What is the Best Year for the Dodge Ram 1500?

Although Ram and Dodge split in 2010, their long partnership remain in the trucks made during that time. Consumers can still purchase used Dodge Ram vehicles at used car dealerships. In fact, they are extremely popular. So, many people wonder what is the best year for the Dodge Ram 1500?

What is the Best Year for the Dodge Ram 1500?

The best year for the Dodge Ram 1500 is 2013. The 2013 Dodge Ram received a perfect 5-star reliability rating from J.D. Power. It has up to 395 horsepower and gets up to 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. However, the 2013 Dodge Ram doesn’t have many modern technological features.

Dodge and Ram made many great 1500 trucks during their partnership, although the 2013 model is the best. Back then, the Dodge Ram 1500 had plenty of engine choices and trim levels, but the ones that outshone the competition in reliability were the simpler ones, with engines such as the 3.6L V6 Pentastar and 4.7L PowerTech V8.

Interestingly, while the companies separated in 2010, did you know that the Dodge Ram 1500 continued to have this name until the 2013 refresh, coincidentally, the best year for the Dodge Ram 1500.

Another excellent candidate is the 2012 Dodge Ram 1500, which also had high reliability ratings. You could also consider this the best year for the Dodge Ram 1500 and it’s technically the last official year.

These two years were incredibly popular, with some of the best sales performances in the brand’s history.

After 2013, the trucks became the Ram 1500. So, it’s important to analyze which is the best year for the Ram 1500 as well. So, if you want to know what the best year for the Ram 1500 is, as well as the best engine, scroll down.

Which Ram Year is the Most Reliable?

The most reliable Ram 1500 is the 2020 Ram 1500. It has a J.D. Power reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars. In Cars.com, users rate it with 4.7 stars out of 5.

This large truck can seat up to six people at one time and has plenty of legroom for adults of all heights in both the front and back row seats.

The 2020 Ram 1500 received extremely high safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA. The NHTSA gave the 2020 Ram 1500 an overall safety score of 5 out of 5 stars.

The 2020 Ram 1500 gets up to 22 miles per gallon in the city and 32 miles per gallon on the highway. It has an impressive capability as it gets up to 395 horsepower.  Overall, the 2020 Ram 1500 is the safest and most reliable Ram truck that you can purchase. 

However, that doesn’t mean that it is the only Ram 1500 you should consider. These are other candidates for the best year for the Ram 1500.

Our first candidate is the 2018 Ram 1500. This is also a reliable truck. The 2018 Ram 1500 received a reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars from J.D. Power and a low number of complaints in CarComplaints.

The NHTSA gave the vehicle an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from the NHTSA. The cabin of this truck is extremely comfortable and has plenty of legroom, even in the back seats.

The 2018 Ram 1500 gets up to 20 miles per gallon in the city and 27 miles per gallon on the highway. In the cabin, there are new technological features, including Apple Car Play and Android Auto. 

Overall, it is a reliable truck, but the 2020 model is has shown more reliability and safety.

What are the Worst Years for the Dodge Ram 1500?

Fortunately, it’s easy to point to the best year for the Dodge Ram 1500 and the Ram 1500. In fact, the list isn’t short. However, although there are great Dodge Ram trucks, some are unreliable and are riddled with mechanical issues. 

The worst years for the Dodge Ram 1500 are 2007 and 2009-2011. The 2011 Dodge Ram has a J.D. Power reliability rating of 2 out of 5 stars. 

Owners and experts complain about the underpowered engine. It gets a relatively low gas mileage, 14 miles per gallon in the city and 20 miles per gallon on the highway. So, you’re not getting any of the benefits, and all of the disadvantages.

History repeats itself with the 2010 model year. The 2010 Dodge Ram received a 2 out of 5-star reliability rating from J.D. Power. 

It gets 14 miles per gallon in the city and 20 miles per gallon on the highway. The 2009 Dodge Ram has a J.D. Power reliability rating of 2 out of 5 stars, which is mediocre.

It has a low towing capacity and gets up to 14 miles per gallon in the city and 20 miles per gallon on the highway. The 2007 Dodge Ram also received a 2 out of 5-star reliability rating from J.D. Power. 

It gets up to 16 miles per gallon in the city and 21 miles per gallon on the highway. 

However, there are multiple engine options, a large amount of cargo space on the interior, and an impressive towing capacity. 

Although it may seem like a great option for you, the reliability rating makes you question the quality of the mechanics of this truck. At the same time, one shouldn’t be surprised of this behavior. If you look at the model years, these were the final years before the split between the brands. There was a need to clearly identify both companies, as the pickup trucks weren’t performing well and so weren’t the Dodge cars.

It’s after the split that the Ram trucks improve. So, in the end, the split worked.

What is the Most Reliable Dodge Ram Engine?

A key aspect of finding the best year for the Dodge Ram 1500 and the Ram 1500 is the engine. These are originally meant for work, so you need a good powerplant. While you might not expect ultra-high gas mileage, you want to know that the engine can last for miles.

One critical aspect you will find in any of the candidates for the best year for the Dodge Ram 1500 and Ram 1500 is the 5.7L Hemi engine. This is the most reliable powerplant.  

They were used in Dodge Ram trucks from 2003 to 2014 when Dodge and Ram split. 

However, Hemi engines are still used in Ram trucks today. 5.7L Hemi engines are extremely powerful and reliable. They can last for thousands of miles, and basically any mechanic can see them. All you need is disciplined maintenance.

With that being said, some people had issues with excessive noise and broken exhaust manifold bolts, these issues were easy to fix.

It was also relatively inexpensive to fix the problems.

Which Ram 1500 Engine is the Best?

Another excellent candidate for the best engine for the Ram 1500 include the 6.2L Supercharged Hemi V8 engine.

This engine is extremely powerful with 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. It has a forged-steel crankshaft and induction-hardened bearings. 

When you have this engine in your truck, you will be able to get up to speed even on the steepest hills.

Although the 6.2L Supercharged Hemi V8 engine is the best Ram engine, there are many other powerful engine options for the Ram 1500 that you should consider.

Other Engines Available for the Ram 1500

One of the important aspects of the Ram 1500 is that the company worked hard to include several powerplants. While some options are excellent, there are others that aren’t to everyone’s tastes.

The 5.7L Hemi V8 with eTorque has a belt-driven motor and generator unit that ensures you don’t have to use gas often. It is found in the hybrid Ram 1500 and comes with a respectable 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. 

The 5.7L Hemi V8 has a fuel-saving system that ensures that even if you drive often and carry heavy loads, you won’t have to fill the tank often.

It has 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque, like the hybrid. However, the vehicle could have higher performance because it doesn’t have the added weight of the hybrid system.

If you want a small engine, there are options such as the 3.6 Pentastar V6 with eTorque comes standard in many 2022 Ram 1500 trucks. This was a controversial decision for some Ram fans, but it’s a good engine.

It’s performance is no slouch. It has 269 pound-feet of torque and 305 horsepower, so it is less powerful than many other Ram 1500 engines. One thing we can higlight is the payload capacity of 2,300 pounds.

The 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 engine is the weakest engine available for the Ram 1500. 

It has 260 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. 

However, it has a payload capacity of 2,060 pounds, so it is still reasonably powerful.

As you can see, it doesn’t matter what Dodge Ram engine you choose, it will be more capable than many other engines.

Closing Thoughts on The Best Year For The Dodge Ram 1500 And Ram 1500

The Dodge Ram 1500 was one of the most popular trucks of its time. So, it’s common for people to want to buy them used.

The best year for the Dodge Ram is the 2013 model. Ironically, this isn’t officially a Dodge Ram, but rather, a Ram. However, the company continued to promote it this way.

As for the Ram 1500, one of the best models you can find is the 2020 Ram 1500. It offers everything you need, with several engines, and an excellent interior.