2021 Ram 1500

In our road tests, compared to other full-sized pickups, the Ram 1500 is exceptionally comfortable. It has coil-spring suspension that cushions the ride against rough roads, and a large cabin that’s as quiet as those we’ve found in expensive luxury cars. Compared to many other vehicles, its screens and controls are exceptionally simple and intuitive to operate. Outside of the cabin, Ram’s trucks will meet most professional’s requirements for moving things like lumber or heavy equipment, though competitors like Ford and Chevrolet have higher tow ratings. New Ram trucks sit in the middle of our reliability ratings. Used Ram trucks score on the low end for reliability.

The Ram 1500 continues to be the most comfortable-riding full-sized pickup truck, partly due to its rear coil-spring suspension. The smooth 5.7-liter V8 carries over, and with the mild-hybrid option, ensures smooth stop-start at idle without compromising the A/C. We got 17 mpg overall with it. The base 3.6-liter V6 has that setup as standard equipment. Handling is secure and responsive for such a large truck. The cabin is extremely quiet. In most versions, four-wheel drive can remain engaged indefinitely, a plus. Rear-seat room is generous, and the Uconnect touch-screen infotainment system is easy to use. The top trim Limited is lavishly furnished inside and features an enormous 12-inch touch screen for the Uconnect system. Advanced safety features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot warning are optional. A 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine is new for 2020, complete with 260 horsepower and 480 lb.-ft. of torque; it returned 23 mpg in our testing. The big news for 2021 is the arrival of the high-performance TRX version, which comes with a 702-horsepower, 6.2-liter supercharged V8. Other highlights of this muscle truck include a beefed up suspension, a 2-inch increase in ride height, and a standard 12-inch touch screen. Other updates for 2021 include an available pedestrian detection feature to the safety systems, a customizable head-up display, and a special Limited Longhorn 10th Anniversary Edition.