The EPA
has published fuel economy figures for the 2009
Ford F-150 and 2009
Dodge Ram 1500 on its website, fueleconomy.gov.
The numbers show significant mileage gains in certain areas for each
truck.
The updated
F-150 offers a new six-speed automatic transmission and a new three-valve
4.6-liter V-8. According to the EPA, where the 2008 F-150 with two-wheel
drive, a four-speed automatic and the two-valve, 4.6-liter V-8 got
an estimated 14/19 mpg city/highway, the two-wheel-drive 2009 F-150
with the six-speed automatic and three-valve 4.6-liter V-8 is rated
at 15/20 mpg. The four-wheel-drive version sees mileage jump from 13/17
mpg to 14/19 mpg — an improvement of 12 percent on the
highway.
The new
six-speed transmission is also paired with the F-150’s
flex-fuel 5.4-liter V-8 for 2009. The two extra gears help raise fuel
economy from 13/17 mpg
to 14/20 mpg for 4x2 F-150s, and from 13/17 mpg to 14/18 mpg for 4x4
pickups.
Ford won't offer a six-cylinder engine for the F-150 in 2009; the four-speed
automatic 4.6-liter V-8 is rated the same 14/19 mpg as last year's 4.2-liter
V-6. A new fuel-efficient EcoBoost V-6 is expected for the F-150 by 2010.
Ford is expected to officially announce fuel economy figures for the
2009 F-150 later this month.
The all-new Dodge Ram 1500 carries over last year's five-speed automatic
transmission. It makes most of its mileage gains from improved aerodynamics
and a revised 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 gas engine.
According to the EPA, the two-wheel-drive 2009 Ram with the five-speed
automatic and 380-horsepower, 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 is rated 14/20 mpg,
which is one highway mpg better than the 215-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 2008 Ram
with two-wheel drive and a four-speed automatic. That's an 8 percent
improvement for the new Hemi in city driving conditions versus last year's
345-hp Hemi, which is rated at 13/19 mpg.
A summary of EPA fuel economy estimates for 2009 F-150 and Ram 1500
trucks is listed below. The best ratings for each truck are highlighted
in green.
