![]() Of course you feel its size in tight urban areas, but it never punishes the driver or jounces along rough pavement. While quite capable off-road, the Ram really stands apart from other full-sizers on the pavement, where the coil-link suspension (a Ram trait since 2009) and optional air setup give it a quiet, billiard-table-smooth ride and reasonably sharp responses to driver inputs for such a big vehicle. There are also locking diffs and optional all-terrain tires, and the Rebel trim adds a TRX-like look as well as skid plates and tow hooks. Although the 1500 TRX is by far the most off-road oriented Ram, the regular 1500 offers plenty of dirt trail capability and the optional air suspension can even raise the ground clearance to 10.7 inches. Like other full-size trucks, Rams default to rear-wheel drive with four-wheel drive (4WD) optional on all but one model. All three choices use an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 offers 260 hp and 480 lb-ft and delivers the Ram’s best tow ratings. Next up is the 5.7-liter “Hemi” V8 with 395 hp and 410 lb-ft, which is offered with or without the mild-hybrid system, though since the cost is the same there’s no reason to skip it. Base models start with a 3.6-liter V6, making 306 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque with a standard mild-hybrid “eTorque” assist system. The Ram 1500 offers three engine choices. All Ram 1500s have comfy interiors, but on the high-end trims like the Limited, they’re also exceedingly luxurious, with fine materials including real leather and wood. While the pricey top models offer the lap of luxury, every 1500 is a comfy and family-friendly machine, and a must-drive for prospective pickup purchasers. ![]() Tradesman, Tradesman HFE (High Fuel Efficiency), Big Horn, Lone Star, Rebel and Laramie all come in Quad or Crew cab, save for the Quad-cab-only HFE. Eight trims take the Ram 1500 from workhorse to luxury liner. Speaking of wallets, Ram does not offer as many standard safety features as Ford or Toyota, but lots of active-safety gear costs extra, as do many other things. (Depending on the eye, and credit score, of the beholder). Ram also doesn’t offer some of Ford’s neat jobsite tricks, but its standard infotainment system is good and its optional 12-inch screen even better, and on the upper trims it may be the most luxurious full-size truck on the market. The optional split tailgate is neat, but not as useful as Ford’s stairstep or GM’s multi-function tailgates. These extend to the cargo bed too, including the sidewall-filling optional RamBox storage units. Inside, the 1500 is simple and logical but comfortable and filled with clever storage options. The Ram trails Ford and GM on towing and payload capacity, though it’s close to Toyota on towing and superior on payload. The now-endangered diesel offers excellent fuel economy and more torque than GM’s oil burners. It makes no sense to skip it, however, as it really does improve economy. The standard V6 comes with a 48-volt mild hybrid assist while the optional V8 can be had with or without the hybrid system. Alex KwantenĪll three of the Ram’s engines put down decent power and fuel economy. It hasn’t changed much visually since 2019, but the Ram 1500 has lots of visual presence to match its refined road manners and hauling capability, even in the mid-range Big Horn trim. Its standard coil-link rear suspension and optional air suspension offer a sedan-smooth ride and decent handling for a big truck. Modern truck buyers overwhelmingly choose crew cabs, which makes it much easier for a big half-ton to do double-duty as a family vehicle, and the Ram’s advantages over its competitors are all about real-world livability for just that reason. One thing the current 1500 does not offer that the Classic does is a single-cab, long-bed configuration, but this isn’t surprising. There are two other 1500s we review separately: the wild 702-horsepower Ram 1500 TRX and the old Ram 1500 Classic (really the fourth-generation 1500, new way back in 2009). There’s some new standard equipment and special editions, but the 1500 is otherwise mostly unchanged. Production of the 1500’s optional EcoDiesel V6 (which ties GM’s diesels for best-in-class fuel economy) will end in January of 2023. ![]() Ram has subtly but steadily updated the 1500 since its introduction, but what’s notable about 2023 is what will go away. GM’s half-ton alternatives, the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, got major 2022 upgrades to narrow the gap, but still aren’t quite at the Ram’s level of refinement and (available) luxury. Five model years later it’s still one of the best vehicles in the segment, holding its own with the redesigned-in-2020 Ford F-150 and last year’s all-new Toyota Tundra. When the fifth-generation Ram 1500 debuted for 2019, it set new standards among full-size trucks for refinement, crash safety, fuel efficiency and available luxuries. ![]()
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