Ram 2500 Power Wagon Diesel TestedMarc Urbano - Car and DriverThey said it couldn't be done, but Ram (finally) stuffed a Cummins turbo-diesel in the Power Wagon. Ram always said that the off-road-ready, three-quarter-ton pickup and the diesel engine were not compatible, and too many compromises were required to pair the two. And to a certain degree they were right. But customer demand, and possibly mounting pressure from crosstown rivals, forced their hand because the Power Wagon isn't the only off-road HD pickup on the market anymore.The Ford F-250 Tremor, Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD ZR2 Bison, and GMC Sierra 2500HD AT4X AEV are also available, and unlike the Power Wagon (until now), those models offer their respective optional diesels.Marc Urbano - Car and DriverAdding the turbocharged 6.7-liter inline-six behemoth does unlock some capability, but not in the off-road sense. This is the first Power Wagon with an optional fifth-wheel hitch. The diesel nearly doubles the Hemi-powered version's towing capacity, with a max of 19,630 pounds, be that on the bumper or hitched to the middle of the bed. And no one will ever call it an Underpowered Wagon with the diesel's 1075 pound-feet of torque and 430 horsepower on tap.AdvertisementAdvertisementOn the road, the Power Wagon diesel drives okay, though it's far from a dynamic standout, unlike the 10Best-winning Ram 1500. Recirculating-ball steering has an almost charmingly sloppy on-center feel if you're going for that old-timey vibe. The Ram Power Wagon diesel also is not particularly quick. It hits 60 mph in 6.4 seconds, a half-second quicker than the 2500 Tradesman with the Power Wagon package (a very stripped-down Power Wagon, essentially) that we recently tested. And it rides like, well, a truck. We've long loved the 1500's on-road composure, but when a truck weighs 8340 pounds, sports a 2930-pound payload, and its 34-inch all-terrain tires are inflated to 65 psi in the front and 70 in the rear, a luxurious ride is not really in the cards.Marc Urbano - Car and DriverThe diesel still has most of the off-road features of the Hemi Power Wagon, including an electronically disconnectable front anti-roll bar and electronically locking front and rear differentials. (There's no center differential; driveline binding will happen if four-wheel drive is engaged on pavement). Namely, it's missing a factory winch, which was lost in order to make room for the Holset turbocharger's intercooler. Will the aftermarket make a bumper that supports a spool of steel cable? You can bet the ranch. The so-called Articulink leading control arms on the front axle are absent, again for space. These suspension arms reduce binding when the suspension is at full compression and thus improve articulation and traction when attempting to go up and over objects. They come standard on the Hemi, but Ram says there wasn't room in the front to make them compatible with the diesel. Also, the diesel's 13.2 inches of ground clearance is an inch less than the Power Wagon Hemi's. Its breakover and approach angles are reduced as well.Marc Urbano - Car and DriverOne out of 100 Power Wagon owners might notice the relative off-road deficiency. And even then, it'll only sting when they remember ponying up for the Cummins. Starting at $89,560—including $12,995 for the diesel engine, plus a mandatory $3495 equipment upgrade package—the Power Wagon diesel is expensive. With additional options, our test truck hit $104,215. And while it is no doubt less capable than its spark-ignition sibling, the added towing capacity fills a need we're sure plenty desire.So what does the diesel variant get you? The headline number is that 1075 pound-feet of torque, which is about two-and-a-half times the twist of the 6.4-liter V-8. That's more torque than General Motors' Duramax V-8 and more than the standard Powerstroke V-8 in the F-250; but Ford has since dropped that tune for 2027, leaving the 1200-lb-ft, high-output version the only choice. We expect the Duramax to get an upgrade this year, which will bring it to four-figure torque.AdvertisementAdvertisementAs with all Ram 2500s, you also get a great, usable interior. The back seat is enormous, and interior materials and switchgear in the Power Wagon are on par with the Ram 1500's, which is to say quite nice. The newest infotainment system runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto seamlessly on its 14.5-inch touchscreen. Seats and pedals adjust so that almost anyone can find a good seating position.The Cummins response—its relative lack of, specifically—was a hot topic around the watercooler. Its 5-to-60-mph time is 7.9 seconds, which is about a full second slower than what we'd call an acceptable delta to its brake-torque-and-build-boost (but please don't transparent a half-shaft) 60-mph time of 6.4 seconds. Merely rolling into the accelerator doesn't bring the hit of torque you'd expect. You can see the turbo slowly spooling up in the boost gauge, which doesn't seem to peak until the transmission is in an upper gear. The lack of response is likely exaggerated by the beefy off-road tires. And it's worth noting that the eight-speed automatic starts in second gear, like a creeper gear or an older Mercedes-Benz S-class. Mercedes used to call it comfort start. We just wish it had a bit more to scoot through intersections and unprotected left-hand turns. The eight-speed automatic was new to the Ram HD for 2025. Ram calls it a Torqueflite HD, but the transmission is really a ZF 8AP gearbox from the German transmission giant's commercial line.Marc Urbano - Car and DriverWe averaged 15 mpg overall and 19 mpg at a steady 75 mph. Lashing a trailer to the truck or driving faster will drain the 31.0-gallon tank posthaste. With diesel prices averaging well above five bucks per gallon, this is one expensive way to commute.Ram may have felt the pressure to build this, and we're sure those who do spring for the diesel Power Wagon will love it. We can't help but think the initial product planners and engineers who resisted this option had it right all along. Thinking of the diesel as a Power and Work Wagon keeps the expectations in check.Marc Urbano - Car and DriverYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029
+55 others
