In the "old" days, for diesels, HP was about half of the value of torque. Now, that no longer applies. Yes, it the 6.7 peak torque is an amazing 900 lbs of torque and only 385 HP. However, even with a lower expected amount of HP, it really depends on when that HP is "turned on". With today's computers driving today's engines and transmissions, peak horsepower may not always mean as much. If an engine can apply more horsepower and torque during certain power bands then that may be more effective than just more horsepower or torque overall on paper.
I have a 2011 RAM 3500 RAM and I have had the chance to drive and pull with a 2015 RAM 3500. Mine is a 350/650 6.7 Cummins and the rental had a 370/800 6.7 and I can tell you there was a different feel to both. The rental had the 68RFE transmission with a 3.42 rear axle and mine has a 68RFE with a 4.10 axle and with only 20 HP difference, the newer truck did not feel at all lacking in the HP or torque department. So obviously computer calibrations helped. I'd probably say from a dead stop the truck's would be even in a race and more than just a 20 HP difference to feel. Usually, to me, it take much more than just 20 HP to "feel" a difference.
I'd also like to add that the newer truck used DEF and the unloaded highway mileage was awesome. Pulling our cargo trailer felt great though it did seem to downshift more often from 6th gear to 5th gear as apposed to my 2011 but the mileage and "tuning" from the factory seemed to more than make up for it.
All in all, my long winded point is that despite HP number or torque numbers on paper, there's more to it than that. If you're unsure, no matter which brand, all I can really recommend is take a test drive.
I was thinking in my mind that the 370/800 6.7 Cummins would be a slouch with the only rear axle available for SRW, the 3.42, and it really wasn't. I was pleasantly surprised how RAM tweaked things.
Frost
