Combined with the optional 33-gallon fuel tank, this RAM will travel more than 950 highway miles on a tank. The ZF 8-speed automatic transmission is still one of the best and most reliable on the market, offering smooth, predictable shifts that happen almost as quickly as a dual-clutch gearbox. Our truck was equipped with the powerful 3rd-gen turbodiesel, which not only offers outstanding fuel economy (we got right around 29 mpg on the highway), but cranks out massive amounts of torque - 480 lb-ft., which is 70 more than even the big V8 can muster. After engaging the rear locker and selecting 4-Lo, we dug the Goodyear DuraTracs deep into the pudding mud and slushy snow making a solid attempt at the hillclimb, still limited in our forward progress by the lower rpms of the EcoDiesel.The RAM 1500 can be outfitted with a 3.6-liter V6 gas engine, a 5.7-liter HEMI V8, or a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6. The Rebel's response to trail irregularities at quicker speeds was "one of the most composed" of the entire lineup with the IFS up front and five-link rear suspension working in concert to make whoops and washboards alike feel next to nonexistent. We found ourselves either craning our necks to see over the hood or barking at our passengers to spot in front of the truck due to a lack of forward-facing camera, a feature we've come to appreciate in similar trucks. We had fun in 4-Lo "chugging through the rocks," during our gnarlier trips through the canyons, but the 8.2 inches of ground clearance left a little to be desired as the geology neared the truck's undercarriage.
Sand performance was aided by the locking rear diff, but dunes also reminded judges of the truck's low-rpm powerplant and its inherent limitations. Judges drew stars next to their notes and used exclamation marks with reckless abandon when conveying their support for this "must-have" feature. One keystone of the 20 Rebel's off-road performance was the selectable rear locker.
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