It’s a diesel-powered drag race when a 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel takes on its Chevrolet counterpart.
Normally, drag races aren’t really something you see between full-size pickups, least of all diesel ones. You’re far more likely to see a comparison based on how much they can tow or how little fuel they consume doing it, but racing? Not in the realm of conventional pickups.
However, TheFastLane Truck scoffs at convention and instead measures pickup trucks on what truly matters: acceleration and quarter-mile time. Or more like 1/8th-mile time. It takes a little too long for trucks this big to drive a full quarter of a mile.
So, what do we have under the hoods of these beasts? Starting with the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, we have a 3.0-L turbodiesel V6 with 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. It's a 2WD model, so that power is routed to the rear wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission.
On the Chevy we have a 3.0-L inline 6-cylinder Duramax turbodiesel with 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission sourced from Ford routes power to the rear wheels.
Both have extended cabs with extremely close rear axle ratios: 3.23 on the Chevy and 3.21 on the Ram. They also weigh nearly the same, with the Silverado clocking in at 5,100 lbs while the Ram 1500 hits 5,200 lbs. Both have climate control, modern infotainment screens, and a warranty which is likely voided by taking them through a drag race.
Which one’s faster? Find out below.
Both hosts note that the Chevy Silverado’s turbocharger spools up a lot faster than the Ram’s which contributes to the Silverado’s amazing acceleration. It beats the Ram by almost 1.5 seconds in their head-to-head matchup, proving that the Silverado is definitely the faster diesel-powered pickup.
But what about fuel economy and towing power? That’ll have to wait for later videos.