The Ford F-150 is hard to beat as far as name recognition goes. It is kind of the archetypal pickup truck. However, over the last few years, the Ram 1500 keeps running away with the “best truck of the year” designation every year. Now, MotorTrend has found a truck that technically scored higher than the 2022 Ram 1500. Unfortunately, most truck customers won’t want it. 

What is the best pickup truck in 2022? 

The 2022 Ram 1500 is the highest-scoring pickup truck for most major publications. The 2022 Ram 1500 scored a 9/10 on MT’s testing. However, the  2022 Ram 2500 scored a 9.1/10. I know! How did this Heavy-Duty work truck beat out the preferred full-size pickup truck? It doesn’t make any sense. But I’m sure MotorTrend has its reasoning. 

Should you buy a Ram 2500 over a Ram 1500? 

Given the state of gas prices, the thought of opting for a bigger, less-efficient diesel feels insane. I maintain that it is, in fact, insane. However, I am curious to know what could make the burly worker rank higher than the supremely comfortable Ram 1500. 

MotorTrend starts the review by listing some of their favorite aspects of the Ram 2500. Like many other highly-rater pickups, the Ram 2500 has a slew of varying engine options that make it more user-friendly and versatile. Although the 2500 is a bit beefy for many trails, Ram does offer some very capable off-road trims for the Power Wagon model. Lastly, and most importantly, it has the burly diesel options and huge bed but still prioritizes a very comfortable and plush interior.

The biggest reason why most folks choose HD diesel trucks is for the increased towing and payload capacity. Although there are gas V8 options available, the turbodiesel inline-six is what we came here for. 

At a nearly $9,500 premium, the inline-six makes 370 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque. All that torque allows the Ram 2500 to tow a max of 19,780 lbs and have a payload max of 4,050 lbs. 

All that diesel grunt comes with the truck’s only two downsides, an outdated transmission, and a slower truck than many competitors in the segment. 

How much does a 2022 Ram 2500 cost? 

Unfortunately, the diesel pickup truck makes for some problems and increases an already high price tag, but the Ram 2500 wouldn’t be special without it. Edmunds says the 2022 Ram 2500 starts with an MSRP of $46,280 for the base Tradesman trim. After five more in-between trims, the Limited trim sits atop the heap with a starting MSRP of $70,495 before any optional extras. 

Although that feels like a ton of money for a pickup truck, the smaller Ram 1500 can easily run into the same price range with hot trims such as the Ram 1500 TRX. the truth is, good pickup trucks are just expensive now. 

Don’t sleep on the Ram 2500

Look, a heavy-duty work truck certainly is not for everyone. Fuel prices and the environmental impact of these trucks should be heavily considered by any potential customers. But, for those who need a vehicle that can put in the work, there is no substitute for that diesel torque. And although the Ram 2500 only beat the Ram 1500 by 0.1 points, many of the same benefits come with the Ram 1500. At this point, what we’re saying is that if you have a modern Ram pickup truck, you are probably in a strong truck. Enjoy.