Emmanuel, a reader of Car guide, would like to get a van for work. He travels between 20,000 and 40,000 kilometers per year.
He hesitates between a Ram 1500 Classic with a 5.7-litre V8 engine and a diesel-powered Chevrolet Silverado. Our animators Antoine Joubert and Daniel Melançon are looking into the question.
“It’s a lot of mileage and it’s a lot of gas… Obviously the Duramax at Chevrolet is going to pay off and it’s an incredibly nice engine,” explains Antoine.
Photo: General Motors
Powered by a Duramax 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbodiesel, the Silverado develops 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. With its ten-speed transmission, consumption is displayed at 10.1 L/100 km.
Antoine nevertheless points out to our reader that the maintenance costs are higher than those of a gasoline-powered van and the price of diesel is skyrocketing these days.
And the Ram Classic?
“It’s a proven truck. We know its flaws,” says the columnist. He goes on to say that the drive is interesting and the engine is pleasant. On the other hand, Antoine notices that the soundproofing is inferior and the product ages less well.
Photo: Antoine Joubert
In terms of engine, the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 generates 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque and it’s all mated to an eight-speed gearbox. Fuel consumption climbs to 14.1 L/100 km.
Watch the capsule In studio at the top of this article for our experts’ recommendation.