The 2021 RAM 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4x4 Pickup Truck
You Are What You Drive — A Bottom Line Review
The Bottom Line: Who is RAM? In 2009, the Chrysler Group restructured the Dodge brand. Cars and Minivans went under the Dodge nameplate, while its trucks, the Dodge Ram and Dodge Dakota, became RAM trucks. Since the 2010 model year, RAM has been a separate part of the same company that focuses solely on manufacturing trucks.
RAM is still an American brand that makes light to medium duty commercial vehicles. One of its signature products is the RAM 1500, a full size pickup truck. The RAM pickup truck has been awarded Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year title six times, in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020, and again in 2021, since becoming RAM more than a decade ago.
This week RAM sent me a 2021 RAM 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4x4 pickup truck to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this model is $47,530.
The options on the test truck are: Pearl Coat Exterior Paint for $100, the Leather Trimmed Bucket Seats and full length upgraded floor center console with a wireless charging pad for $895, the Customer Preferred Technology Group for $1,095, the Trailer Tow group for $995, the Advanced Safety group for $1,695, the pickup Bed Utility group for $945, the Off Road group for $840, the Laramie Level 2 Equipment group for $3,995, the Tri Fold Bed Cover for $550, the 5.7L liter HEMI V/8 engine for $1,795, the Multi Function Tailgate for $995, the 33 Gallon Fuel Tank for $445, and the RamBox Cargo Management System for $995.
The total MSRP manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including the $1,695 destination charge, is: $64,565. After adding in the state and local sales tax, and the dealer and DMV registration and license plates fees, the total purchase price came to: $72,636. That’s near $73 Grand for a 1/2 ton pickup in 2021 dollars. That’s a lot of cash for a light duty truck.
So, what do you get for your hard earned bucks? A super running and driving luxury pickup truck that bests almost all of the luxury cars and trucks on the road today. With incredibly comfortable leather seats, a fantastic surround sound system, to the full array of the advanced technology and safety groups, this RAM 1500 Laramie pickup has it all.
To start with it can tow up to 8,290 lbs, and haul a payload of 2,322 lbs. Gas mileage is 15 MPG city, 21 MPG highway, and 17 MPG overall. These are very good MPG numbers for a 1500 4x4 crew cab pickup truck with these load, tow and go capabilities.
To make this truck a multiple year Motor Trend winner it starts out with a 5.7L liter HEMI V8 engine that puts out an impressive 395 horsepower with 410 lb-ft of torque, bolted to an 8 speed automatic transmission. Then it’s routed to a 4x4 four wheel drive traction control system with a 3:21 ratio rear axle, with advanced braking assist and full time stability control. The truck knows when you’re just cruising around town, or towing with a full load, either way it has your back 24/7 with advanced multi-stage safety monitors for collision avoidance, skid control and automatic braking.
To get the job done inside the Laramie Level 2 Equipment group comes with a Uconnect navigation system with an 8.4” color display monitor, 4G Wi-Fi hotspots, a Harman Kardon Premium Sound system with 19 speakers, automatic high beam headlamps control, blind spot and cross path detection, heated second row seats, front and rear parking assist with automatic braking, rain sensitive windshield wipers, a power tailgate release, and SiriusXM Radio Guardian Connect with travel link and traffic plus services.
Outside the list of options continues with a tri-fold bed cover, a 33 gallon fuel tank, the RamBox cargo management system with 115 volt outlets, the trailer towing group, 4 adjustable cargo tie down hooks, in the bed LED lighting, a Mopar spray in bed liner, an electronic locking rear axle, a front suspension skid plate, a fuel tank skid plate, hill descent control, a steering gear skid plate, front tow hooks, and a transfer case skid plate.
When you’re ready to buy a new pickup truck the 2021 RAM 1500 pickup truck should be at the top of your ride and drive list, as it’s the best award winning truck on the market today. Call, click or visit your local RAM dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on the new 2021 RAM 1500. And note that the base price starts at only $28,855, so there is a RAM pickup truck in everybody’s budget.
A word to the wise is sufficient: Be Smart, Stay Safe, and Just Breathe. Remember, “You Are What You Drive ©” And maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should “Drive one, Buy one, Today ©”.
This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense © editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. “Tony the Car Guy” is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at