2018 Ram 1500
Fuel economy, running costs, emissions and safety · from U.S. EPA and NHTSA data
The 2018 Ram 1500 is sold in the U.S. with diesel and gasoline power. The EPA lists 7 configurations for this model year, with combined economy from 14 to 23 MPG and an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,250 to $5,300 at 15,000 miles.
Key numbers
| Model year | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| Fuel type(s) | Diesel, Gasoline |
| Combined economy | 14-23 MPG |
| Best / worst combined | 23 / 14 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $3,250-$5,300 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 448-614 g/mi |
| EPA smog rating | 1-3 / 10 |
| NHTSA overall | 4 / 5 stars |
What it costs to fuel
Across its configurations, the 2018 1500 costs about $3,250 to $5,300 a year to fuel at the EPA's 15,000-mile basis, averaging roughly $4,150. Over five years that is about $20,750 in fuel alone before maintenance, insurance and depreciation — which is why the running cost, not just the price, decides what a car really costs.
Relative to an average new vehicle, this 1500 configuration spends about $9,000 more on fuel over five years.
For context, the average combined economy of standard pickup trucks 4wd in this dataset is about 18 MPG. The 1500 sits roughly 0 MPG above that mark at its midpoint, making it more efficient than average for its EPA class.
Configurations and fuel economy
| Version | Engine | Drive | Trans | Fuel | Combined | Annual fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 2WD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Rear-Wheel | Automatic | Diesel | 23 MPG | $4,100 |
| 1500 4WD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 4-Wheel | Automatic | Diesel | 22 MPG | $4,300 |
| 1500 2WD | 3.6L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 20 MPG | $3,250 |
| 1500 4WD | 3.6L 6-cyl | 4-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 19 MPG | $3,400 |
| 1500 2WD | 5.7L 8-cyl | Rear-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 17 MPG | $4,350 |
| 1500 4WD | 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 17 MPG | $4,350 |
| 1500 4WD | 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 14 MPG | $5,300 |
Emissions, safety and size
The 2018 1500 records tailpipe CO₂ of 448-614 g/mi, an EPA smog rating of 1-3 out of 10, a 4-star NHTSA overall crash rating. The EPA classifies it as standard pickup trucks 4wd.
Compare this car
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Data: U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov (public domain) and NHTSA SafetyRatings. Figures are EPA estimates; real-world results vary.