RAM 1500: Who said driving a truck had to be boring?
PROS: Posh interior; superb driving experience; spacious and quiet cabins; four powertrain options; and ready for adventures both on and off the road
CONS: More expensive than rival pickups and driver safety features don't come standard on lower-end trims.
VERDICT: Drivers looking for a full-sized truck that can haul, tow, and get you where you need to quickly have found their perfect pickup.
Does it have any competitors or rivals?
Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, and Toyota Tundra.
What’s interesting about the 1500?
- The interior is one of the fanciest on the market (for a truck).
- Adding the optional air springs will enhance an already comfortable ride.
- Drivers get to choose between four engines: a V6, a V8, a diesel (V6), and a supercharged V8.
- Depending on the configuration, the 1500 can tow between 7,690-12,750 pounds.
How about the prices and trims?
Seven trims are available this year, and the top-tier trim, TRX, gets reviewed separately. Prices for these trims range between $35,900 and $76,880. Deciding which trim to pick largely depends on what you want to use it for: hauling, off-roading, or a seriously luxurious driving experience.
Drivers choose between a quad or crew cab, and both come with four doors and a back seat. The crew cab offers more legroom. All quad cabs come with a long bed, while the crew can come with either the short bed (5 feet, 7 inches) or the long bed (6 feet, four inches).
Which one do we recommend?
We recommend opting for the Laramie. It comes with many features, plenty of options, and the price makes sense for what you get.
What about its availability?
Ram 1500 trucks are available all over the country. Visit your local dealer to test drive one today.
What about its performance and handling?
- Four engine options are available, and all get paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
- Rear-wheel drive comes standard, though four-wheel drive is optional. (FWD is standard on the TRX that we review separately.)
- Drivers can expect responsive handling, confident steering, and reliable braking regardless of the configuration they choose.
- The base trim comes with a 7,690 towing capacity, but that number can exceed 12,000 pounds if you choose the right trim, engine, and towing package combo.
The 1500 offers four powertrains: a 395-horsepower V6, a 395-horsepower V8, a 260-horsepower V6 diesel, or a 702-horsepower V8 engine (TRX only). Both the regular V6 and V8 get paired with a 48-volt hybrid system for extra oomph and improve fuel efficiency. These trucks also come with coil springs or optional air springs in the rear suspension. The 1500 offers a nimble and responsive experience no matter where you drive.
In terms of fuel efficiency, the rates are mostly average. The V6 has an average of 20/26 mpg in the city/highway, while the V8 offers 17/23 mpg. The diesel engine gets 22/32 mpg thanks to the reintroduction of EcoDiesel, which maximizes horsepower. If you opt for a different drivetrain or opt-out of the hybrid engine, these numbers will change.
How’s the interior?
Cabin Space
Typically, what makes a truck exciting is the prowess under the hood; however, the interior of the Ram 1500 almost outshines the engine options. Drivers can choose between a crew or quad cabin that seats five. The crew offers slightly more legroom in the backseat, which can make a difference for tall adults. Overall, the cabin is quiet, comes with comfortable seats, and the back seat even reclines. Since we recommend the Laramie here's a shortlist of some of the features you can expect: remote engine start, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and power-adjustable pedals.
Infotainment and connectivity
Even the base trim of 1500, Tradesman, comes with a good list of infotainment features. The five-inch touchscreen infotainment system comes with Uconnect, Ram's easy-to-use program, Bluetooth connectivity, and a six-speaker stereo. Opting for the Laramie increases the screen to 8.4-inches and adds Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Wi-Fi, and a nine-speaker system. A navigation system, an expanded 12-inch touchscreen, and a wireless charging pad are available options.
LIKES: A decent list of infotainment programs come standard on higher-end trims.
DISLIKES: A five-inch screen may feel too small for some and the 12-inch screen is far too large for our taste.
How about the technology and features?
LIKES: The Laramie trim comes with many more exciting features, such as remote engine start and power-adjustable pedals. While the upscale interior isn't new, we're still impressed by it every time we sit behind the steering wheel.
DISLIKES: Safety programs such as forward collision mitigation and blind-spot monitoring only come standard on higher-end trims.
Quick Quirks: The quad cab can only get paired with the long bed that measures six feet, four inches. If you pick the crew cab, which is more spacious anyway, you can get the long or short bed, which measures five feet, seven inches. |
Some additional features include:
- Higher-end trims come with additional storage spaces in the cabin.
- The Big Horn trim is called the Lone Star in Texas.
- We recommend adding adaptive cruise control, especially if you plan on going on long drives.
- Check out the Rebel trim if you want a pickup ready for off-roading.
How’s the exterior?
So much energy and thoughtful design got put into the engine options and the interior that the exterior can seem lackluster. Some drivers may want a more flashy pickup, but we like the quiet confidence of 1500. Of course, various accents can get added, but we'd rather let the engine and the interior speak for themselves.
What warranty and safety does it offer?
Several safety features come standard, and the 1500 comes with an average warranty package.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has awarded the 1500 four out of five stars.
- Many safety features are optional, such as forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and a rear cross-traffic alert.
- Limited warranty for 36,000 miles or three years.
- Powertrain warranty for 50,000 miles or five years.
- Complimentary scheduled maintenance not included.
Are there any incentives and rebates for the 1500?
To learn about incentives and rebates, visit your local Ram dealership.
