Published: March 15, 2018, 8:05 PM
Updated: April 29, 2018, 4:18 PM
1st redo in 9 years; 15th in a century
Text and photos by Clare Dear
The Ram 1500 has been given a total makeover for 2019 – the first complete re-do to Fiat Chrysler Automobile’s (FCA) pickup line since the Ram became a stand-alone brand in 2009. In fact, it’s just the 15th generation of light-duty pickups since the Dodge Brothers started building trucks in the early 1900s. This latest iteration features the latest advances in design, chassis, efficiency, safety and comfort, whether the truck is intended for work, play –or both.
▲
Improved proportions
The new Ram 1500 is lighter by 102 kg (225 pounds) overall than its predecessor, thanks to a new aluminum hood and tailgate plus the use of high-strength steel in the box and frame, which accounts for 45 kg of the overall weight reduction. The truck is wider (by 13 mm) and the wheelbase and cab are up to 100 mm longer. The bed rails have been raised by 38 mm and are now aligned with the beltline of the body to create a stronger, consistent horizontal profile.
▲
More aggressive grilles
Although this Ram’s outer skin is totally new, the designers have retained the Big Rig look that made the first-generation Ram so distinctive when it hit the road in 2009. However, the familiar crosshair grille is gone, a design cue that dated back to the Dodge-branded days. The new grille is a larger, more aggressive, forward-leaning opening with the RAM badge boldly displayed across the centre. The actual grille design varies with the trim level, with six different styles available.
▲
Fresh exterior styling
Above the grille, there’s a new raised aluminum hood with a side vent that features new Ram badging. Along the sides of the body there’s a seamless surface that flows between the front and rear fender blisters while a character line stretches from front to rear. The aluminum tailgate is now dampened and a strut assist is available to help lift it back into place. A full-width chrome stamped-steel rear bumper integrates a larger stepping pad on the corners and creates a lower step-in height on the centre of the bumper for easier access to the bed.
▲
Spacious interiors
Extending the cab length by up to 100 mm gives the new Ram the largest cabin in the segment. The B- and C-pillars have been moved 25 mm rearward, and the rear of the cab has been pushed back an additional 50 mm, resulting in front and rear doors that are now 25 mm larger on Crew Cab configurations. (On Quad Cab models, the width of the rear door is 25 mm less, compared to the current model.)
▲
Limousine-like rear accommodations
While the passenger space and leg room up front is more than generous, the rear area of the Crew Cab, which accounts for 75% of Canadian sales, is huge. Leg room is listed as 1,146 mm – not only the most spacious in its class but it also exceeds the rear leg space of a Bentley Mulsanne. The second-row seat cushions slide forward, the seatbacks recline eight degrees and the SmartFold centre armrest flips down to create a captain’s chair experience. The rear cabin floor is now truly flat, greatly improving usability, as well as passenger comfort.
▲
Improved ergonomics
Up front, the centre stack has been raised and brought closer to the driver to accommodate an available new 12-inch Uconnect touchscreen and make system controls more ergonomic for the driver. A new HVAC system, featuring larger front defroster vents, delivers nearly 25% more air flow at lower noise levels, while improved rear vents direct 50% more airflow to those passengers, compared to the previous generation. Overhead, a new 10-square-foot panoramic sunroof is available.
▲
Not a sound
An active noise cancellation system on 5.7-litre HEMI V8 equipped models and acoustic glass reduce ambient sounds down to a low 67.1 dB – the quietest Ram 1500 ever. In fact, during a day driving the new Ram, I was more than impressed with the quietness. My driving colleague and I could converse easily, regardless of the type of road surface or speeds we encountered – to the point we had to keep reminding ourselves we were actually driving a truck, not a premium sedan or SUV. The Ram’s superb ride made the driving experience even more enjoyable. The only nit to pick was the new electric power steering system, which seemed a tad light to both of us. A touch more feedback would be nice.
▲
Solidly stoppable
The brake system has been improved for 2019, with 18 percent more pad area and the largest front brake rotors in the segment (378 mm.) On at least one occasion during the test drive, it was necessary to hit the pedal hard and the brakes responded, thankfully, with impressive efficiency. On long downhill grades, frequent use of the brakes did not produce a hint of fade. The Ram also features a new electric parking brake that eliminates 9.0 kg compared to the previous system.
▲
Under control
All 2019 Ram 1500s, regardless of trim level, use a redesigned rotary e-shifter dial to control the 8-speed transmission. The new dash-mounted shifter is conveniently grouped with other drivetrain buttons, such as hill-descent, axle lock and transfer case controls and engine stop-start from eTorque, when equipped. All trim levels also include push-button start and an electronic parking brake.
▲
Premium trimmings
Occupants of the new Ram will find they’re surrounded by premium materials and eye-catching colour combinations regardless of the trim level. On upscale trims, real wood is incorporated into the accents. The Laramie Longhorn, for example, has a hand-branded nameplate burned into the panel in front of the passenger. The seats are comfortable and supportive, making this truck ideal for extended road trips.
▲
Control at your fingertips
On Laramie models and up, the new 12-inch fully configurable touchscreen is standard. (Other models have either a five- or 8.4-inch screen.) It can display one feature, such as the navigation map, across the whole screen, or it can be divided in half, operating two different apps at once. Thankfully, the system retains redundant knobs for immediate access to features such as the audio system.
▲
Lighting it up
New lighting systems front and rear are offered on the new Ram. Up front there is a trio of headlamp variations available, depending on the trim level: Halogen, full LED and full LED with adaptive front lighting system (AFS). The tail lamps also come in three different configurations: Halogen, LED and LED with blind-spot monitoring.
▲
Cutting the drag
Significant aerodynamic enhancements have been made to this second-generation Ram 1500, resulting in a 9% aerodynamic improvement – to a .357 drag coefficient – and increased fuel efficiency. Behind the new grille, for example, live active grille shutters have been added when cooling is least needed, helping improve front-end aerodynamics at speed. Below the grille opening, a front splitter has been added that automatically drops down 64 mm at speeds greater than 56 km/h. (If the truck is fitted with the available air-spring suspension, the 4x4 off-road package or the Rebel trim, the splitter is deleted, but the air suspension offsets the aero loss by lowering the truck 15 mm at speed. The extensive wind-tunnel testing also led to other aerodynamic improvements. The new elevated hood directs air away from the wiper area, not only improving aerodynamics but also reducing wind noise, while the new venturi roof design directs air to the rear spoiler. By raising the bed rails 38 mm, drag has been reduced over the pickup box, while a new lip spoiler on the tailgate adds to the aerodynamic efficiency.
▲
Hauling capabilities
The redesigned chassis has boosted the Ram 1500’s towing capacity (when suitably equipped) to 12,750 pounds – an increase of 2,300 pounds over the current model. The payload capacity has also increased 420 pounds to a total of 2,300 pounds. Towing technologies now include the latest advances, including blind-spot monitoring for trailers up to 39.5 feet in length, as well as a back-up camera that helps the driver align the truck perfectly with the trailer coupler.
▲
Easy trailer hitching
As an added (and unique) feature, once the towing ball and coupler are lined up, the Ram’s air suspension can be activated to raise the rear of the truck to connect it to the trailer, eliminating the need to crank the trailer jack till the ball and coupler are engaged. (However, you still have to manually lock the coupler, attach the safety chains and plug in the electrical harness.)
▲
Storage space everywhere
The Ram 1500 has 151 litres of interior storage volume, which is nearly 100 percent more than its closest the competitor. In the spacious Crew Cab cabin, for example, the rear bench seat flips up for 20 litres of contained storage space in under-seat compartments, while fold out feature doubles that storage space to 40 litres. On either side of the new flat load floor, there are two new, enlarged Ram Bins for covered in-floor storage. The bins are now 140 mm longer than the previous model, making them capable of storing larger items, such as a four-inch drop hitch. On top of each Ram Bin are two tie-downs to keep cargo secure. In the pickup bed, Ram’s unique RamBox lockable bed storage compartments have been upgraded. They now feature a 115-volt outlet and overhead lighting relocated to the box lids to improve illumination.
▲
Road tunes
The new Ram 1500 offers a choice of four audio systems to help melt away the miles on a long road trip, including a high-quality Alpine system and a class-exclusive premium harman/kardon system with 19 speakers and a 10-inch subwoofer that Ram says is the most powerful audio system available in a pickup. To help maintain the truck’s clean exterior lines, the familiar whip antenna has been replaced by a shark fin-style unit mounted well back on the roof of the cab.
▲
Charging up
You won’t have to search far to find a place to recharge your phone or tablet – the new Ram offers several charging options. There’s an available integrated charging pad inside the large centre console that can handle a small tablet or several smartphones. The console also has five USB ports – three on the front and two more at the rear – with four of them being the new type C/A ports that allow devices to be charged up to four times faster than standard USB outlets. Three of those ports are fully functional, so you can plug your devices into the Uconnect system. There are also two three-pronged 115-volt household plugs – one in the centre stack and one at the rear of the centre console.
▲
Keep on rollin’
The increased payload and towing capacities have prompted Ram engineers to upgrade the truck’s wheels, shifting from the typical five-lug pattern to a new six-lug design. As a result, an entire new lineup of wheels has been developed – 16 in total – with available diametre sizes ranging from 18 to 22 inches.
▲
Pounding the trails
A robust 4x4 off-road package is now offered on nearly every trim level. The package offering includes a 1-inch suspension lift, with or without the available air suspension; an electronic-locking rear differential and 32-inch on/off-road tires on 18- or available 20-inch wheels; hill-descent control; an off-road-biased rear suspension geometry and unique off-road-calibrated shocks, plus tow hooks and skid plate protection for the transfer case, steering system, oil pan and gas tank.
▲
Upgraded powertains
Three engine packages are offered for the new Ram 1500, all paired with upgraded 8-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmissions. (A diesel engine is scheduled to join the lineup in the first quarter of 2019.) The workhorse in the trio – and the only engine package I was able to test during the media preview – is the 5.7-litre Hemi V-8 with 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, which is standard on the Sport, Rebel, Laramie, Laramie Longhorn and Limited models and optional ($1,900) on other trims. It features performance-enhancing and fuel-saving technologies such as variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation that shuts off fuel and spark, and closes the intake and exhaust valves on four of the eight cylinders during light load operation, such as highway cruising. A new 850-watt electric cooling fan using Pulse Width Modulation tailors the fan’s energy draw to the cooling demand helping improve fuel economy compared to the traditional engine-mounted fan blade. This powertrain delivered exceptional performance, with quick response and acceleration during the test drive, yet it was surprisingly quiet in cruising mode.
▲
Boosting torque through electrification
A second-generation 3.6-litre Pentastar V-6 with eTorque is the standard engine, although it won’t be available until late summer/early fall. It’s rated at 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque. The eTorque mild hybrid system replaces the traditional alternator with a belt-driven motor generator that works with a 48-volt battery pack to make the start/stop feature a quick, seamless function. It also provides short-duration torque addition to the engine crankshaft in certain driving situations and recaptures energy from braking and deceleration to recharge the battery pack, which powers accessory electrical systems, such as HVAC. While official fuel efficiency ratings are not yet available, Ram engineers anticipate the eTorque system will reduce fuel consumption by about 10%. A 5.7-litre Hemi V-8 with eTorque will also be offered ($500), but like the Pentastar, it won’t be available until later in the year.
▲
Pricing
The new Ram 1500 is offered in Canada in Quad and Crew Cab configurations now, with a regular cab layout to follow. Pricing starts at $42,095 (plus $1,895 destination fee) for the Tradesman Quad Cab 4x2 and climbs up to the top-end Hemi-powered Limited trim level Crew Cab 4x4 at $74,195. The Ram 1500 Sport, exclusive to the Canadian market, starts at $52,595 for a Quad Cab 4x2.
▲
%3Cp%3E%3C/p%3E