Ram 2500/3500 HD: 2017 Motor Trend Truck of the Year Contender

We Like: The exterior design; the 2500’s ride; the 3500’s muscles.

We Don’t Like: The aged interiors; the 2500’s muscles; the 3500’s ride.

We simply do not understand gasoline-powered heavy-duty trucks. Fundamentally speaking, who will buy one? “For serious hauling and towing, gasoline is not the way to go,” Scott Evans said. “The torque of a diesel makes the 3500 so much more drivable in all conditions.”

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2017 Ram 2500 SLT 4x4 Off Road front three quarter in motion 03

2017 Ram 2500 SLT 4x4 Off Road front three quarter in motion 02 1 2017 Ram 2500 SLT 4x4 Off Road front end in motion 2017 Ram 2500 SLT 4x4 Off Road rear three quarter 2017 Ram 2500 SLT 4x4 Off Road side

Not entirely. Take, for instance, the ride of the 3500 diesel dually. “Poor” doesn’t begin to describe it despite its $1,595 rear air suspension. “It rides like a truck from 10 years ago,” Ed Loh said. “I felt bumps and other vibrations like no other truck here on parts of the drive loop that I didn’t feel anything in any other truck.”

Weirdly, and probably due to its off-road package, the 2500 rode great. “How much is due to the Bilstein dampers?” Loh wondered.

The clattery Cummins diesel is capable, but it’s hindered by driveline lash. “It’s brilliant at towing and in doing all those things a monster like this is born for,” Kim Reynolds said. “But the rest of the time, it’s a pretty miserable road partner.”

2017 Ram 2500 SLT 4x4 Off Road front interior seats 1 2017 Ram 2500 SLT 4x4 Off Road rear interior seats 2017 Ram 2500 SLT 4x4 Off Road cockpit 2017 Ram 2500 SLT 4x4 Off Road center stack 2017 Ram 2500 SLT 4x4 Off Road drive mode 2017 Ram 2500 SLT 4x4 Off Road engine 2017 Ram 2500 SLT 4x4 Off Road wheels 2017 Ram 2500 SLT 4x4 Off Road headlamp

The heavy-duty Rams’ biggest problem, however, is that everything it can do, both Ford Super Duties can do better. Towing, hauling, phone connectivity, mirror coverage, interior features and fabrics—you name it, the burly Ford has the Ram beat. Except for one thing: looks.

Even if the bull’s-nostrils grille isn’t your thing, you have to admire the big Ram’s Kardashianesque hips. “The styling for the dually is almost sexy in its swoopiness,” Mark Rechtin said. Chris Walton concurred: “Tom Gale’s styling legacy is aging extremely well, and the truck looks as tough as ever.” Amen.

2017 Ram 2500 SLT 4×4 Off Road 6.4 2016 Ram 3500 Limited 4×4 Cummins
POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS
DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT Front-engine, 4WD Front-engine, 4WD
ENGINE TYPE 90-deg V-8, iron block/alum heads Turbodiesel I-6, iron block/head
VALVETRAIN OHV, 2 valves/cyl OHV, 4 valves/cyl
DISPLACEMENT 391.6 cu in/6,417 cc 408.2 cu in/6,690 cc
COMPRESSION RATIO 10.0:1 16.2:1
POWER (SAE NET) 410 hp @ 5,600 rpm 385 hp @ 2,800 rpm
TORQUE (SAE NET) 429 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm 900 lb-ft @ 1,700 rpm
REDLINE Not indicated 3,200 rpm
WEIGHT TO POWER 18.2 lb/hp 22.4 lb/hp
TRANSMISSION 6-speed automatic 6-speed automatic
AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE/LOW-RANGE RATIO 4.10:1/2.58:1/2.64:1 4.10:1/2.58:1/2.64:1
SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR Control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar; live axle, coil springs, anti-roll bar Control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar; live axle, air springs, anti-roll bar
STEERING RATIO 15.6:1 15.3:1
TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK 3.2 3.3
BRAKES, F; R 14.2-in vented disc; 14.1-in vented, disc, ABS 14.2-in vented disc; 14.1-in vented disc, ABS
WHEELS, F;R 8.0 x 18-in cast aluminum 6.0 x 17-in forged aluminum
TIRES, F;R 275/70R18 125/122S (M+S) Firestone Transforce AT 235/80R17 120/117R (M+S) Nexen Roadian HTX RH5
DIMENSIONS
WHEELBASE 160.0 in 169.3 in
TRACK, F/R 68.3/68.2 in 69.5/75.8 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 248.4 x 79.1 x 78.3 in 259.3 x 96.4 x 78.9 in
TURNING CIRCLE 47.7 ft 53.0 ft
CURB WEIGHT 7,466 lb 8,628 lb
WEIGHT DIST, F/R 56/44% 59/41%
SEATING CAPACITY 5 5
HEADROOM, F/R 41.0/40.3 in 41.0/40.3 in
LEGROOM, F/R 41.0/43.3 in 41.0/43.3 in
SHOULDER ROOM, F/R 66.0/65.7 in 66.0/65.7 in
PICKUP BOX VOLUME 61.1 cu ft 61.1 cu ft
PICKUP BOX L x W x H 76.0 x 66.4 x 20.2 in 76.0 x 66.4 x 20.2 in
WIDTH BET WHEELHOUSES 51.0 in 51.0 in
PAYLOAD CAPACITY 2,544 lb 5,372 lb
TOWING CAPACITY 15,240 lb 30,310 lb
TEST DATA
ACCELERATION TO MPH
0-30 2.8 sec 2.9 sec
0-40 4.2 4.5
0-50 6.2 6.4
0-60 8.3 8.6
0-70 10.6 11.5
0-80 13.7 14.9
0-90 17.3 19.3
0-100 25.2
PASSING, 45-65 MPH 4.2 4.6
QUARTER MILE 16.2 sec @ 87.3 mph 16.6 sec @ 84.0 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 136 ft 134 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.71 g (avg) 0.69 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT 29.7 sec @ 0.54 g (avg) 30.0 sec @ 0.55 g (avg)
TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH 1,600 rpm 1,700 rpm
CONSUMER INFO
BASE PRICE $48,030 $69,610
PRICE AS TESTED $54,335 $76,540
STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL Yes/Yes Yes/Yes
AIRBAGS 6: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain 6: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain
BASIC WARRANTY 3 yrs/36,000 miles 3 yrs/36,000 miles
POWERTRAIN WARRANTY 5 yrs/60,000 miles 5 yrs/60,000 miles
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 5 yrs/100,000 miles 5 yrs/100,000 miles
FUEL CAPACITY 31.0 gal 32.0 gal
REAL MPG, CITY/HWY/COMB 9.2/15.9/11.4 mpg 13.3/17.3/14.8 mpg
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB ECON Not rated Not rated
ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY Not rated Not rated
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB Not rated Not rated
RECOMMENDED FUEL Unleaded regular Diesel

 

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