2023 Ram 3500
2023 Ram 3500 Review
Pros
- Massive towing capacity with diesel engine
- Comfortable seating and a quiet cabin
- Easy-to-use and feature-packed infotainment system
- Numerous available driver assist technologies
Cons
- The diesel engine is on the noisy side
- Can be a pain to park in the city
What's new
- New available digital instrument panel
- Optional virtual rearview mirror
- Enhanced cameras for backing up and towing
- Part of the fifth Ram 3500 generation introduced for 2019
When a regular Ram 2500 Heavy Duty won't do the trick, there's the brawnier 2023 Ram 3500. In addition to guaranteeing you one upmanship among your truck-owning buddies, the Ram 3500 is ready for just about any towing or hauling job you can throw at it. With its available high-output Cummins turbodiesel inline-six, the 3500 produces 420 horsepower and, most importantly, 1,075 lb-ft of torque. That's good enough for a maximum tow rating of 37,090 pounds when properly equipped.
The Ram 3500 belongs to the Ram pickup truck family, which means it benefits from a comfortable cabin and a relatively smooth ride on paved roads. It also comes with plenty of the latest tech features, which include a vertically oriented 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a new digital instrument panel display.
Though the 2023 Ram 3500 is still the truck to beat when it comes to most available torque, its heavy-duty rivals have closed the gap since the big Ram arrived on the scene. The Ford F-350 and F-450 Super Duty give the Ram 3500 a run for its money in the towing and hauling department, and they also offer decent available tech. Chevy's Silverado 3500HD is always in the mix, too. Picking among them often comes down to what brand you're loyal to or which one offers the best deal. We certainly think you'll do well by picking the Ram.
Which 3500 does Edmunds recommend?
Ram 3500 models
The 2023 Ram 3500 is available in five main trim levels: Tradesman, Big Horn, Laramie, Longhorn and Limited. There are also three cab styles — regular cab, crew cab and Mega Cab (the extra-large crew-cab) — and either a standard bed (6 feet 4 inches) or a long bed (8 feet) but limits to how you can combine each trim, cab and bed. Keep reading for a breakdown of the 3500's engines and features.
Engine selections include gasoline and diesel powerplants:
- Standard 6.4-liter gas V8 (410 hp, 429 lb-ft) with an eight-speed automatic
- Optional 6.7-liter Cummins turbocharged diesel inline six-cylinder (370 hp, 850 lb-ft) with a six-speed automatic
- Optional high-output version of the diesel with 420 hp and 1,075 lb-ft
Equipment highlights for each trim level are as follows:
Tradesman
When you seek the maximum capability at the minimum price, the Tradesman offers:
- 18-inch steel wheels
- Locking tailgate
- Vinyl seats
- Manual door locks (power locks with remote keyless entry standard on Crew Cab)
- Air conditioning
- Cruise control
- Class V tow hitch
- 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Big Horn (also known as the Lone Star in Texas)
Goes beyond the basics, adding:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Chrome exterior trim
- Power-adjustable, heated tow mirrors
- Cloth seats and carpeted floors
- Trailer brake controller
Laramie
For a little more luxury and livability, the Laramie offers:
- Power-folding chrome tow mirrors
- Power-sliding rear window
- Soft-opening tailgate
- Leather seats
- Power-adjustable and heated front seats
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
- Integrated navigation system
- Heated steering wheel
- Nine-speaker premium sound system
- Remote engine start
- Rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
Longhorn
For a more premium pickup, the Longhorn installs:
- LED headlights
- Upscale design details
- LED cargo bed lighting
- Front parking sensors
- Spray-in bedliner
- Remote tailgate release
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Premium leather
- Front bucket seats
- Real wood interior trim
- Ventilated front seats
- Heated rear seats
- Power-adjustable pedals
- Connected services including 4G LTE Wi-Fi
Limited
The most luxurious and technologically advanced version of the Ram 3500, the Limited features:
- 20-inch wheels
- Exclusive leather seats
- Premium wood interior trim
- 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Blind-spot warning with trailer coverage (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change)
- Rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is approaching from the side while reversing)
Depending on trim level and configuration, numerous individual and packaged options are available for the 2023 Ram 3500. Significant upgrades for the truck include:
- Dual rear wheels
- Cargo bed storage bins (RamBox)
- Night Edition package with blacked-out exterior trim
- 17-speaker premium Harman Kardon sound system
- Digital rearview mirror
- Configurable digital instrument panel
- Wireless smartphone charger
- Power running boards
- Trailer-reverse guidance camera
- Towing equipment, including fifth-wheel/gooseneck preparation
- Forward collision warning with automatic braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
- Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Ram and the car in front)
- Lane keeping assistance (steers the Ram back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
- Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Ram and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
Compare the Ram 3500
Ram 3500 vs. Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD
If you like your trucks big and blocky, the Silverado HD might be for you. Its large, upright front end looks distinctive to say the least. But even if you aren't a fan of its looks, you can't argue with its capabilities. In the right specification, the Silverado 3500HD can tow nearly as much as the Ram. However, the Ram has a better interior and offers a more comfortable ride.
Ram 3500 vs. Ford F-350 Super Duty
The F-Series Super Duty has been redesigned for 2023, launching with the F-250. Full details have yet to be announced, but we know it's getting a new interior, more available tech and two new engines. With so few concrete facts on the F-250, it's tough to extrapolate what a next-gen F-350 might look like, but we don't expect the Blue Oval to rest on its laurels and let the Ram 3500 go unchallenged.
Ram 3500 vs. Ram 2500
If you're not sure which Ram heavy-duty truck is for you, here's the difference in a nutshell: The 3500 is available with dual rear wheels and a high-output Cummins diesel engine, both of which increase the truck's hauling and towing capabilities. But if you want the most off-road-capable Ram HD, then you want the Ram 2500 Power Wagon. That model has some serious four-wheeling chops thanks to a bespoke 4WD system, off-road-tuned suspension, standard all-terrain tires, and locking front and rear axles.