Jacksonville Florida Did You Know The 2014 Ram Truck Wins Motor Trent Truck Of The Year For The Second Year In A Row?

The announcement was made at the Chrysler Group LLC Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan, the birthplace of Ram Trucks. A full report on Motor Trend's comprehensive Truck of the Year testing will be featured on MotorTrend.com and in the February 2014 issue of Motor Trend.

Trucks and vans from all the major manufactures were probed to determine which one would claim the crown. The Motor Trend braintrust tested the the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Ram Heavy Duty, and Toyota Tundra pickups; and the Ford Transit Connect, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Nissan NV200, and Ram ProMaster vans.

Uvalde Texas was the location of the truck showdown. The competitors were put through a rigorous evaluation at the Continental Tire Automotive Proving Grounds. Each combatant underwent the following tests: Standard testing (without load): 0-60 mph and 1/4-mile acceleration, 60-0 mph braking, and maximum lateral grip. Limit handling (without load): closed-course cornering, braking, and acceleration. Tow/payload testing: 0-60 acceleration repeated with trailers attached (pickups) or payload secured (vans), loaded to 75 percent of each truck's maximum rating (as equipped). Road looping: Highway and real-world replication.

At Continental's massive state of the art facility, the evaluaters used the 8.5-mile high-speed oval, 15-acre dynamics pad, 1.1-mile dry-handling road course, and multi-surfaced ride road to measure each vehicles capacities and uncover strengths and weaknesses. Upon completion of the the experts hard core 7 day examination the trucks were transported to Motor Trend headquarters in El Segundo, California, to be evaluated for the Intellichoice Real MPG fuel efficiency exam. Using cutting edge methodology including a GPS data-logger, flow-rate and gas analyzers, and a weather station, Real MPG tested exhaust samples every second during an 88-mile drive to record accurate real-world fuel economy.

When it was all said and done, the Ram 1500 outperformed the competition and took its rightful place as Motor Trend's 2014 Truck of the Year. The Ecodiesel V6 mated with the Torqueflight 8 speed transmission performed brilliantly. The power was as obvious as the performance and fuel efficiency with a towing capacity of up to 9,200 pounds. Motor Trend's Real MPG testing echoed what was revealed in Uvalde: No gas half-ton trucks in this year's field could approach the EcoDiesels mileage. After registering fuel economy of 15 mpg under strenuous testing the EcoDiesel continued to turn heads during the Real MPG exam , producing the following winning stats: 19/26/21 mpg city/highway/combined for the Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 with a 3.92 rear axle and an even more notable 18/28/22 for the Lone Star Crew Cab 4x2 with a 3.55 rear axle.

With the votes cast, the Ram 1500 clearly emerged as Motor Trend's 2014 Truck of the Year. The judges were particularly impressed with the performance of the Ram 1500's all-new EcoDiesel V-6 engine as well as its eight-speed TorqueFlite transmission, a combination that boasts a towing capacity of up to 9,200 pounds. Further, Motor Trend's Real MPG testing supported what the team learned in Uvalde: None of the gas-powered half-ton trucks in this year's competition - be they V-6 or V-8, 4x2 or 4x4 - could match the EcoDiesel's mileage. After delivering observed fuel economy of 15 mpg under extreme testing at Continental's proving grounds, the EcoDiesel continued to impress during the Real MPG test loop, returning the following frugal stats: 19/26/21 mpg city/highway/combined for the Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 with a 3.92 rear axle and an even more notable 18/28/22 for the Lone Star Crew Cab 4x2 with a 3.55 rear axle.

The Ram's optional air suspension system also scored high marks in Engineering Excellence, as it delivered a compliant ride and commendable handling no matter the terrain. In terms of design, the Ram 1500 impressed with its style, packaging, and interior ergonomics; notably, the Laramie Longhorn's luxury aesthetics and real wood trim. The breadth of the lineup was another compelling factor. Whether outfitted as a basic workhorse or optioned up to a near-luxury hauler, the Ram 1500 provides all of the capability needed in a truck.