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Used 2021 Ram 1500 Crew Cab Trims Comparison

Trim level differences

The Ram 1500 comes in seven trims: the base Tradesman, Big Horn (also called the Lone Star in Texas), the beefed-up Rebel, followed by the Laramie, Long Horn and Limited. Finally, new for 2021 is the TRX, an off-road-focused version with many exclusive features.

You can get the Ram 1500 in a quad-cab or crew-cab configuration. They're both crew cabs, but the quad cab has less rear legroom. The quad cab comes with a long bed (6 feet 4 inches), while the crew cab can be had with the long bed or a short bed (5 feet 7 inches).

The Ram 1500 can be had with one of four engines, with availability depending on the trim level and configuration. They include:

  • A 3.6-liter V6 engine (305 hp, 269 lb-ft). It comes with Ram's eTorque system, which is a mild hybrid system that slightly improves fuel economy and engine stop-start smoothness.
  • A 5.7-liter V8 (395 hp, 410 lb-ft) with or without eTorque
  • A diesel-powered turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (260 hp, 480 lb-ft)
  • Exclusive to the new TRX is a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 (702 hp, 650 lb-ft)

All Ram 1500s come with an eight-speed automatic transmission. For most 1500s, rear-wheel drive is standard and four-wheel drive is optional.

The entry-level Tradesman comes with:

  • 18-inch steel wheels
  • 5-inch touchscreen and six-speaker stereo
  • Air conditioning
  • Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
  • Trailer sway damping (adjusts vehicle brakes to help control trailer movement if a trailer begins to sway)

Moving up to the Big Horn or its Lone Star variant adds:

  • 18-inch aluminum wheels
  • Foglights
  • 60/40-split folding rear seat

The real leap with the Big Horn and Lone Star comes in the way of available options, which include:

  • 8.4-inch or 12-inch touchscreen
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration

If you value off-road capability, the Rebel builds on the Big Horn equipment with:

  • More aggressive styling
  • LED exterior lighting
  • Upgraded shocks and suspension tuning and larger all-terrain tires
  • Hill descent control and four underbody skid plates
  • Electronic locking rear axle

Ram takes a sharp turn toward luxury with the Laramie trim. Standard equipment builds on the Big Horn and adds:

  • 8.4-inch touchscreen
  • Power mirrors and power rear window
  • Leather upholstery
  • Heated and ventilated front seats
  • Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)

Meanwhile, the Longhorn steps up the luxury quotient with:

  • Side steps
  • Reclining heated rear seats and rear underseat storage
  • Navigation and satellite radio
  • Front and rear parking sensors
  • Spray-in bedliner and in-bed lighting

The luxurious Limited gets the 5.7-liter V8 as standard, and it adds all sorts of posh equipment and fittings including:

  • 12-inch touchscreen
  • Four-corner air suspension (can raise or lower the ride height of the vehicle)
  • Wireless charging pad
  • Premium-leather bucket seats
  • Power-deployable running boards
  • Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) and rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse)

Right at the top of the heap comes the all-new TRX. While the Rebel is adapted for off-roading, the TRX seems to have mud flowing through its veins. It builds on the Limited and standard equipment includes the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine, along with:

  • Bilstein adaptive dampers with remote reservoirs
  • 2-inch suspension lift
  • 35-inch all-terrain tires
  • Upgraded brakes
  • Dana 60 solid rear axle
  • Electronic locking differential
  • Five underbody skid plates
  • Launch control and real-time access to performance data via the 12-inch screen

Many features on the higher trims are available on the lower trims as options. Other key optional features include:

  • Reverse steering control (use of a dashboard-mounted knob controls the truck's steering wheel in a direction that will guide a trailer into a desired spot)
  • Digital rearview mirror
  • Head-up display
  • Wireless device charging
  • RamBox cargo storage
  • Dual-pane panoramic sunroof
  • 33-gallon fuel tank
  • 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system

Finally, the Advanced Safety Group option package gets you:

  • Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the Ram 1500 and the car in front)
  • Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Ram 1500 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
  • Lane keeping assist (steers the Ram 1500 back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)

Which 1500 trim does Edmunds recommend?

While we'd love to recommend the fully bonkers off-road TRX model to all Ram 1500 buyers, we know it's not the practical pickup that most buyers will need. Instead, the Laramie should work out well for most Ram buyers. It comes with some desirable standard equipment such as an 8.4-inch touchscreen and heated and ventilated front seats. It also gives you access to optional tech and safety features that aren't available on the Tradesman or the Big Horn.

Compare trims side-by-side

Comparing average pricing near
Reseda, CA
Vehicle
1500 Tradesman
1500 Big Horn
1500 Lone Star
1500 HFE
1500 Laramie
1500 Rebel
1500 Longhorn
1500 Limited
1500 TRX
Vehicle
Tradesman
3.6L 6cyl gas/electric mild hybrid 8A
See all 1500 Tradesman for sale
Big Horn
3.6L 6cyl gas/electric mild hybrid 8A
See all 1500 Big Horn for sale
10 for sale near you
Lone Star
3.6L 6cyl gas/electric mild hybrid 8A
See all 1500 Lone Star for sale
HFE
3.0L 6cyl Turbodiesel 8A
See all 1500 HFE for sale
Rebel
3.6L 6cyl gas/electric mild hybrid 8A
See all 1500 Rebel for sale
1 for sale near you
Longhorn
3.6L 6cyl gas/electric mild hybrid 8A
See all 1500 Longhorn for sale
Limited
5.7L 8cyl 8A
See all 1500 Limited for sale
TRX
6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A
See all 1500 TRX for sale
9 for sale near you
Hide similarities
Section Title

Features

Features

Features

Features

Features

Features

Features

Features

Features

Bluetooth
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Navigation
Not Available
optional
optional
Not Available
optional
optional
standard
standard
standard
Satellite radio
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Keyless Ignition
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Cruise control
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Adaptive cruise control
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
optional
optional
optional
optional
Parking assistance
optional
optional
optional
Not Available
optional
optional
standard
standard
optional
Upholstery
vinyl
cloth
cloth
cloth
leather
vinyl/cloth
premium leather
premium leather
vinyl/cloth
Heated seats
Not Available
optional
optional
Not Available
standard
optional
standard
standard
optional
Cooled/Ventilated seats
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
standard
Not Available
standard
standard
optional
Folding rear seats
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Sunroof
Not Available
optional
optional
Not Available
optional
optional
optional
optional
optional
Section Title

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Drivetrain
rear wheel drive
rear wheel drive
rear wheel drive
rear wheel drive
rear wheel drive
rear wheel drive
rear wheel drive
rear wheel drive
four wheel drive
Engine power
305 hp @ 6,400 rpm
305 hp @ 6,400 rpm
305 hp @ 6,400 rpm
260 hp @ 3,600 rpm
305 hp @ 6,400 rpm
305 hp @ 6,400 rpm
305 hp @ 6,400 rpm
395 hp @ 5,600 rpm
702 hp @ 6,100 rpm
Engine torque
269 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
269 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
269 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
480 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm
269 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
269 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
269 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
410 lb-ft @ 3,950 rpm
650 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
Engine displacement
3.6 l
3.6 l
3.6 l
3.0 l
3.6 l
3.6 l
3.6 l
5.7 l
6.2 l
Engine configuration
v6
v6
v6
v6
v6
v6
v6
v8
v8
Transmission
8-speed shiftable automatic
8-speed shiftable automatic
8-speed shiftable automatic
8-speed shiftable automatic
8-speed shiftable automatic
8-speed shiftable automatic
8-speed shiftable automatic
8-speed shiftable automatic
8-speed shiftable automatic
Tire size
275/65R18
275/65R18
275/65R18
275/55R20
275/65R18
275/70R18
275/55R20
275/55R20
325/65R18
Wheel size
18 X 7.5-in
18 X 8.0-in
18 X 8.0-in
20 X 9.0-in
18 X 8.0-in
18 X 8.0-in
20 X 9.0-in
20 X 9.0-in
18 X 9.0-in
Wheel type
painted steel wheels
painted alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
painted/polished alloy wheels
polished alloy wheels
painted/polished alloy wheels
Run flat tires
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Section Title

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

City/Hwy/Combined MPG
20 / 25 / 22 MPG
20 / 25 / 22 MPG
20 / 25 / 22 MPG
23 / 33 / 26 MPG
20 / 25 / 22 MPG
20 / 25 / 22 MPG
20 / 25 / 22 MPG
17 / 23 / 19 MPG
10 / 14 / 12 MPG
City/Hwy/Combined MPGe
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Fuel Capacity
26.0 gal.
26.0 gal.
26.0 gal.
26.0 gal.
26.0 gal.
26.0 gal.
26.0 gal.
26.0 gal.
33.0 gal.
Driving Range (city/hwy)
520 / 650 miles
520 / 650 miles
520 / 650 miles
598 / 858 miles
520 / 650 miles
520 / 650 miles
520 / 650 miles
442 / 598 miles
330 / 462 miles
Fuel Type
regular unleaded
regular unleaded
regular unleaded
diesel fuel
regular unleaded
regular unleaded
regular unleaded
regular unleaded
premium unleaded (required)
Section Title

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Turning circle
46.2 ft.
46.2 ft.
46.2 ft.
46.2 ft.
46.2 ft.
46.2 ft.
46.2 ft.
48.8 ft.
48.4 ft.
Curb weight
4,878 lb.
4,906 lb.
4,906 lb.
5,032 lb.
5,096 lb.
5,192 lb.
5,353 lb.
6,396 lb.
Ground Clearance
8.3 in.
8.6 in.
11.8 in.
Overall Width with Mirrors
82.1 in.
82.1 in.
82.1 in.
82.1 in.
82.1 in.
82.1 in.
82.1 in.
82.1 in.
82.1 in.
Overall Width without Mirrors
Height
77.5 in.
77.5 in.
77.5 in.
77.5 in.
77.5 in.
77.5 in.
77.4 in.
80.9 in.
Length
232.9 in.
232.9 in.
232.9 in.
232.9 in.
232.9 in.
232.9 in.
232.9 in.
241.8 in.
232.9 in.
Bed Length
5'7”
5'7”
5'7”
5'7”
5'7”
5'7”
5'7”
6'4”
5'7”
Wheelbase
144.5 in.
144.5 in.
144.5 in.
144.5 in.
144.5 in.
144.5 in.
144.5 in.
153.5 in.
145.1 in.
Seating Capacity
Cargo Space
Front Head Room
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
Front Leg Room
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
Front Shoulder Room
66.0 in.
66.0 in.
66.0 in.
66.0 in.
66.0 in.
66.0 in.
66.0 in.
66.0 in.
66.0 in.
Rear Head Room
39.8 in.
39.8 in.
39.8 in.
39.8 in.
39.8 in.
39.8 in.
39.8 in.
39.8 in.
39.8 in.
Rear Leg Room
45.2 in.
45.2 in.
45.2 in.
45.2 in.
45.2 in.
45.2 in.
45.2 in.
45.2 in.
45.2 in.
Rear Shoulder Room
65.7 in.
65.7 in.
65.7 in.
65.7 in.
65.7 in.
65.7 in.
65.7 in.
65.7 in.
65.7 in.
Section Title

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

True Cost to Own®
$56,229
$59,661
$60,521
Not Available
$61,532
$63,805
$62,290
$69,649
$96,789
Average Cost Per Mile
$0.75
$0.8
$0.81
Not Available
$0.82
$0.85
$0.83
$0.93
$1.29
Depreciation
$12,351
$14,496
$15,269
Not Available
$15,251
$16,563
$14,487
$18,371
$23,274
Financing
$5,321
$5,925
$5,990
Not Available
$6,516
$6,998
$7,305
$8,259
$12,291
Taxes & Fees
$3,018
$3,335
$3,357
Not Available
$3,648
$3,883
$4,109
$4,544
$6,609
Fuel
$17,019
$17,019
$17,019
Not Available
$17,019
$17,019
$17,019
$19,688
$33,779
Insurance
$7,210
$7,576
$7,576
Not Available
$7,788
$8,032
$8,060
$8,303
$7,815
Maintenance
$8,199
$8,199
$8,199
Not Available
$8,199
$8,199
$8,199
$7,373
$9,309
Repairs
$3,111
$3,111
$3,111
Not Available
$3,111
$3,111
$3,111
$3,111
$3,712
Section Title

Colors

Colors

Colors

Colors

Colors

Colors

Colors

Colors

Colors

Interior
Black, cloth
Black (Fleet), cloth
Black/Diesel Gray, vinyl
Black, premium cloth/vinyl
Black/Light Frost Beige, premium cloth
Black/Diesel Gray, premium cloth
Black, premium cloth
Black/Diesel Gray, cloth
Black/Light Frost Beige, cloth
Black/Light Mountain Brown, cloth
Black/Light Mountain Brown, premium cloth
Black, premium cloth/vinyl
Black/Light Frost Beige, premium cloth
Black/Diesel Gray, premium cloth
Black, premium cloth
Black/Diesel Gray, cloth
Black/Light Frost Beige, cloth
Black/Light Mountain Brown, cloth
Black/Light Mountain Brown, premium cloth
Black, cloth
Mountain Brown/Light Frost Beige, leather
Black, leather
Black/Red, vinyl/cloth
Black/Red, premium leather
Black, vinyl/cloth
Black, premium leather
Black/New Saddle, leather
Mountain Brown, premium leather
Black, premium leather
Indigo/Frost, premium leather
Black, leather
Black, vinyl/cloth
Exterior
Flame Red Clear Coat/Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Patriot Blue Pearl Coat
Maximum Steel Metallic Clear Coat
Delmonico Red Pearl Coat
Olive Green Pearl Coat
Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat
Granite Crystal Metallic Clear Coat
Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Hydro Blue Pearl Coat/Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Bright White Clear Coat
Flame Red Clear Coat
Spitfire Orange Clear Coat
Olive Green Pearl Coat
Hydro Blue Pearl Coat
Patriot Blue Pearl Coat
Maximum Steel Metallic Clear Coat
Delmonico Red Pearl Coat
Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat
Granite Crystal Metallic Clear Coat
Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Bright White Clear Coat
Flame Red Clear Coat
Spitfire Orange Clear Coat
Olive Green Pearl Coat
Hydro Blue Pearl Coat
Patriot Blue Pearl Coat
Maximum Steel Metallic Clear Coat
Delmonico Red Pearl Coat
Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat
Granite Crystal Metallic Clear Coat
Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Bright White Clear Coat
Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Bright White Clear Coat
Flame Red Clear Coat
Patriot Blue Pearl Coat/Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat
Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat/Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat
Ivory White Tri-Coat Pearl Coat/Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat
Granite Crystal Metallic Clear Coat/Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat
Maximum Steel Metallic Clear Coat/Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat
Delmonico Red Pearl Coat/Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat
Patriot Blue Pearl Coat
Maximum Steel Metallic Clear Coat
Delmonico Red Pearl Coat
Hydro Blue Pearl Coat/Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat
Olive Green Pearl Coat
Hydro Blue Pearl Coat
Flame Red Clear Coat/Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat
Ivory White Tri-Coat Pearl Coat
Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat
Granite Crystal Metallic Clear Coat
Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Bright White Clear Coat
Flame Red Clear Coat/Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Maximum Steel Metallic Clear Coat/Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat/Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Flame Red Clear Coat
Maximum Steel Metallic Clear Coat
Hydro Blue Pearl Coat
Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat
Granite Crystal Metallic Clear Coat
Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Hydro Blue Pearl Coat/Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Bright White Clear Coat/Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Granite Crystal Metallic Clear Coat/Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Bright White Clear Coat
Patriot Blue Pearl Coat
Maximum Steel Metallic Clear Coat
Delmonico Red Pearl Coat
Ivory White Tri-Coat Pearl Coat
Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat
Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat/Walnut Brown Metallic Clear Coat
Ivory White Tri-Coat Pearl Coat/Walnut Brown Metallic Clear Coat
Maximum Steel Metallic Clear Coat/Walnut Brown Metallic Clear Coat
Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat/Walnut Brown Metallic Clear Coat
Bright White Clear Coat
Patriot Blue Pearl Coat
Maximum Steel Metallic Clear Coat
Delmonico Red Pearl Coat
Ivory White Tri-Coat Pearl Coat
Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat
Granite Crystal Metallic Clear Coat
Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Bright White Clear Coat
Flame Red Clear Coat/Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat/Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Flame Red Clear Coat
Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Hydro Blue Pearl Coat/Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Hydro Blue Pearl Coat
Bright White Clear Coat/Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Granite Crystal Metallic Clear Coat/Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat
Bright White Clear Coat
Granite Crystal Metallic Clear Coat