The RAM boxes are a nice addition on the side on the truck bed, as they offer lots of room to store your tools. Bed lengths offered are 5 foot-7 inches or 6 foot-4 inches, so either way you’ve got a decent amount of room.

The interior with the shorter bed is quite roomy in the back, even with tall folks sitting up front.

For a $60,000 truck, i was a little bit disappointed in interior decor. Some parts seemed a bit plasticky and cheap compared to other trucks I’ve seen in the price range.

Oh, and if you weren’t sure it was a RAM from the design, the letters R A M are plastered on the back of it as big as i think was legally allowable. Think 500-point font.

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER

My test RAM truck featured a 3.0-liter, V6 EcoDiesel engine; and an 8-speed automatic transmission. This particular engine offers 240 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque.
(Side note: If you’re more into power than fuel economy, a 5.7-liter V8 HEMI is offered that features 395 horsepower).

Also of note is the rotary shifting dial, which frees up space inside the cab but takes a bit of getting used to. The ride inside is smooth and quiet, not very truck-like at all (and that’s a compliment, by the way). This vehicle can easily double as both a work truck and a family ride.

Towing capacity of the RAM 1500 ranges from 4,290 to 8,780 lbs. This is slightly below some of the competition, which can top 10,000 when properly equipped.

Getting up to speed is not a problem, but it is a large pickup truck (between 4,516 and 5,659 pounds) so have your expectations in order. It takes upwards of 8 seconds to do 0 to 60.

The overall feel while driving the RAM 1500 is one of confidence. It takes some effort to get it where you want to go, but you’re not overly exerting yourself. And you’re high above it all, part of the reason (beyond work needs) that people like pickup trucks -- Even SUVs look small as you’re driving down the road.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY
The UConnect system still arguably the best in the infotainment business among Detroit’s automakers; info is laid out well on display and it’s simple to use, verbal commands work smoothly and there is handy placement of volume and channel buttons behind steering wheel.

The vehicle also featured a strong stereo system (9 Alpine speakers with subwoofer), rear backup camera, keyless entry, locking tailgate, front/side/rear airbags, anti-lock disc brakes and more.

In the safety arena, the rollover rating not that great (3 out of 5 stars); Side crash ratings were strong (5 stars), and there were above average frontal crash and overall safety ratings (four stars).

The EcoDiesel engine is a $3,120 option, not cheap but it should end up paying for itself.

Among the upgrades I had from the Limited package ($2,935) included: Visual upgrades on the grille and tailgate; leather bucket seats; 4-corner air suspension, heated front seats/heated steering wheel/heated second-row seats; Rain sensitive wipers; and more.

MPG
Official numbers are the RAM 1500 I tested are 19 city/27 highway/22 combined; some versions of the RAM 1500 offer up to 21 city/29 highway. These are the best mpg numbers you’ll find in a pickup truck, and one of the key selling points of the RAM vs. its domestic competitors Ford and Chevy/GMC. RAM wants you to know the days of the pickup truck that guzzles gas in the single digits is long gone and they are leading the way. The 26 gallon-tank you get with the EcoDiesel can get you well over 600 miles between fill-ups.

PRICE
My RAM 1500 Limited test vehicle starts about $51K and was just over $60K once the EcoDiesel engine and other comfort and tech features were added; The base, no-frills model of the RAM 1500 starts about $26K, so there’s dozens of configurations that can be done in-between, depending on powertrain, trim levels, etc.

BOTTOM LINE

While it’s not going to be quite as strong as its key competition in some areas, the 2016 RAM 1500 is a breath of fresh air in others and among your best options overall in the truck market.

It’s a nice reminder that pickup trucks are starting to have options that focus not only on toughness and power, but also eco-friendly engine performance and fuel mileage, a fact that is encouraging for the future of the segment.

And I must add: This is one diesel product that’s not under a controversy -- it’s going strong and the trend should continue to grow if truck buyers and manufacturers are smart.

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AutoTechReviews.com can be found on Twitter @AutoTechReview, or stay updated at the AutoTechReviews Facebook page. Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.