A truck for the 21st century because it meets and exceeds the diverse needs of today's and tomorrow's half-ton pickup truck drivers.
Dodge Ram Laramie, Longhorn, Rebel, Limited or Classic – ask five Ram 1500 truck owners what they like most about their truck and you'll get five different answers. In fact, you'll probably get more.
That's because there's A LOT to like about this fifth-generation Ram – inside, out, and under. Motor Trend editors agree, naming it their Truck of the Year, much to the horror of legions of blue oval, Chevy and other full-size truck loyalists who may have to find a way to deal with what could be a new normal. Because in 2019 – and perhaps for the foreseeable future – Ram's no longer just “Ram Tough," but also Ram safe, high-tech, and stylish – oh so stylish.
LOOKS MATTER, SO START THERE.
Slide into the driver's seat – or any seat for that matter – in a 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 and you'll feel as though you're entering a high-tech cockpit – but one that's also equal parts luxury.
For starters, the Ram Limited has leather throughout – 58 percent more, Dodge says, than a comparable Ford or Chevy – along with distinctive colors available, and no shortage of wood accents. Complementing these natural touches is sleek technology designed to keep drivers and passengers connected, entertained, and headed in the right direction.
The nerve center is a driver's digital cluster display featuring 3D graphics, and Dodge's fourth generation U-Touch System and available integrated Apple Carplay. Both are commanded via Ram's largest-in-class, 12-inch touchscreen with built-in, full-screen navigation and Sirius-satellite connectivity.
If passengers tire of staring at a screen (said no 12-year-old ever), they can turn their gaze aloft instead through an available, dual-pane, 10-square-foot, sun-moon roof that makes road-tripping feel more convertible, and less pickup.
With a nod to back seat passengers – a perpetual discomfort zone in many pickups – the 2019 Ram features best-in-class rear legroom AND a reclining rear bench seat, that's also climate controlled. Couple that with Ram's active noise cancellation, and you just entered the napping zone.
STORAGE BINS AND CHARGING PORTS --EVERYWHERE. YOU. LOOK.
Class-exclusive, deep floor compartments – “Ram bins" – and under-seat storage after flipping up the rear bench, married with a completely flat rear floor spanning the truck's width, give Ram 1500 more than enough interior storage space. Add to that a configurable center console that's roomy enough to serve as a hanging file system or to store a 15-inch laptop, and you now have a mobile office. Ultra-fast USB charging ports in the console, along with other ports throughout, complete the grid.
A NEW LOOK FOR 2019
Step outside the box and witness Ram's bold new exterior, and more innovative storage. Tucked in both bed sidewalls as part of the “Rambox Cargo Management System" are two lockable, weatherproof, drainable, LED-and-power-outlet-equipped storage bins. These compartments don't detract from bed storage either as it still holds a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate down.
For this model year, the Ram 1500 is available in an extended or crew cab, with either a 5'7" or 6'4" bed, seven grille designs, three head- and tail-light designs, and 15 wheel choices, ranging from 18s to 22s. If your head wasn't turning yet, it will be – when you step to the rear.
It's there you'll find a multi-function tailgate that opens in a traditional, lie-flat manner with a 2,000-pound capacity. What's so “multi-function" about that? Nothing, until you open the tailgate instead using two doors that swing wide in a 60/40 split. There's also a kick-out step for easier cargo bed access, complemented by power-release tailgate assist and retracting power side running boards.
CAPABILITY, HAULING, AND TOWING
Under the hood, Ram boasts a best-in-class V8 towing capacity of 12,750 lbs., and 2,320-pound payload capacity thanks to Dodge's 5.7-liter HEMI V8. This is the most towing and hauling capability in a Ram 1500 ever, and more than enough to get the job done. Adding to the 2019 Ram's intrigue is Dodge's introduction of an available eTorque mild hybrid system that it describes as, “replacing the traditional alternator on the engine with a 48-volt battery-powered, belt-driven motor generator that improves performance, efficiency, payload, towing capabilities and drivability."
RAM DESERVES A SECOND LOOK
Whether you're a long-time Ram owner, loyalist to a competing truck brand, or soon-to-be-first-time pickup owner, the 2019 Dodge Ram deserves your attention because it can be everything drivers want in a light pickup truck, and more.
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About the Author(s)
Rich Ellis is a DIYer who’s worked in and written for the automotive industry for nearly two decades. He uses his experiences, lessons learned, and interest in maintaining and fixing vehicles on his family’s small farm in his writing.
