2019 Ram Promaster Cargo Van Review

Few vehicles have changed as dramatically in the last few years as the full-size cargo van. Traditional models based on heavy-duty pickup frames and components have largely given way to lighter, narrower and taller vans that are safer, more efficient and easier to drive.

Several models, including the Chevrolet Express, the GMC Savana and the Nissan NV, still use a truck frame as a base, while the Ford Transit used carlike unibody construction for reduced weight and improved ride comfort. The 2019 Ram ProMaster Cargo takes it a step further: Not only does it have a unibody, but it's also driven by its front wheels. All rivals are rear-wheel-drive.

Front-wheel drive offers benefits such as a lower floor height, which makes cargo loading and entry and exit easier. And extra engine weight over the front wheels can offer better traction on slippery roads. A tight turning circle also helps with low-speed maneuverability. Front-wheel drive, however, limits towing capacity, and while the ProMaster offers increased capacity for 2019 — it can now tow up to 6,800 pounds, 30 percent more than before — it still falls short of the more than 7,000-pound maximums of its Ford, Nissan and Mercedes Sprinter rivals.

But the ProMaster remains strong where it counts for cargo vans: Its maximum payload capacity of 4,680 pounds ranks near the top of its field.

The Ram ProMaster is a good pick for commercial use if you can overlook its unconventional style (slightly updated for 2019), strange buslike driving position and mediocre towing ability. If you can, the payoff is a cargo van with excellent city mobility and easy cargo loading and unloading.

The 2019 Ram ProMaster Cargo is a large van with two seats and a large cargo area designed for storing gear and upfitting. There are no traditional trim levels. Instead, its 1500, 2500 and 3500 levels indicate the size of the vehicle (higher numbers translate to longer available wheelbases and taller roofs) as well as increasing payload ratings.

All ProMaster models come with a 3.6-liter V6 gasoline engine (280 horsepower, 260 pound-feet of torque) that drives the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.

The 1500 carries a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR, or maximum allowable weight of the vehicle and its contents) of 8,550 pounds, with a payload rating of 3,770 to 3,990 pounds, depending on configuration. A 118-inch wheelbase and a low cargo roof are standard, while a 136-inch wheelbase model is available with either a low or high cargo roof.

The 2500's GVWR is listed at 8,900 pounds, with a payload rating of 3,700 to 4,130 pounds. It's available in a high-roof configuration with a 136-inch or 159-inch wheelbase.

Lastly, the GVWR for the 3500 is listed at 9,350 pounds, with a payload rating of 4,020 to 4,430 pounds. A high roof is standard, as is a 159-inch wheelbase, and you can even order an extended version with a longer cargo area.

Standard features on the Ram ProMaster 1500 include 16-inch steel wheels, split-opening rear doors, manually adjustable mirrors, remote locking and unlocking, a full-size spare tire, a rearview camera, air conditioning, cloth upholstery, a telescoping-only steering wheel, cargo lights, tie-down rings in the cargo area, a 5-inch touchscreen, two USB ports, and a four-speaker audio system with an auxiliary audio jack and a media player interface.

The 2500 and 3500 versions come with the same equipment as the 1500, but they feature a heavy-duty suspension to deal with the higher payloads.

Optional features include alloy wheels, power-folding and heated mirrors, windows for the sliding rear doors, rear windows, daytime running lights, rear parking sensors, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, vinyl upholstery, heated seats, lumbar adjustment for one or both seats, a double passenger seat, swivel seats, a suspended driver's seat, cargo-area climate control, satellite radio, a navigation system and a tow hitch.

A few options are also available through Mopar, including remote engine start, electronic vehicle tracking, carpeted or rubberized floor mats, LED cargo lighting, a spray-in bedliner and a Wi-Fi hotspot.