RAM’S REDESIGNED 1500 IS AS SMOOTH AS IT IS STURDY
Last year, sales of full-sized pickups in Canada rose by 13 per cent compared to 2016 to 390,000 units. In case you don’t pay attention to sales numbers, that’s a lot of trucks. It represents the largest portion of the more than two million new cars, trucks and SUVs sold in Canada last year. Ram sold almost 100,000 of those pickups.
What’s significant is Ram was still able to achieve those numbers at the end of the current generation truck’s life cycle. For 2019, though, there’s an all-new Ram 1500 pickup and aside from the available engines — which have been only slightly upgraded — it has been redesigned from the ground up.
The changes are obvious, especially when looking at the new Ram 1500 from the front. The fascia features narrower headlights and a new grille and the hood now boasts a prominent central bulge. And whether you’re looking at the Tradesman, Bighorn, Sport, Rebel, Laramie, Longhorn or Limited trims, you won’t find the trademark crosshairs or ram’s head in the grille. Instead, you’ll find a variety of model-specific grille designs, finished in chrome, matte black or colour-coded to the body with a bold RAM emblazoned in the centre.
Prices range from $42,095 for the Tradesman quad cab four-by-two to $74,595 for the Limited crew-cab four-by-four. The $54,295 Sport is the most popular variation in Canada and it is now exclusive to this country, featuring monochromatic paint, body-colour exterior trim, a 5.7-litre Hemi V-8 engine, LED lights, power-adjustable pedals and 20-inch aluminum wheels, plus heated front seats, steering wheel and an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, among other features.
The frame is now mostly highstrength steel, which combines with an aluminum hood, tailgate, engine mounts, some chassis components and other measures to reduce weight by up to 102 kilograms. The wheelbase on crew-cab models has been stretched by 10 centimetres and the extra length was transferred to the interior with an additional 2.5 cm of leg room available up front and 7.5 in the rear. The latter permits the addition of available reclining rear seats (eight degrees) that are adjustable fore and aft.
Ram trucks are renowned for their rich interior finish and the level of exuberance is even higher for 2019, especially in the premium trims. My Longhorn crew-cab four-by-four tester ($69,795) is over the top, lavishly appointed in black and brown leather, contrasting stitches, rubber floor mats that include carpeted inserts that can be removed and real, textured wood trim throughout. And in a claim that’s akin to a pizza store boasting it uses more cheese than the shop down the street, Ram claims to use 58 per cent more leather inside the Longhorn and Limited than its competitors.
There also are more storage compartments than one can possibly fill in the doors, centre console, under seats, in the dashboard — everywhere. Of course, one can’t help but notice the new 12-inch Uconnect infotainment touch screen, the largest in its class. It certainly enhances the navigation system, providing a large map view. All of this luxury doesn’t have a detrimental effect on capability; maximum towing capacity has gone up by 2,300 pounds to 12,750, while maximum payload is up 420 lb. to 2,300.
Two familiar power plants return: the 305-horsepower 3.6-L Pentastar V-6 and the 395-hp 5.7-L Hemi V-8, while a diesel engine will arrive next year. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard across the lineup. What has changed is the engines now feature eTorque electrification, which is standard on the V-6 and optional on the V-8. Although the folks at Ram call the eTorque-equipped power plants mild hybrids, the system essentially amounts to an enhanced start-stop function.
This new system incorporates a belt-driven electric motor/alternator that serves as the startup motor for the start-stop function, while providing a brief boost of torque (up to 90 pound-feet on the V-6, 130 on the V-8) upon initial acceleration from a stop. It also provides a small boost when shifting gears, which smooths out acceleration and reduces fuel consumption. The motor also uses mild regenerative braking to charge up the system’s briefcase-sized 0.43-kWh lithium-ion battery, which is located behind the rear seats. Unfortunately, I cannot comment on eTorque operation, since all of the vehicles on test are equipped with the regular 5.7-L Hemi.
Ram says the system reduces fuel consumption by about one litre per 100 kilometres, depending on the engine, but exact fuel numbers are not yet available. The current four-by-two models are rated at 11.9 for the V-6 and 12 for the V-8. To further reduce consumption, there’s now an active air dam below the front bumper that lowers at speeds above 50 km/ h to improve aerodynamics.
On the road, the Ram 1500 is among the quietest and smoothest pickups I’ve driven recently. The Longhorn is equipped with height-adjustable air suspension, which can be lowered to ease entry. It provides a firm yet composed ride that reduces harsh bumps to mild thumps at the driver’s seat. The V-8 provides ample pulling power and the eight-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and is quick on the downshift when passing.
Available safety systems include parallel and perpendicular park assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and assist, forward-collision warning with auto braking, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts and trailer detection, which re-adjusts the parameters of certain warning systems.
You might find the starting price of the 2019 Ram 1500 high, especially when considering the previous-generation’s $32,970 base price. That’s because the regular cab will be launched later in the year with a subsequently lower price. And to confuse matters even more, the previous generation Ram 1500 will be available this year as a 2019 model in ST, Express and SLT trims.
The 2019 Ram 1500 pickup is in dealerships now.