Green Car Journal’s 2019 Green Truck of the Year™, the new RAM 1500, is lighter, more  efficient, and higher tech than ever. Of special interest is that the RAM integrates electrification for increased efficiency by offering two mild hybrid powertrains, exclusive to the segment. It features more hauling and towing capacity than the generation before it, with the ability to tow up to 12,750 pounds and carry a payload of up to 2,320 pounds. RAM 1500 rides on a wheelbase about four inches longer with a larger cab. Efficiency has been enhanced by shedding up to 225 pounds through the use of high-strength steel, aluminum, and composites.

RAM 1500 is offered in four-door quad cab and crew-cab body styles, with 67.4- and 76.3-inch beds, and in seven trim levels. Three headlamp variations are available including Halogen, full LED, and an all-new full LED adaptive front-lighting system. A robust 4x4 off-road package is available. The pickup’s most notable exterior feature is its new grille, which replaces the RAM’s iconic grille that’s been used since the Dodge days.

Contributing to the RAM 1500’s aerodynamic efficiency are grille shutters that help smooth airflow and a front air dam that automatically lowers by 2.5 inches at speeds above 35 mph. A new venturi roof design directs air back to the rear spoiler. Bed rails raised by 1.5 inches and a new spoiler on the aluminum tailgate reduce drag. A lockable tri-fold tonneau cover improves fuel economy while adding security and weather protection. The RAM’s optional air suspension system lowers the truck 0.6 inches at speed to further improve aerodynamics.

Power is delivered by a 305 hp 3.6-liter V-6 or 395 hp 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, each mated to a new TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. A new-for-2019 eTorque mild hybrid system replaces the RAM 1500’s alternator with a motor/generator that uses regenerative braking to charge a lithium-ion battery pack Standard on V-6 and optional on V-8 engines, eTorque provides stop-start operation and a brief torque boost of 90 lb-ft in V-6 RAMs and 130 lb-ft in V-8 models. An interactive deceleration fuel shut off system also saves fuel.

Among the RAM 1500’s advanced technologies is a fourth-generation Uconnect system and 12-inch, fully reconfigurable touchscreen display. SiriusXM Guardian Connected Services delivers advanced in-vehicle connected services including a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard.

An available 360-degree surround view camera system provides a birds-eye view via four cameras positioned around the vehicle. Uconnect 4 with an 8.4-inch display and Uconnect 3 with 5-inch display are also offered. Driver assist systems include forward collision warning, advance brake assist, blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control with stop, go, and hold. SiriusXM Traffic/Travel Link is available.

Standard half-ton pickup or heavy-duty variant? That’s the question often faced by those needing a pickup for commercial use, combined personal/business activity, or heavy-duty towing. It’s a tough choice because heavy-duty pickups really do offer levels of functionality that typically exceed that of light-duty pickups, but they’re also costlier, more cumbersome to maneuver, and usually less fuel efficient.

Nissan’s fully-redesigned Titan XD aims to solve this conundrum by combining the capability of a heavy-duty pickup with the fuel economy and affordability of a half-ton model. It delivers welcome functionality with a 5.6-liter Endurance gasoline V-8 or a notable 5.0-liter Cummins turbodiesel that delivers 310 horsepower and a formidable 555 lb-ft torque. The latter is capable of carrying a 2,000 pound payload or towing up to 12,000 pounds.

A half-ton 2017 Titan variant introduced just this summer shares the Titan DNA but is distinguished by a unique chassis some 14.7 inches shorter than that of the XD. No diesel powerplant is offered with the lighter-duty Titan, which is powered by the same 390 horsepower, 5.6-liter Endurance gasoline V-8 and connected to a seven-speed automatic transmission. An as-yet undisclosed V-6 will also be available for the half-ton Titan.

Titan XD benefits from the first application of the new Cummins M2 two-stage turbo system, which helps reduce turbo lag through precision balancing between high-pressure and low-pressure turbos. The engine’s Rotary Turbine Control provides solid performance across the powerband and manages exhaust gas temperatures. Efficiency-enhancing weight reduction is achieved with a compacted graphite iron cylinder block, high-strength aluminum alloy heads, and composite valve covers. The CGI block, along with the dual overhead camshafts, contributes to Nissan’s goal of delivering excellent noise, vibration, and harshness characteristics.

The XD features an extended 151.6-inch wheelbase to handle the higher towing and payload potential of the Cummins diesel while maximizing stability, handling, and ride comfort. It also uses a new heavy-duty, highly stable suspension design. Titan XD buyers can choose between several available hitches including an integrated gooseneck hitch engineered into the frame that’s easily accessible in the bed. It is also snow plow-capable.

Clearly, the Titan XD is the right size pickup for many chores. Nowhere is this more evident than when it comes to overall driveability. The step up to a traditional heavy-duty pickup is more than many drivers care to deal with on a daily basis. Titan XD simply doesn’t feel as cumbersome as a bigger and heavier HD truck. We wouldn’t call it nimble, but it is certainly easier to maneuver, especially around town. Overall ride and handling is quite pleasant and on par with most half-ton pickups. We drove the Titan XD loaded near maximum payload capacity and it performed without complaint.

The Titan XD is offered in Crew Cab, King Cab, and Single Cab versions with three available bed lengths. A work truck version is also available. All are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The Titan XD is offered in several trims including a rugged-looking Pro-4X model and a top-of-the-line Platinum Reserve. All except the Pro-4X can be had with two- or four-wheel drive. Inside, The Titan XD’s instrument panel integrates both analog and digital gauges and a 5-inch color display, plus diesel monitoring and maintenance displays. A 7-inch color monitor includes NissanConnect with navigation, mobile apps, and service.

While fuel economy estimates are not required for heavy-duty pickup models, expect the XD's Cummins diesel to provide about 20 percent better efficiency than a gas-powered V-8 while towing full loads. Our driving experience in an XD with a fully-loaded pickup bed realized a mpg average of just over 20 mpg…pretty impressive for an HD pickup.

The San Antonio Auto & Truck Show has a big interest in trucks. After all, we’re talking Texas. Now ‘green’ is gaining even more emphasis at the show with Green Car Journal’s inaugural Green Truck of the Year™ award.

Green Car Journal has presented its coveted Green Car of the Year® award in Los Angeles for the past decade, recognizing the best and the brightest vehicles with improved environmental performance. The Green Truck of the Year™ award program in San Antonio is a natural complement. Trucks are a high-profile part of the San Antonio Auto & Truck Show and Texas is the largest truck market in the nation, making this an ideal venue for this new high-profile award.

In selecting the program’s five finalists, Green Car Journal editors consider all potential truck models in the U.S. market, weighing environmental attributes alongside traditional touchstones that define what makes a great pickup, such as functionality, versatility, safety, value, and style. The 2015 Green Truck of the Year™ winner is selected from these five finalists by a Green Truck of the Year™ jury comprised of automotive experts and Green Car Journal staff.

Trucks are no strangers to Green Car Journal. The magazine’s editors and writers have deep backgrounds with trucks, having served on staff at enthusiast truck publications during their careers. They have owned sport trucks, work trucks, custom trucks, and off-road trucks so they know what's important to truck buyers, just as they know the importance of 'green' features in the trucks of our future.

The 46th annual San Antonio Auto & Truck Show will take place on November 6-9, 2014 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, with the 2015 Green Truck of the Year™ announced during the show's media day on November 6. Presented by the San Antonio Automobile Dealers Association, the show highlights the auto industry’s newest innovations and provides a ‘one-stop shop’ for evaluating the latest cars, trucks, and technologies. It is recognized as South Texas’ premier automotive event.