The current automotive market has flipped a script on us all with the unprecedented sales of SUV/Crossover vehicles and trucks. With such a notion, Ram is looking to capitalize on the popularity of trucks while the economic conditions here in America are still thriving. After another week with one of Ram’s latest trucks, the new 1500 V8 Crew Cab Limited 4×4, I’m convinced that the Ram brand is shaking things up a bit and pushing the benchmark for full-size trucks in many ways.
>> Get the best price on the RAM 1500 from a network of local dealers now. <<
The new Ram 1500 has already earned the 2019 Motor Trend Truck of the Year award, and rightful so after I spent a week with the beastly HEMI V8 and all of its interior plushness, supple ride quality, and respective capabilities. The all-new Ram 1500 is redesigned with a new classy look that should stand the test of time. Moreover, the Ram’s capabilities remain intact with a return of the HEMI V8 pumping out 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque directed through an 8-speed automatic transmission and the ability to lock the rear axle.
In the performance arena, the Ram 1500 Crew Cab Limited with its HEMI V8 and optional 3.95 rear axle ratio play nicely on the road. The 1500 gets up and goes when power is demanded while the handling of the Ram is improved upon even when equipped with my test vehicle’s air suspension system, which has 4 different settings for an ultra-low entry/exit height, aerodynamic height, normal height, and the tall-statured off-road height raising the Ram over two inches from its aerodynamic and entry/exit height. The system will automatically lower the truck to the aerodynamic height when it reaches highway speeds and automatically returns to the normal height if it was preselected before driving. The aerodynamic height remains set if it is set before driving.
In all, the versatility of the Ram 1500 has never been so vast with an exceptional ride quality that is surprising to feel in a truck of such size. The interior is laced with ample soft-touch surfaces with accent stitching throughout. The central focal point of the cabin is the gigantic Uconnect 12-inch display, which is in a portrait orientation and displays a plethora of entertainment information. The infotainment unit and its massive 12-inch display builds upon the already-praised 8-inch Uconnect system with responsive controls and easy to navigate menu sets. I will say, the system does take some acclimation versus the traditional 8-inch unit. There’s a lot of screen real estate to become familiarized with and the new Uconnect piles in many feature sets that make living with the Ram 1500 a joy even no matter what you use the truck to do. There’s even the welcomed camera system that can be enabled at any time to view your trailer and/or hitch out back in addition to viewing 360-degrees around the truck when backing or pulling forward. The customizable icons of the Uconnect 12-inch infotainment unit also come in handy to set up the main set of menu controls at the bottom to your liking. Everything about the infotainment system just works, as it should – without delay or unwanted frustration.
The tie-in with all of the electrics and truck controls play well where the Ram 1500 Limited may feel as if it’s the most luxurious truck on the market – in a way it is. There’s plenty of perforated leather seating surfaces and my nicely-equipped test vehicle featured the optional Level 1 Equipment Group that added heated and ventilated rear seats in addition to the front seats having such features. The Harman Kardon Premium Sound system sounds good with a subwoofer out back to match the proper highs and mids throughout the cabin, even a couple of speakers mounted in the roof out back that carry higher tones throughout the cabin. There’s a full array of active safety features to offer as well, which are welcomed considering the size of the 1500 Crew Cab Limited and how it may be initially intimidating to some for driving. The bevy of safety features include forward collision warning with advanced braking assist, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and mitigation, the surround-view camera system, and parallel & perpendicular park-assist w/ stop & go.
The capabilities of the Ram 1500 Crew Cab with the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 enable the ability to tow over 12,000 pounds (best-in-class V8) and haul 2,300 pounds in the bed accessed by a damped and remote-actuated tailgate. The somewhat knobby 275/55R20-inch tires of my test vehicle proved to be mostly smooth on the road without much noise and still grapple at soft sand and ruts when going down questionable surfaces.
The new 2019 Ram 1500 V8 Crew Cab Limited drinks copious amounts of fuel, just as you would expect from such a truck. Still, there is standard cylinder deactivation and the 8-speed automatic transmission that attempt to do their part to save fuel. Regardless, expect to get about 16 to 17 mpg on average without towing or hauling anything as real-world figures. EPA estimates are 15 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, and 17 mpg combined for the Ram 1500 Crew Cab V8 Limited 4×4.
See Also: 2019 Ram 1500 V8 Crew Cab Big Horn Review & Test Drive
The interior room of the new Ram 1500 Crew Cab Limited is plentiful. There’s ample storage for “things” throughout, including the massively-sized center console and deep tunnel with the ability to store a gallon carton of milk without issue. The movable cup holder tray and wireless phone charger “ramcharger” station are uniquely designed to fit just about any phone with the standardized wireless charging. There’s plentiful connectivity, too – through clever use of both USB and USB-C ports – proving the Ram 1500 Limited is future-proof. The one downfall to the interior was the rear seat-backs having an undesirable recline that was not adjustable. The angle of the rear seatbacks was not welcomed and was brought to my attention to everyone who sat in the back. Possibly I overlooked an adjustment, but nothing was found except for the release to fold the seat backs.
As a follow-up to my previous review of the all-new 2019 Ram 1500 Crew Cab V8, the new Limited edition adds a bit to be desired for those who want a truck to serve duty for their rugged and suit/tie lifestyle at the same time. Such a versatile package is going to cost a bit, to the tune of the as-tested price of my nicely loaded 2019 Ram 1500 V8 Crew Cab Limited at $64,800.
>> Get the best price on the RAM 1500 from a network of local dealers now. <<
