CAR WARS! WHO'd You Rather? Ford F-150 EcoBoost vs. RAM 1500 EcoDiesel

Now I've been more than forthcoming when it comes to letting you know straight away, I am not a truck guy. I leave that to Agent 001 and the truck rags.

BUT, there's no question that pick-up trucks are a significant chunk of the market. It's also the area where investors from The Street are tracking the most closely. There's good reason for this: this is where a large portion of the Detroit Three's profits come from.

While many will agree the all-new Ford F-150 has sent the benchmark, it still isn't the only game in town. When it comes to fuel efficiency, the F-Series EcoBoost is the one to have. Going up against it though is the RAM 1500 EcoDiesel.

Although it's a completely different way to attack fuel efficiency in pick-up form, it does have its benefits. It also has its downsides. The F-150 is undoubtedly the most tech-laden and up-to-date pick-up on the market right now.

Having said that, who'd YOU rather have in your driveway? The Ford F-150 EcoBoost OR the RAM 150 EcoDiesel?


These two workhorse pickup trucks take two very different approaches to efficiency.

TomM - 8/4/2015 7:17:09 AM

+1 Boost

When I buy trucks for the farm - I do not want the smallest motor. I have found that in reality they do not get the mileage when the truck is actually loaded because you have to floor it more often. That leaves out the 2.7.

While I am not against the diesel - I have found that they simply cannot make a case for themsleves based on overall added costs. By the time they pay for themselves for me - I will have already needed to trade them in.

So - in this case - I want a Chevy Silverado with the 5.3 liter V-8. IT has enough power - gets good gas mileage - and is easy to work on - the engine is reliable - and it does not have a Turbo so it is simpler. IT will be several years before the reliability info is in on the Eco-Boost Turbos for work trucks for me - but the 5.3 competes well with the 3.5 Eco Boost - has similar mileage too. So opting for the non-blown engine is simply better economics right now.

Soakee - 8/4/2015 8:35:57 AM

+1 Boost

Ok, leave out the 2.7 in the Ford. There is also the non-turbo 3.5L and the non-turbo V8.

MDarringer - 8/4/2015 10:06:48 AM

-5 Boost

The 2.7 Ecoboost is for people who want to think they are getting better MPG. The Ecoboosts are designed to get better MPG on EPA testing not necessarily in real life. The naturally aspirated Fusion gets better MPG in the real world than the smaller Ecoboost. The Mustang 2.3 is not more efficient than the V6.

As for the Ram, I'm not sure that I would spend for the diesel in a half-ton pickup.

trmckin - 8/4/2015 12:07:21 PM

+1 Boost

Being a former 5.4, 5.0, and current ecoboost owner, I have to respectfully disagree. I've kept the same routine for the last decade or so... 5.4 averaged just under 14. 5.0 averaged just over 15. Currently just over 17.8 (18221 miles) in my ecoboost. Not sure if the Colorado altitude has an impact here but so far I'm sold. This is about 70/30 hwy/city driving and towing enclosed trailers 2-3 times a week. Actually more city driving in the last year with kiddos now in school so the ecoboost sees more stop and go than the others did. I think it has more to do with lead foot drivers spooling up the turbos off every start. You can burn some fuel if you want to but if you are following the posted limits and not racing off the line, you can see better fuel mileage.

trmckin - 8/4/2015 12:34:27 PM

+1 Boost

Should probably ask if you were referring to the smaller displacement only... In that case... Yes. Those are spooled up too often for the everyday driver.

MDarringer - 8/4/2015 5:43:42 PM

+1 Boost

@trmckin I think the 2.7 Ecoboost will NOT get better mileage. The 3.5 is another story.

trmckin - 8/5/2015 2:15:47 AM

+1 Boost

Agreed on the 2.7. Hard to see that making any sort of sense except in a reg cab 6ft bed version. Even then... Any load would over work it.

skytop - 8/4/2015 10:37:32 AM

+1 Boost

I got rid of my troublesome unreliable GMC pickup and purchased a 2015 Ram 1500. After 7 months, I find the Ram to be better driving and 100% reliability.
The Ram storage boxes are the absolutely fantastic! The cargo box sliding rails and moveable separator is superior. I have forgotten about GMC except for the memories of GM failings.

MDarringer - 8/4/2015 11:54:45 AM

-3 Boost

We have 3 heavy duty Ram dually trucks we use to pull 5th wheel car trailers and they are very well done. I spent 800 miles in one this weekend.

atc98092 - 8/4/2015 4:55:03 PM

+3 Boost

I think a fair competitor to these two (not quite available, but close enough) is the upcoming Colorado diesel. I have a hunch it is going to have pretty respectable MPG numbers, in a truck that's large enough for the majority of people that actually can use a truck for truck reasons. Of course, the delivered product may not deliver, in which case it's another GM failure.

MDarringer - 8/4/2015 5:44:57 PM

0 Boost

The Colorado sells well and customers like them. The diesel should fly off the lot.