Nissan Leaf versus Dodge Ram 1500 EcoDiesel: What a green ride says about you
MASCULIN, FEMININ | The profile of the Ram, right, belies its slow-sipping engine, while the Leaf, left, gets an elec-terrific 100-plus miles MPGe.
CASEY WILLIAMS | Auto Reviewer
crwauto@aol.com
At opposite ends of the eco-drive range are electric cars — like the best-selling Nissan Leaf — and fuel-sipping diesel pickups — like the new Dodge Ram 1500 EcoDiesel. Each has its talents, but the big questions is, “Which is butch and which is femme?”
We’d normally peg the pickup as the daddy, but as anyone who’s ever been to the Round-Up can attest, you can’t tell a top by his ride. Still, you can’t go wrong with either of these green-friendly rides, which let everyone know you care about the environment (and fuel prices).
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Who drives it:
Ram: A perfect ride for bull-hugging rodeo boys without much money.
Leaf: Perfect for those monetarily-endowed metro boys stalking shoulder bags on Rodeo Drive.
Sippin’ fuel:
Ram: EcoDiesel is the most fuel-efficient full-size pickup with 18/28-MPG city/hwy.
Leaf: Claims 126/101-MPGe city/hwy.
Corral the horses:
Ram: Only 240 horses, but 420 lb.-ft. of torque will tug almost anything.
Leaf: 107 hp and 187 lb.-ft. of torque to move the lightweight like a flyweight.
Getting plugged:
Ram: Ah, watch it, that’s my tailpipe — I’m not that kind of guy.
Leaf: Overnight (5-8 hours) for 84 miles of fossil-free frolicking.
How she works:
Ram: A 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 with high-dispersion nozzles and advanced-technology servovalve that can squirt eight times per cylinder cycle to minimize obscene engine noises while reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Check the 8-speed torque-flite transmission — while complicated, it goes all night without polluting or asking for a cookie.
Leaf: 24 kWh Lithium-Ion batteries, electric motor, re-generative brakes, three-mode drive system (Normal/Eco/Re-gen). What happened to three-on-the-tree and a gas pedal?
Exhaust smells like…:
Ram: French fries, if you load up on bio-diesel from your local hamburger joint.
Leaf: New Jersey, especially if the driver has been loading up at his local hamburger joint.
Slipping wind:
Ram: Although beefy, the big truck is plucked and pruned with active grille shutters to pet air and an aluminum hood that sheds pounds.
Leaf: Getting the full shave aerodynamically helps it go the furthest with the leastest.
Ancestors:
Ram: WWII Dodge field truck, Fiat Ducato.
Leaf: 1915 Detroit Electric Brougham, re-chargeable body trimmer.
Alter ego:
Ram: Andrew Sullivan — a little gruff and crusty on the outside, but impressively intelligent underneath.
Leaf: Johnny Weir — glides like a waif, but can be a little pissy if you don’t press all of his buttons.
Steamy heaters:
Ram: Automatic climate control and heated seats if you want ’em. Get the engine block heater for that summer trip to the arctic.
Leaf: There’s one for the battery pack (winter and batteries go together like Miley and awards shows). There’s a hybrid heater. Then, there are those demanding passengers who want warm air. Yeah, and four of them queens get standard ass warmers. Geesh.
Favorite toy:
Ram: Optional air suspension to smooth whatever road you romp.
Leaf: Smartphone app to schedule and monitor vehicle charging.
Best view:
Ram: A big chrome grille looks like the air intake for a GE turbine engine.
Leaf: Uh… hmmm… Give me a minute … How ’bout we go with the LED taillamps. Yeah, taillamps…
Favorite musical:
Ram: Oklahoma. It loves it there, where it can roam free and live large while rarely emptying its tank. Besides, it can wake up every day singing, “Oh what a beautiful morning…”
Leaf: Rent. Seriously, I’d rent one. Lease it, baby. Let the batteries be somebody else’s lock collar. “Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes” may be all you want.
Bottom sticker:
Ram: $24,200 + $2,850 diesel premium (see RamTrucks.com for rebates).
Leaf: $28,980; $21,480 including federal tax credits. Could gather additional incentives, depending on state and city.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition June 20, 2014.