Model Years

2020 Ram 1500 MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2020 Ram 1500 gets up to 23 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 26 mpg with the diesel, across 11 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2020 Ram 1500 · 11 EPA-tested versions

Best gas version

23MPG combined

20 city 26 highway

$2,700 a year to fuel15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.00 a gallon (regular gas)

Fuel economy score5/10

3.6L 6-cyl mild hybrid · RWD · 8-speed automatic · HFE

Best diesel version

26MPG combined

22 city 32 highway

$3,650 a year to fuel15,000 miles a year at EPA's $6.13 a gallon (diesel)

Fuel economy score5/10

3.0L turbo 6-cyl diesel · RWD · 8-speed automatic

Best version costs $7,250 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,700 to $4,200 a year. Compared with 2019, the best diesel version is up 3 mpg.

Fewer complaints than a typical Ram 1500 year

The 2020 drew 170 owner complaints in its first three years, against 210 for a typical Ram 1500 year.

Years to avoid: 2019; best year: 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Ram 1500 year rankedThe 2020 Ram 1500's recalls and problems

Every 2020 Ram 1500 version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

VersionCombinedCity / HwyFuel / year
Gas
3.6L 6-cyl mild hybrid · RWD · 8-speed automatic · HFE
EPA listing: 1500 HFE 2WD
23 mpg 20 / 26 $2,700
3.6L 6-cyl mild hybrid · RWD · 8-speed automatic
EPA listing: 1500 2WD
22 mpg 20 / 25 $2,850
3.6L 6-cyl mild hybrid · 4WD · 8-speed automatic
EPA listing: 1500 4WD
21 mpg 19 / 24 $2,950
3.6L 6-cyl · RWD · 8-speed automatic
EPA listing: 1500 Classic 2WD
20 mpg 17 / 25 $3,100
3.6L 6-cyl · 4WD · 8-speed automatic
EPA listing: 1500 Classic 4WD
19 mpg 16 / 23 $3,300
5.7L 8-cyl mild hybrid · 4WD · 8-speed automatic
EPA listing: 1500 4WD · Midgrade fuel
19 mpg 17 / 22 $3,750
5.7L 8-cyl mild hybrid · RWD · 8-speed automatic
EPA listing: 1500 2WD · Midgrade fuel
19 mpg 17 / 23 $3,750
5.7L 8-cyl · 4WD · 8-speed automatic
EPA listing: 1500 4WD (also 1500 Classic 4WD) · Midgrade fuel
17 mpg 15 / 21 $4,200
5.7L 8-cyl · RWD · 8-speed automatic
EPA listing: 1500 2WD (also 1500 Classic 2WD) · Midgrade fuel
17 mpg 15 / 22 $4,200
Diesel
3.0L turbo 6-cyl diesel · RWD · 8-speed automatic Best
EPA listing: 1500 2WD
26 mpg 22 / 32 $3,650
3.0L turbo 6-cyl diesel · 4WD · 8-speed automatic
EPA listing: 1500 4WD
24 mpg 21 / 29 $3,950

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.00 a gallon for regular gas, $4.61 a gallon for midgrade gas, and $6.13 a gallon for diesel. Change the numbers to match your driving.

VersionPer yearPer month5 years
3.6L 6-cyl mild hybrid · RWD · 8-speed automatic · HFE
$2,609$217$13,043
3.6L 6-cyl mild hybrid · RWD · 8-speed automatic
$2,727$227$13,636
3.6L 6-cyl mild hybrid · 4WD · 8-speed automatic
$2,857$238$14,286
3.6L 6-cyl · RWD · 8-speed automatic
$3,000$250$15,000
3.6L 6-cyl · 4WD · 8-speed automatic
$3,158$263$15,789
5.7L 8-cyl mild hybrid · 4WD · 8-speed automatic
$3,639$303$18,197
5.7L 8-cyl mild hybrid · RWD · 8-speed automatic
$3,639$303$18,197
5.7L 8-cyl · 4WD · 8-speed automatic
$4,068$339$20,338
5.7L 8-cyl · RWD · 8-speed automatic
$4,068$339$20,338
3.0L turbo 6-cyl diesel · RWD · 8-speed automatic
$3,537$295$17,683
3.0L turbo 6-cyl diesel · 4WD · 8-speed automatic
$3,831$319$19,156

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Ram 1500 MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 16 to 23 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); highest in 2019. Diesel: 23 to 26 mpg (2014 to 2023); highest in 2020.

  • Best gas version
  • Best diesel version

2020: gas 23 mpg · diesel 26 mpg

Show as a table
Ram 1500 best combined mpg by model year
Model yearBest gas versionBest diesel version
201016–
201116–
201216–
201321–
20142123
20152124
20162124
20172023
20182023
20192323
20202326
20212326
20222326
20232324
202423–
202523–
202622–

How the 2020 Ram 1500 compares

2020 full-size pickups covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2020 modelBest combinedBest gasFuel / year
Best: diesel
27 mpg21 mpg$2,950
Ram 1500 This page
Best: diesel
26 mpg23 mpg$2,700
Best: diesel
26 mpg21 mpg$2,950
Best: diesel
24 mpg22 mpg$2,850
Best: gas
15 mpg15 mpg$4,150

2020 Ram 1500 recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 14 safety recalls and 645 owner complaints for the 2020 Ram 1500.

Owners most often describe stalling (54 complaints, 8%), then power steering problems (44). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 4 to 5 stars, depending on the version.

See the 2020 Ram 1500 recalls and problems

Questions

Does 4WD lower the 2020 Ram 1500's gas mileage?

Sometimes. On versions that differ only in drive, the gap ranges from 0 to 2 mpg combined: the 3.0L turbo 6-cyl diesel gets 26 mpg combined with two-wheel drive and 24 with 4WD.

Does the 2020 Ram 1500 need premium gas?

No. The diesel runs on diesel fuel, the rest use regular.

How does the 2020 Ram 1500's MPG compare with the 2019?

For 2020, the best gas version is rated 23 mpg, the same as the year before and the best diesel version is rated 26 mpg, up 3 from 23.

Sources and method

  • US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Nov 4, 2026.
  • EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.00, midgrade $4.61, premium $5.01, diesel $6.13 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
  • Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Nov 12, 2026 and complaint file dated Nov 11, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.