2020 RAM 1500 Road Test and Review

Trucks are big sellers and the 2020 RAM 1500 is on a roll. It was newly redesigned for the 2019 model year with a new look, new features, and an upgraded interior that reaches toward luxury-car levels on top trims. There is a wide range of configurations with varying bed sizes, a choice of engines including a diesel option, multiple cab styles, and either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.

Whether it’s a basic truck with a minimum of features, something with all the latest technology and an interior that coddles passengers, or a high-capability model ready to tow large loads, it’s easy to find a version of the RAM 1500 that fits your needs. Let’s take a closer look at the 2020 RAM 1500 to see if it’s the right full-size pickup truck for you.

Trucks offer a range of trim levels with a variety of configurations to suit everyone’s needs. Proving that point, the 2020 RAM 1500 is available in eight trims with four engines. There’s one V6 gas engine, two V8 gas engines, and a new V6 EcoDiesel. You also have a choice of a 5-foot-7-inch or 6-foot-4-inch bed along with either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. Finally, choose from a quad or crew cab.

There are lots of possible configurations, so the RAM 1500 also comes with a wide pricing spread. The base Tradesman starts at just $32,145 while the mid-range Laramie comes in at $40,540. There’s also the off-road-ready Rebel priced from $44,490. Sitting at the top of the lineup is the Limited with a luxurious interior and pricing starting at $53,465. Whatever your budget or your needs, there’s a Ram 1500 for you.

While the focus on trucks is on capability, the fact that they carry passengers shouldn’t be ignored. Some trucks offer an unpleasant ride, especially with an empty bed. Interiors can be sparse and downright uncomfortable, but the RAM 1500 is an exception. It offers a comfortable, smooth ride in even its base trims, with the priciest models providing a true luxury experience. It’s roomy with quality materials that look good and make this truck one that’s well-suited to longer road trips.

Upping the ride quality is active-level four-corner suspension, which is available across the lineup and standard on the Limited. It creates a ride experience that will make you forget you’re in a truck by evening out bumps and rough pavement. It also reduces vibration to further enhance the passenger experience. Those who put a priority on comfort will find the 2020 RAM 1500 an excellent choice.

Infotainment is a key feature in today’s vehicles, as it keeps us connected on the go. The Ram 1500 features Uconnect infotainment with a standard 5.0-inch screen for base trims. Once you hit the middle of the lineup, there’s an 8.4-inch touchscreen with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. At the very top of the trim range is an available 12-inch vertical touchscreen that looks like a tablet. It includes navigation and SiriusXM 360L.

Regardless of which version of Uconnect you have, it’s one of the most intuitive systems available. It’s easy to learn quickly, and even passengers unfamiliar with how it works will have no trouble finding what they need. The 12-inch screen is also reconfigurable with a split-screen design that lets you pick what to display on the top half and bottom half, so you have the features you want at the ready.

The 2020 RAM 1500 offers four powertrains. Base models have a 3.6-liter V6 with 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque. There are also two 5.7-liter V8 engines that offer 395 horsepower with 410 lb-ft of torque. Finally, there’s a new 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel engine with 260 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque.

We spent our drive time with a 5.7-liter V8 engine with eTorque, which is a mild hybrid system that replaces the alternator with a 48-volt battery-powered, belt-driven motor generator. This engine was responsive and surprisingly well-mannered, with enough power to effortlessly reach highway speeds. Despite being a truck, it wasn’t overly aggressive or harsh while delivering that power. This is a truck ready to do work, but equally ready to ferry passengers. One of the things the Ram 1500 manages better than its competitors is never forgetting there are people inside that cab.

Fuel economy factors heavily into a truck’s affordability, especially for those who use their truck for work. The 2020 RAM 1500 offers good fuel economy so if gas prices jump, you’ll be able to keep within your monthly budget. The numbers vary between engines with two-wheel drive trims faring slightly worse than four-wheel drive models.

The best fuel economy comes from the EcoDiesel, which gets an EPA-estimated fuel economy of up to 22 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined. The V6 is next with 20 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined. The standard V8 gets 15 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway, and 17 mpg combined, with the eTorque V8 improving to 17 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg combined.

On the list of reasons why people need a truck is cargo needs that go beyond what an SUV can manage. How much you can handle in the Ram 1500 depends on the engine you choose. The V6 gas engine gets the lowest rating of the lot with a maximum towing capacity of up to 7,730 pounds. Next up is the V8 with an 11,610-pound maximum rating.

The V6 EcoDiesel comes in with up to 12,560 pounds and plenty of low-end torque to make towing heavy loads easy. Sitting at the top is the V8 with eTorque, which brings the max rating for the Ram 1500 up to 12,750 pounds. That’s an impressive maximum figure and one that exceeds what the average person needs to tow. If there’s towing in your future, then the Ram 1500 is ready to do the work.

Accessing the bed of a truck can be a challenge, so Ram introduced a new multifunction tailgate that makes the job easy. The usual truck tailgate simply swings down. This can make it difficult to reach into the bed of the truck from the back. The Ram 1500 solves that problem with 60/40 split doors that open to the left and right. This lets you lean into the truck right from the bumper eliminating the need to reach over the open tailgate.

You can open just the larger of the two doors or you can open both at once. Not only does it make reaching into the Ram 1500 easier, but it also makes stepping into the truck easier, too. As a bonus, these side-opening doors allow for forklift loading. Of course, if you want to flip the tailgate down the usual way, feel free. It will support 2,000 pounds when open.

The 2020 RAM 1500 has a wide range of available safety features. A rear backup camera with dynamic gridlines and center lines is standard. Optional features include a surround-view camera, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-path detection and trailer detection, forward collision mitigation, a lane-departure warning, front and rear parking sensors with automatic reverse stop, and parallel and perpendicular parking assistance.

The Ram 1500 also has the distinction of being the first full-size pickup to earn a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This applies to all 2020 crew cab models and 2019 crew cabs produced after May 2019. It received a top rating of Good in all crash tests and Superior for available front crash prevention technologies. A wide range of available safety features and good crash test ratings make the 2020 Ram 1500 a solid choice.

The 2020 RAM 1500 continues to be a well-rounded option for those in the market for a new full-size truck. It offers a wide range of amenities and an extensive trim lineup from minimalist to luxurious, and it even has an off-road variant. Impressive capability adds to its appeal along with high safety ratings and a fully featured infotainment system.

It also provides one of the smoothest, most comfortable rides you’ll find in today’s crop of trucks. The interior is attractive with high-quality materials and plenty of room, making it a place where passengers won’t mind spending their time. If you need a truck that is ready to do work during the week, but equally ready to carry passengers for a weekend trip, then the Ram 1500 should be on your shopping list.