RAM 1500 V6 EcoDiesel Laramie 4x4 2019 Review

Until recently, the Australian RAM 1500 four-wheel-drive dual-cab range was offered with 5.7-litre V8 petrol power only. RAM’s changed that, with the introduction of the RAM 1500 V6 EcoDiesel Laramie 4x4 Quad Cab tested here.

RAM’s 1500 turbo-diesel features a VM Motori-sourced 3.0-litre V6 engine familiar to Jeep Grand Cherokee buyers. It’s been available in the RAM 1500 stateside for more than five years.

Matched to a standard eight-speed automatic transmission, the V6 turbo-diesel makes 179kW/569Nm (or 112kw less and 13Nm more than the petrol V8), consumes 11.9L/100km on the ADR Combined cycle and emits 315g/km of CO2.

The braked tow rating of the RAM 1500 EcoDiesel Laramie is 1000kg less than the V8 at 3500kg while payload is 735kg – again less than the petrol-powered model (-65kg). Its shorter final drive gearing does however make the turbo-diesel feel almost as peppy as its eight-cylinder petrol counterpart. The EcoDiesel runs a considerably shorter 3.92:1 rear differential against the petrol’s 3.21:1 final drive.

It almost goes without saying, the locally-converted RAM 1500 isn’t a cheap truck. And the high-tech EcoDiesel is even more expensive than the 1500 Laramie V8 petrol – $10,000 more, to be exact!

So, retailing from $109,950 (plus on-road costs) the RAM 1500 EcoDiesel Laramie is the most expensive 1500 in the range. It sits a hefty $30K over the entry-grade RAM 1500 Express Quad Cab V8.

The 1500 EcoDiesel Laramie matches the equipment level of its V8 sibling running four-wheel disc brakes, front and rear coil suspension, 20-inch alloy wheels, heated seats in all five positions (with ventilation up front), dual-zone climate control, adjustable pedals, cruise control, front and rear acoustic parking sensors, a reversing camera, and auto high-beam and wipers.

Infotainment comes courtesy of an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen array with nine-speaker Alpine sound, satellite navigation, and Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Safety equipment includes six airbags, traction and stability control with trailer sway control, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and hill-start assist. Tyre pressure monitoring is also standard. All RAM models are backed by a three-year/100,000km warranty and break-down assistance.

For starters, the RAM 1500 V6 EcoDiesel Laramie 4x4 Quad Cab is a sizeable ‘truck’ that requires forethought to park and garage. And one that takes a fair chunk of lane when cruising on the highway!

Indeed, it’s the sort of vehicle we’re not entirely accustomed to Down Under, and so infrastructure (like carparks) is obviously mismatched.

So, the first question you’ll need to ask yourself is ‘Does it fit!”.

Driving the RAM 1500 V6 EcoDiesel Laramie 4x4 Quad Cab is however, not half the impasse many might think. In fact, once you’re used to it, it’s a wonderfully easy thing to drive, and boasts a level of comfort – and quiet – that seems almost at odds with its muscular demeanour.

In offering the level of load and passenger space that comes with its meaty dimensions, the RAM 1500 brings with it a sense of on-road stability few in its class can match. It irons out niggling corrugations and blemishes in the road far better than any dual-cab ute I’ve driven. With effortless torque just a prod of the throttle away it is as confident in tackling steep hills as it is in highway overtaking.

If there’s a downside to the 1500, it’s that there are a few left-hand drive legacy issues American Special Vehicles have failed to address. The most noticeable are the drivers pedals that sits too far inboard to ever be completely ‘natural’. The centre-stack is another conversion hiccup in that it’s canted slightly toward the passenger and not the driver. The RAM’s foot-operated park brake sits too close to the driver’s door to be used with the door shut, too.

Perhaps these issues will be addressed when the new RAM range goes on sale locally next year.

Considering the current (fourth-generation) range has been on sale in the US since 2009 – and the new model boasts a lot more technology and an even larger tray – the revision really can’t come soon enough.

Like any number of high-end dual-cab utilities, the RAM 1500 V6 EcoDiesel Laramie 4x4 Quad Cab targets recreational buyers as much as it does those in trade and agricultural sectors. The larger tray and roomier cab give it an obvious advantage over conventional local dual-cab rivals, as does its stability when towing. As we’ve noted above, all-round on-road composure is also a step above.

The longer wheelbase and coil-sprung ride give the 1500 a notable advantage and the confidence of four-wheel disc brakes another feather in the RAM’s cap. There’s plenty of room inside for passengers to stretch out, while entry and exit isn’t the ‘leap’ you might expect.

Obviously the height of the tray from the ground is a bit of an issue for loading and unloading, but the 1500 isn’t Robinson Crusoe there.

On the plus side, the tray will accommodate a dirt bike or two with the tailgate shut, and boasts four tie-down points and a hard-wearing epoxy liner to resist scratching and abrasion.

The RAM 1500 V6 EcoDiesel Laramie 4x4 Quad Cab competes with other locally converted US-sourced trucks that include the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-Series, Nissan Titan (which could come to Oz soon) and Toyota Tundra.

Unlike those models – and indeed the RAM 1500 V8 petrol – the turbo-diesel model is limited in its payload and towing, offering figures comparable to cheaper and smaller dual-cab utes like the Ford Ranger or Holden Colorado.

It’s also a worthy contender to ‘bigger tray’ competition that includes the Toyota LandCruiser 79-Series or Mercedes-Benz G-Class and even trade-duty light rigid (LR) trucks like the Hino 300 and Isuzu N-Series ranges that are very competitively priced – and like the RAM 1500 can be driven on a car licence.

There are elements of the RAM 1500 V6 EcoDiesel Laramie 4x4 Quad Cab that show its age, and others that point to its left-hand drive origins. They’re points we can’t escape -- but they are readily excused, once the obviously benefits of this full-size dual-cab ute are realised.

On paper, the payload and towing figures mightn’t seem much greater those of a light commercial ute, but in reality the confidence and composure of the 1500 on local roads puts a lot of dual-cab utes to shame. As we’ve noted in the past, not all utes rated to 3500kg towing are created equal.

We tested the 1500 with 1500kg on the tow bar and a small load in the tray and again empty over the same roads. Neither the ride quality nor handling diminished in the slightest.

The RAM 1500 V6 EcoDiesel Laramie 4x4 Quad Cab is a really comfortable vehicle to spend time in, and one that’s both easy to understand and surprisingly simple to drive. If the new model can land with a slightly lower price tag, I reckon RAM might be on to a winner.

How much does the 2019 RAM 1500 V6 EcoDiesel Laramie 4x4 Quad Cab cost?
Price: $109,950 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 179kW/569Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 11.9L/100km (ADR Combined); 13.1L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 315g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Not tested