Ram 1500:<br>Sets New<br>Standards

Jump To: Strength | Capability | Technology | Luxury

Decades ago, as hard-working Americans built the United States into a global beacon of hope, generosity, stability and prosperity, pickup trucks were rudimentary tools used solely to get a job done. Today, they symbolize much more than that, and the 2020 Ram 1500 is a shining example of how strength and capability combine with luxury and technology to set new standards in the full-size pickup truck segment.

Quad-cab and crew-cab styles are available, with a choice between rear-wheel and four-wheel drive. Ram bolts in one of four different engines underneath the 1500 pickup's bulging hood, each boasting a particular strength or two. Multiple configurations stand ready to serve, from the affordable Tradesman and rugged Rebel to the popular Laramie and luxurious Limited.

Whether towing and hauling for work or for play, or entertaining and comforting occupants during the journey to the destination, the 2020 Ram 1500 does it all, and in its trademark bold, unwavering style.

Strength

Modern pickup trucks might be about more than just work, but they still need to tackle tough tasks. When properly outfitted, the 2020 Ram 1500 tows up to an available 12,750 pounds, hauls as much as 2,300 pounds, and carries as many as six people in a crew-size cab that earns top safety ratings. No other full-size truck can match this combination of strengths.

Credit for this impressive performance is due in part to an underlying frame composed almost entirely of light and sturdy high-strength steel. This rigid backbone reduces the Ram 1500's weight, increases capacity, maximizes performance, and ensures occupant safety. But a hardy foundation is just one factor contributing to this truck's capabilities.

Four engines are available. A 3.6-liter V6 engine is standard and is the key to maximum payload capacity. Generating 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque, this V6 engine is both powerful and efficient, rated to get up to 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

The V6 includes standard eTorque technology, which integrates an electric motor-generator with the gasoline drivetrain to help save gas. It does this by assisting with vehicle launches from a stop; capturing energy when slowing down to recharge a 48-volt battery; and powering vehicle accessories and reducing the load on the engine.

Two 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engines are available. The more affordable of the pair does not include eTorque, but both of these Hemi V8s are rated to make 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. The version with eTorque is more efficient, expected to return up to 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, and also provides an available V8 engine towing capacity of 12,750 pounds when properly equipped.

Years ago, Ram was the first truckmaker to offer a diesel engine in a modern light-duty pickup truck. While rivals have since followed suit, Ram one-ups them for 2020 with an all-new 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 that makes more torque and tows more weight than other diesel-powered half-ton trucks. Cranking out 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque, the next-generation EcoDiesel engine can tow up to 12,560 pounds. It's the most efficient Ram 1500 engine too, returning as much as 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.

Capability

The 2020 Ram 1500 makes work and play easier with not only its class-leading powertrains but also its class-exclusive Multifunction Tailgate and RamBox integrated cargo-bed storage areas.

Like other tailgates, Ram's optional remote-release Multifunction Tailgate drops down in fully dampened fashion, ready to support up to 2,000 pounds of weight. What makes it special, though, is its 60/40-split configuration. Because of this feature, you can also independently swing open the two tailgate pieces, barn-door style, for easier access to cargo.

Choose the RamBox upgrade, and this truck supplies handy storage bins built right into the cargo bed rails. Each one is weatherproof and locks to keep valuables secure. At night, LED illumination helps you to find what you need, and each compartment includes a 115-volt, 400-watt power outlet. Equipped with drain plugs, each RamBox can also function as an ice chest ready to serve chilled beverages when the workday is done, or the party is just getting started.

Off-roading capability is part of the Ram 1500's repertoire too. For maximum off-roading capability, check out the Ram 1500 Rebel. Available in quad-cab or crew-cab configuration, the Rebel has 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires and a 1-inch suspension lift for added ground clearance. An electronically locking rear differential, tow hooks, skid plates, and hill descent control help the Ram Rebel to both access parts unknown and get you back to civilization.

Technology

If you step on the optional power running boards and climb into the cabin, you'll find the Ram 1500's smart and refined interior will transform the way you'll think about a truck.

Designed with work in mind, most controls are friendly to fingers in gloves, and the available 7-inch digital driver information display provides a wealth of data rendered using 3D graphics. But don't let the user-friendly simplicity fool you because, especially in higher trim levels, the Ram 1500 oozes quality and sophistication.

Flanked by useful stereo knobs and climate control buttons, the Ram 1500's optional portrait-mounted, 12-inch touchscreen infotainment display is customizable. Owners can choose the content on the screen, use a split-screen function to reference more than one source of information, and easily pinch and spread fingertips on the surface to zoom in on the navigation map and never miss a turn.

Every Ram 1500 comes with smartphone pairing to make and receive calls, and most include or offer smartphone integration to project the contents of a mobile device on the dashboard display. Additional upgrades include satellite radio, overhead buttons to contact help in an emergency, and a 4G Wi-Fi in-truck hotspot. There's no shortage of quick-charge USB ports either. Music lovers will want the optional 900-watt, 19-speaker premium sound system, which is perfect for pregame tailgate parties.

Ram's driver assistance systems have you covered, even when towing a trailer. Standard or available on every version of the Ram 1500, a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-path detection continually monitors the truck's blind spots and warns a driver if it's unsafe to make a lane change. It can even sense when you're towing, determine the length of the trailer, and account for that while underway.

An optional 360-degree surround-view camera system also helps with visibility, and when equipped with front and rear parking sensors, the truck automatically stops if it detects an object to the rear. For additional help while parking, an available semi-automated parking assist system steers the Ram 1500 into both curbside and standard spaces. Additional safety features include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist systems, each helping to prevent collisions or, at a minimum, lessen their severity.

Adaptive cruise control makes long trips easier and includes stop-and-go technology for when traffic delays the journey. But given how comfortable the cabin is, you won't mind spending a little more time behind the Ram 1500's steering wheel.

Luxury

Truly, Ram has established new benchmarks in pickup-truck interior design, comfort and luxury. And no matter how frightful the weather is on the outside, a 2020 Ram 1500 is delightful on the inside.

Starting with the Laramie trim, this truck includes leather-wrapped power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. Upgrades include heated and ventilated rear seats, a heated steering wheel and rain-sensing wipers, making the Ram 1500 ready for any kind of weather. Available remote engine starting prepares the cabin for departure, heating or cooling the truck's cab before you head out.

Southwestern-themed, the Laramie Longhorn features premium two-tone leather seat upholstery with stitching, authentic leather covering interior panels, real metal accents, and genuine open-pore wood trim complete with a Longhorn brand mark burned into it. The Limited trim takes the Ram to the next level with exposed contrast stitching and piping and a more technical, upscale appearance.

No matter which version of the Ram 1500 you choose, this truck offers plenty of room for its driver and passengers to spread out and get comfortable. And with class-leading rear-seat legroom, the crew-cab version is especially accommodating.

Unlike rivals, the Ram 1500 also has a multilink coil-spring rear suspension that provides a smoother ride and better handling for all-day travel comfort. On the top Limited trim, a four-corner air suspension is standard. This suspension can automatically level the truck under load and lower it at highway speeds for improved aerodynamics.

Is it possible to have your cake and eat it too? When you own a 2020 Ram 1500, the answer is an unequivocal yes. This full-size pickup is the clear standard-bearer in the light-duty full-size pickup truck class.