What Sets the Ram 1500 Apart From the Other Trucks in Its Class?

If you’re looking for a full-size pickup truck, you have plenty of options to choose from, especially when considering both new and used models. There are a lot of great options from respected automakers like Ford, Chevy, Toyota, and Nissan. But take a look at lists ranking full-size pickups, and you’ll find that one model tends to get the top slot from expert publications like Kelley Blue Book, Motor Trend, and Car and Driver.

The Ram 1500 has been proclaimed the top option by all of these experts, beating out the popular Ford F-150 and other worthy contenders. But before you jump to find a used Ram 1500 for sale, you may want to know exactly what it is that makes this model so appealing. After all, every driver is unique and not everyone is looking for the same qualities in a truck. So let’s dig into the details and see what sets the Ram 1500 apart from other pickups so you can decide whether it’s the right one for you.

Comfort

Trucks are versatile, and drivers use them for all kinds of tasks, from construction jobs to home DIY projects to deliveries to outdoor adventures. But no matter how you’re using your truck, you’re definitely going to be doing one key thing: driving it. So before we get into how it performs for specific tasks, let’s look at one thing that can make a huge difference in your quality of life: ride quality.

Since trucks are built for utility first and foremost, they have a reputation for being less than comfortable on the road. That’s not as big an issue these days as it used to be, but some models are still better than others, and even a small upgrade in comfort can make a big difference, especially if you go on long-haul trips now and then.

Look at just about any review of the Ram 1500, and you’ll see praise for its “superior ride quality” (Car and Driver) or “comfortable ride and handling” (Kelley Blue Book). Consumer Reports has called the Ram 1500 “the most comfortable riding full-sized pickup,” while Motor Trend dubbed it “the ultimate cruising truck.” These kinds of compliments wouldn’t pop up again and again if there weren’t something to them; the Ram 1500 is tuned to provide responsive handling and has a suspension system that makes the ride nice and smooth.

The harder you work, the more important a comfortable ride is. You need to keep your body in good condition if you want to complete all of your tasks, so fatigue and soreness from long drives are crucial to avoid. With the Ram 1500, you’ll get some well-earned rest after a hard day’s work.

Luxury

When you buy a used truck, lower prices mean you have greater buying power. That makes top-tier luxury trims more accessible than they would be if you were buying a new model. Most trucks take a swing at luxurious trims, but not all of them are actually worth the additional cost. Many put too much emphasis on looks without providing features that actually improve your experience behind the wheel.

Climb the trim ladder of the Ram 1500, and you’ll find meaningful upgrades every step of the way. Reach the top and you’ll find a lush cabin that not even “premium” trucks like the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali can match. (Don’t want to take our word for it? In a review of the Sierra 1500, Car and Driver started its “Lows” section by saying that the “top trim is not as luxurious as Ram’s.”) Ram will give you the luxury you deserve, with creature comforts for all kinds of weather, cutting-edge tech that you’ll actually use, and premium materials that make the cabin a place you want to spend more time in.

Performance

Finding the right balance between power and efficiency is tough for any vehicle, but especially important for a pickup truck. You need enough towing and hauling capacity to get your work taken care of, but constantly needing to pull over for fuel is both annoying and costly on long drives. This is a topic where specific numbers can be helpful, so we’ll go a little more in-depth here.

Of course, all of these figures can change from year to year, which makes them difficult to compare for used vehicles. To simplify things, let’s take a look at the 2020 model year in particular. Most 2020 pickup trucks offer a V6 as their base engine, so let’s start by comparing those:

Among these base powertrains, the Ram 1500 not only offers the most horsepower but also the best fuel economy, whether you opt for 2WD or 4WD. While it doesn’t offer the best towing capacity, it’s only a few hundred pounds off, and it does offer the best payload figure. Overall, this is a great balance that stands out as the clear winner.

Put the Ram 1500’s other powertrain options up against their equivalents from other automakers, and you get similar results. Here’s the table for gas-powered V8 engines:

In this lineup, the Ram 1500 has the top towing capacity, and its fuel economy is only beaten by GM trucks in the 2WD category. Across the board, it’s either on top or highly competitive, offering a well-rounded balance.

The final powertrain available for the 2020 model year is a diesel-powered V6, so let’s finish off by comparing it to other diesel offerings from that year:

Here, Ram offers the best towing capacity again, as well as the most torque, while never falling too far behind the lead in any other category, from fuel economy to maximum horsepower. No matter which powertrain is best for your needs, you can rest easy knowing that Ram will provide you with a well-rounded engine that does everything well, so you have the freedom to use your truck however you need.

Which Used Ram 1500 Models Are Best?

When talking about any of these categories, it’s important to remember that things can change from generation to generation or even from model year to model year. That can make things difficult if you’re shopping for a used truck and want to be able to compare apples to apples. Luckily, there’s something simple you can do in this instance: stick to the 2019 model year and newer.

The 2018 Ram 1500 isn’t a bad truck; it offers a solid ride, great engines, and a good range of trim levels. However, it was part of a generation launched for the 2013 model year, and even at the time it was new, it was starting to show its age a bit. The upgrades the Ram 1500 received for the new generation, kicked off by the 2019 model year, were significant. While the 2018 Ram 1500 got a 7/10 rating from Car and Driver, the 2019 Ram 1500 got a full 10/10—a rating that’s remained constant every year since.

Basically, you can’t go wrong with this generation of the Ram 1500, no matter what trim or configuration you choose. It’s just an overall fantastic truck that stands out in a crowded field, with its unparalleled comfort and luxury options and the power you need to tackle tough jobs.

Ram Gives Truck Drivers What They Really Want

Instead of focusing on just having the highest towing capacity at all costs, the Ram 1500 is a well-rounded model that can improve your time behind the wheel. It’s still plenty powerful, with a slate of fantastic engine options, but it goes to great lengths to provide a smooth ride and a pleasant cabin, with extremely luxurious trims available to those who don’t want to settle for anything less than extraordinary.

Since the Ram 1500 has been knocking it out of the park since 2019, it’s easy to find a used model that meets your needs, exceeds your expectations, and will serve you well for many miles to come.