Dearborn, Michigan – Ford Motor Co. has won bragging rights in the light pickup fuel economy race with its 3L diesel F-150 hitting 30mpg highway, beating FCA US LLC’s Ram 1500 EcoDiesel model’s 27mpg highway.
The Ford Power Stroke diesel engine won a 30mpg highway, 22mpg city, 25mpg combined rating from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), topping the 2018 Ram’s numbers – 27mpg highway, 20mpg city, 23mpg combined. Ram isn’t offering the diesel option on its upcoming 2019 Ram 1500 initially, but executives said an updated V-6 will be coming toward the end of 2018.
For now, the Ford engine wins in fuel economy and power. With 250hp and 440 lb-ft of torque, it beats the Ram’s 240hp, 420 lb-ft. Ford officials credit the F-150’s lightweight high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body; a 10-speed automatic transmission; and the engine’s combination of aluminum and compacted graphite iron for the fuel economy and performance numbers.
“Even a few years ago, customers wouldn’t have imagined an EPA-estimated rating of 30mpg highway would be possible in a full-size pickup, but our team of crazy-smart engineers rose to the challenge,” says Hau Thai-Tang, Ford executive vice president, product development and purchasing.
The 2018 Ford F-150 with 3L Power Stroke diesel engine will begin shipping to dealers in May.