Does the 2025 Ram 1500 With the New Inline-6 Cylinder Get Less MPG Than the Old HEMI V8?

The recent release of the updated Ram 1500, boasting a new 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine, was anticipated to bring improvements in both power and efficiency. However, recent findings reveal a nuanced picture, questioning whether the touted efficiency gains truly materialized.

Official EPA fuel economy figures paint a mixed picture. While the new inline-six engine is indeed more potent than the outgoing HEMI V-8, its efficiency doesn’t present a clear advantage. A 2025 Ram 1500 equipped with the standard-output inline-six and four-wheel drive achieves a combined rating of 19 miles per gallon, identical to its 2024 counterpart with a 5.7-liter V-8.

Delving deeper into the numbers, discrepancies emerge between city and highway efficiency. The old HEMI V-8 edges out the new inline-six in city driving, returning 18 mpg compared to 17 mpg. However, the six-cylinder shines on the highway, boasting 24 mpg versus 22 from the V-8.

It’s worth noting that these figures vary depending on the engine variant. The high-output version of the inline-six sacrifices efficiency for power, delivering a combined rating of 17 mpg with 15 mpg in the city and 21 on the highway, while generating a substantial 540 horsepower and 521 pound-feet of torque. In contrast, the standard-output version offers 420 hp and 469 lb-ft.

Comparing the Ram 1500 to its competitors further complicates the narrative. While the Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra twins match the high-output Ram in efficiency, they lag in power. The Ford F-150 presents a mixed bag, with various engine options ranging from equaling the standard-output Ram’s efficiency to slightly surpassing it. The Toyota Tundra falls in line with the Ram at 19 combined mpg, with its hybrid model inching slightly ahead.

While the new Ram 1500 with the inline-six engine offers commendable power and highway efficiency, its city efficiency lags behind the outgoing V-8. Contextualizing its performance against rival trucks reveals a complex landscape where trade-offs between power and efficiency come into play, suggesting that the quest for optimal fuel economy in full-size trucks remains an ongoing challenge for manufacturers.