By Charles Donaldson
It had been a while since I test drove a Ram pickup and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised with this latest version. Despite the world gravitating toward SUV’s, there are just times when you need a pickup truck! Unfortunately, today’s offerings are not even close to what we had in yesteryears. They have transformed from bare bones work vehicles to technological advanced luxurious machines! My test vehicle was the 2020 Ram 1500 Longhorn Crew Cab 4×4 and let me tell you it felt like a luxury car inside, while maintaining its roughed personality. Herds of leather, cowboy belt buckles, and an enormous 12-inch screen. You’d feel like you were driving a Tesla!
Pricing and Trims
The 2020 Ram 1500 is available in quad and crew cabs and in eight trim levels: Tradesman ($31,895), HFE ($34,095), Big Horn ($36,440), Lone Star ($36,440), Laramie ($40,140), Rebel ($44,240), Longhorn ($51,140), and Limited ($53,615). They are also available in 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive.
What’s New for 2020?
The 2020 Ram introduces a new 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine that cranks out 260 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. My test vehicle was equipped with their new Italian diesel engine and it ran quiet yet powerful with a towing capacity of 12,560 pounds. A new Night Edition is available on the Big Horn and Laramie trims that include blacked-out features with large wheels (22-inch for the Laramie and 20-inch for the Big Horn).
Ram Rebel Black Appearance Group returns with black wheels, black skid plate and theme-matched all-black interior (red interior optional). The Rebel Safety Group now includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop, Go and Hold, Forward Collision Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning-Plus and automatic high-beam headlamps. 22-inch two-tone wheel are now available on Longhorn. Plus, there are three new exterior colors: Hydro Blue, RV Match Walnut Brown and Olive Green.
Interior Highpoints
The 2020 Ram 1500 has a cabin that is easily best-in-class and delivers a luxury pickup truck feel. The crew cabs have an amazing amount of legroom. Available features convince you’re driving a German high-luxury vehicle including multi-toned leather and wood touches (in my Longhorn trim), an abundant supply of USB and USB-C ports, the available in-vehicle wi-fi, and the huge 12-inch tablet-like touch screen that is the first thing you notice when entering the front cabin and operates as the infotainment center. The seats were amazingly comfortable and nearly 100 percent more interior storage capacity versus closest competitor at 151.1 liters.
A remote tailgate dropdown button is available as if opening the trunk of a car. For those folks with newer smart phones, there is an optional vertical “tuck-in” slot that wirelessly charges your phone. The second row offers eight degrees of slide recline, heated and cooled seats, a flat-load floor with integrated RamBins, tie-down rings and expandable under-seat storage.
Exterior Highlights
In 2019 the Ram 1500 experienced a full big and bold design redesign, which continues in 2020 with only minor trim color, graphic and wheel changes. The Quad Cab carries 6-foot 4-inchesbed, while the Crew Cab is available in two bed sizes 5-foot 7-inches and 6-foot 4-inches. The front grille is embedded with large RAM lettering front and centered and dressed in a river of chrome. The 12,000+ pounds of towing capacity leads in its class. The truck bed is equipped with a variety of tie-downs.
The 2020 1500 has a class-exclusive RamBox cargo management system, relocatable anchor points, bed divider and new Multifunction Tailgate. 22-inch two-tone wheel are now available on Longhorn. Three new exterior colors have been added: Hydro Blue, RV Match Walnut Brown and Olive Green.
Performance Specs
There are three engine options, a reworked 3.6-liter V6 with 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque that is fitted with a mild-hybrid system called “eTorque” to provide a more responsive takeoff. A 5.7-liter V8 HEMI®with 395 hp and 410 lb.-ft of torque, and the 3.0-liter eco-turbodiesel V6 engine that cranks out 260 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque which is the best in its class. The air suspension is class-exclusive and enhances fuel efficiency, improves ride and gives greater off-road capability, load-leveling, and entry/exit convenience.
Cool Features:
- Available 12-inch HD color touchscreen
- On-board phone charging system where you tuck your phone in a slot to charge the battery
- Bold and beautiful interior design, layout and fit-and-finish
Safety & Integrity
The 2020 Ram 1500 received a 5-star overall safety rating from the government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Highway Safety (IIHS) named it a Top Safety Pick. The standard safety gear including six airbags, a rearview camera, stability control, and anti-lock brakes. Higher level trims get the option for some passive and active safety tech. The rearview camera features a zoom function for Rams equipped with the larger 8.4- and 12.0-inch infotainment screens. A birds-eye feature is also available. This allows you to see a 360-degree of the overhead view when parking. Blind-spot monitors are optional on Big Horn/Lone Star models and higher, and standard on the Limited trim.
In Summary – The Ram 1500 redefines what a luxury pickup can deliver – comfort and high-tech. There are many trim and feature options that enable you to get the truck that fits your lifestyle best. The technology features inside are user-friendly and impressive. The range of engine options offers a good mixture of fuel economy and towing abilities. The Ram 1500 is the most awarded light-duty truck in America including 2020 Luxury Car of the Year by Cars.com, 2020 Green Truck of the Year™ by Green Car Journal. Take the 2020 Ram 1500 for a spin and see what alcaldes you might brand on this “not-your-grandpa’s” pickup!
Specifications.
2020 Ram 1500 Longhorn Crew Cab 4×4
Base price: $54,390 as driven: $67,160 (including destination & optional features)
Engine: 3.0-liter 6-cylinder Turbodiesel
Horsepower: 260 hp
Torque: 480 lb.-ft.
Transmission: 8-Speed Transmission
Drive: Four Wheel Drive
Seating: 5-passenger
Cargo Volume: 53.9 cubic feet
Curb weight: 5160 pounds
Fuel Capacity: 26 gallons
Fuel Economy: 21 MPG City, 29 MPG Highway
Turning Radius: 24.4” feet
Wheelbase: 144.5 inches
Warranty: 3 years/36,000-miles
Also Consider: Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F150, GMC Sierra 1500, Toyota Tundra, Nissan Titan