2022 Ram ProMaster is More Connected, EV Variant Coming a Year Later
The Ram ProMaster has one less competitor to worry about with the discontinuation of the Nissan NV, but on the other hand the Ford Transit has stepped up its game with the addition of a fully electric variant called E-Transit. And General Motors is doing the same with the BrightDrop EV600.
Ram will follow suit in… in 2023. In the meantime, the revised 2022 ProMaster boasts a series of upgrades designed to increase productivity, connectivity, safety and comfort. It will be available on dealer lots in the fourth quarter of this year. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.
- Also: 2022 Ford E-Transit Brings Electrification to Commercial Vans
- Also: GM Introduces Fully Electric Delivery Van at CES
Uconnect 5
The biggest change is arguably the modern interior with the all-new Uconnect 5 infotainment and telematics system, which is five times faster than its predecessor and features Wi-Fi capability in addition to over-the-air updates. Up to five individual user profiles can be stored. The centre touchscreen is 7 or 10 inches in size depending on the model and offers split-screen capability for dual-application operation.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is part of the mix, while the Alexa In-Vehicle Assistant allows for remote vehicle start-up, locking or unlocking the doors, playing music, checking news, the weather or traffic, and much more. There’s simultaneous connectivity for two Bluetooth-enabled phones, SiriusXM 360L radio and TomTom navigation with predictive search and live traffic updates.
Front-seat occupants have an available wireless charging pad and two USB-C ports allowing devices to charge up to four times faster. Facing the driver is a new reconfigurable 3.5- or 7-inch information display, plus an available new leather-wrapped steering wheel with enhanced hand grips.
New Transmission and Configuration
The 2022 Ram ProMaster’s 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine is now paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission for a smoother drive and fuel savings of nearly 10 percent over the previous six-speed unit, based on the automaker’s estimations. It continues to send 280 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels only.
ProMaster drivers—particularly delivery people and entrepreneurs working around town—will also appreciate the new push-button electronic parking brake and new electric rack-and-pinion power steering system, the latter achieving a best-in-class turning diameter of 11 metres.
What’s more, the 2022 Ram ProMaster provides up to 3,134 kilograms (6,910 pounds) of towing capability and a best-in-class 2,123 kilograms (4,680 pounds) of payload. You can have it in 18 configurations including two roof heights, three wheelbases and four vehicle lengths.
New for 2022, the ProMaster now offers a Crew Van Package available in six different high-roof cargo van models and is capable of carrying up to three passengers in the second row. It’s specifically tailored to meet the needs of customers transporting people and cargo at the same time. Available partitions also offer protection against the possibility of load shift in the cabin.
Improved Safety
The 2022 Ram ProMaster’s available 360-degree surround-view camera system offers a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle and its surroundings—enhanced by dynamic gridlines displayed on the Uconnect touchscreen—making parking maneuvers much easier. All models can be equipped with a digital rear-view mirror that maximizes rearward visibility.
One other thing: optional Active Driving Assist is a technology that provides Level 2 automated driving capability using lane centering with adaptive cruise control. In reality, drivers still have to keep their hands on the steering wheel and their eyes on the road.
