Automotive
For a lot of obvious reasons, America loves its trucks, and Ram has made some recent inroads in bringing back the HEMI V8 and now extending the powertrain warranty to a 10-year, 100,000-mile level. Such changes, something Ram didn’t should work too hard to do, have garnered proper newfound recognition within the Ram 1500 with the V8 engine and its recent eTorque mild hybrid setup. Together, the Ram 1500 within the top-level Limited trim is a force be reckoned with as one of the vital luxurious trucks on the present market.
Powered by the returning 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine and an eTorque mild hybrid system, the brand new Ram 1500 Limited is nice for 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. Sure, those figures may fall wanting the brand new twin-turbo inline 6-cylinder Hurricane, but that V8 rumble and the expected consistency of fast grunt is just something purest will at all times enjoy – and that’s just what you get with the HEMI V8. Couple that with the 4WD Auto setting, and you have got a nicely planted V8 rumbling truck that screams America!
In some ways, every little thing concerning the V8-powered Ram 1500 says it’s an underperformer against the brand new turbo powertrains. Nevertheless, I might beg to have that argument with enthusiasts where having the Mopar GT exhaust equipped on my test vehicle coupled with that harmonious V8 titillates senses that an inline 6-cylinder could never do. Thankfully, the exhaust mechanically quiets down at cruising speeds once you’re not hard on the throttle. Aside from just the theatrics, performance continues to be decent and stays easy to drive, but you ultimately have a slower truck that hits 60 mph in about 6 seconds in comparison with the 5-second to lower 4-second range with the opposite turbocharged powertrain setups. Still, this V8 and its 48-volt mild hybrid setup with a combo generator/starter proves to still be the one for a lot of enthusiasts, and Ram knows such – hence its return.
Fuel economy takes a success with the V8, also making it a tough selection for many who don’t mind different sounds and enthusiast feels. The HEMI V8 returns consistent figures, but at a lower scale to match its EPA estimates of 16 mpg city and 20 mpg highway in the actual world. The combined 18 mpg is about what you’ll expect to get when minding road speed limits in mixed highway and city driving cases. You do get a moderately large fuel tank at 33 gallons, providing you with a large highway cruising range of about 660 miles.
Ram has long prided themselves on being the more luxurious truck that tends to ride amongst the most effective within the vast field of the 1500 segment. The air suspension of the Ram 1500 Limited, for one, is a bonus in lots of cases, providing you with the flexibility of setting different vehicle heights and having fun with a smooth ride quality.
For towing and payload, the HEMI V8 tops its payload rating at 1,650 kilos and maxes towing at 11,320 kilos on a correct configuration, which is just a difference of about 170 kilos versus the Hurricane powertrain setup. For those who look deep enough, that difference is concerning the weight factor between the powertrains.
The inside of the Ram 1500 Limited 4×4 is a luxurious space that has many forward-thinking innovations, starting with its configurable center console that has dual wireless smartphone charging pads. From there, things ramp up with the multitude of screens from the motive force’s digital gauge cluster to the largest-in-its-class portrait-style 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen and the ten.3-inch passenger touchscreen display. Ram keeps with the posh truck theme within the Limited trim with massaging, heating, and ventilated front seats that prove to be moderately comfortable on long trips. The rear outboard seats even have heating and ventilation. There’s proper leather stitching throughout, and a limited amount of open-pore wood trim.
Ram goes the gap for its versatile storage options, having the Ram Box setup out back that tends to take up some bed space, but is moderately convenient for putting items in a locked and weather-sealed box that could be easily accessed with just your key fob in your pocket. On the sting of tech, the Ram 1500 now has the hands-free lively driving assist system that proved to work quite well, but with the noticeable drawback of allowing activation moderately late after demanding the function. Otherwise, Stellantis seems to have system that can rival other hands-free driving systems.
Other niceties to make truck life easier are the trailer reverse guidance setup, digital rearview mirror with a tow mode, trailer health monitor, digital key option in your Android device or iPhone, and the various expected lively safety features, including an honest 360 camera system that could be brought up at any time.
Ram manages to do all of the truck things in style and opulent comfort, but you will need to pay a little bit for that level of treatment to the tune of $88,480 for my nicely-equipped Ram 1500 Limited 4×4 test vehicle. There’s still room so as to add a bit more, but there’s also a myriad of other trim levels, which, at the bottom end, start at $41,575 for the Tradesman trim.
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Malcolm Hogan is the founder and editor of Automotive Addicts, a trusted voice within the automotive media world for over 20 years. With 20+ years of hands-on experience covering the industry, Malcolm has built a fame for delivering honest reviews, sharp insights, and in-depth coverage of every little thing from recent automotive debuts to high-performance test drives. Keen about the evolving automotive culture and staying ahead of the curve, Malcolm continues to guide Automotive Addicts as a go-to destination for enthusiasts and industry insiders alike.
This Article First Appeared At www.automotiveaddicts.com
