2014 Dodge Ram 1500 Earns 4-Star Safety Rating and High Demand For Its EcoDiesel Model

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently awarded the 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 an overall 4-star safety rating, with 5-stars for side-impact safety.

New for 2014, the Dodge Ram offers a diesel engine option, along with an 8-speed automatic available in more engines. Consumers should note that the 4.7 liter V-8 engine is discontinued this year. The Dodge Ram is garnering great reviews, with US News and World Report giving the 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 its “2014 Best Full Size Truck for the Money” award, and Motor Trend naming it 2014’s Truck of the Year.

It seems consumers are noticing all the awards the 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 is earning, as well as the availability of its new EcoDiesel engine. Chrysler was first to put a new truck offering on the market, and consumers responded in a big way. AutoBlog reports that in a three-day period, dealers filled Chrysler’s initial offering of 8,000 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 EcoDiesel trucks. The EcoDiesel model’s orders accounted for over half of all Dodge Ram 1500 orders for that time period. Notably, the EcoDiesel model costs several thousand dollars more than the gasoline engine option. Chrysler has responded to the demand by allocating another 8,000 EcoDiesel models for March 2014, saying that they knew their customers had been asking for such a model all along, so February’s orders did not come as a complete surprise. The success of the new 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 comes on the heels of their popular 2014 Super Bowl commercial.

For the 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 to earn Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year award, Chrysler had to convince them that it was deserving of another look. The award is only given to trucks that are either all-new, or have been significantly updated. Giving the Dodge Ram 1500 a diesel option is notable because it entails new technology for the diesel segment.

Dodge’s EcoDiesel engine is built in Italy by Fiat subsidiary VM Motori and shared by Jeep’s Grand Cherokee. According to Motor Trend, the 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 with EcoDiesel boasts 19 mpg/city and 26 mpg/highway, great numbers for a half-ton truck.

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