We returned 16.28L/100km during our week with the car. Ram quotes consumption at 12.2L/100km combined cycle, which it gives to both non-eTorque DS models and the eTorque-equipped DT 1500.

This is a big 2749kg truck and it’s not something you’d buy if fuel saving was on your agenda.

It is claimed that the eTorque system allows the engine to deactivate cylinders for longer periods of time when cruising. These include cylinder deactivation which can ‘switch off’ four of the eight cylinders when they are not needed, and grille shutters which block airflow to the engine bay to improve aerodynamics when suitable.

The Ram uses a few technologies to help suppress fuel consumption if you are easy on the throttle. It works okay for set-and-forget driving, but when making lots of gear selections – such as multipoint U-turns, negotiating tight tracks or backing a trailer – its operation isn’t as simple as that of a regular T-bar shifter, or, even better, the column shifter as used on the 2500 trucks. A minor complaint about the transmission is the gear selector dial which is located on the dash near your left knee.

Is the rambox worth it