, interior space, and more, this score reflects MotorTrend’s exhaustive evaluation process. Scores can only be compared to other cars in the same class. A 7.0 rating represents average performance.

Performance of Intended Function: How does a car drive? Does it have enough space for passengers and their stuff?

We track efficiency and driving range.

Does the car offer impressive tech for its segment? How well does it work? Are there any innovative design details?

How well will this car hold its value over time? Will it be expensive to maintain, insure, or repair? IntelliChoice data and research inform this score.