2024 Ram 1500: Staying the Course
| Strong points |
|
|---|---|
| Weak points |
|
The Ram 1500 is the second best-selling truck in Canada and due for major changes for the 2025 model year, including fresh styling, a new Tungsten luxury model and revised powertrain options.
The current generation dates back to 2019 and there’s not really anything new for 2024. The Ram 1500 continues to be available in multiple configurations, with either a quad cab or crew cab, 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain, and a 5’7” or 6’4” cargo bed.
- Also: Electric 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger Debuts With Range-Extending V6
- Also: 2025 Ram 1500 Ditches HEMI for Hurricane, Adds Ultra-Luxury Model
The lineup also includes a number of trim levels starting with Tradesman (starting at $54,015, freight and PDI included), Big Horn ($61,960) and Sport ($71,760). The Rebel ($73,860) comes with Bilstein front shocks and a locking rear differential. The Laramie ($78,740), Limited Longhorn ($83,760) and Limited ($88,165) push luxury to higher levels. Finally, there’s the almighty TRX (119 670 $), which is your ultimate off-road performance truck with a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 producing 702 horsepower and 35-inch Goodyear Territory A/T tires designed to overcome just about any obstacle.
Comfort Above All
Driving the 2024 Ram 1500 is a very comfortable experience thanks to beautifully designed and generously padded seats that prevent fatigue on longer trips. Meanwhile, the suspension finds a sweet spot between a flexible ride and solid handling. The instrument panel in front of the driver provides a lot of information without appearing cluttered.
When it comes to infotainment, a five-inch touchscreen powered by Uconnect 3 comes standard on base models, which is perfect if you want to feel like it’s 2014. Higher trims get a larger display (either 8.4” or 12”) along with the much more attractive, more responsive and more user-friendly Uconnect 5 system.
The cabin is pleasantly quiet other than the lovely sound of the 5.7-litre HEMI V8. This potent mill generates 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, and select models also benefit from eTorque mild hybrid technology for slightly improved fuel economy. On our watch, the Ram 1500 Big Horn achieved a combined 15.6 L/100 km, which is notably worse than the official NRC rating of 13.8 L/100 km. The cool temperatures were one reason why.
The Ram 1500 also offers a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 that puts out 295 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque. The fuel-saving 3.0-litre EcoDiesel V6 (9.7 L/100 km) has been eliminated for 2024. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard across the line. Maximum towing capacity amounts to 12,750 lbs (5,783 kg), while max payload is rated at 2,300 lbs. Available RamBox compartments on each side of the cargo bed provide extra lockable storage for your tools or weekend gear.
Our tester came with numerous options including the Back Country Package ($3,445), which adds various off-road components such as skid plates, a locking rear differential, off-road-tuned shocks and hill descent control. It stood out further with 18-inch black alloy wheels, black accents (grille, badges, exhaust tips, mirror caps), tow hooks, spray-on bedliner and side steps.
This particular Ram 1500 can’t keep pace with a Rebel or TRX when large, sketchy obstacles stand in the way due to a reduced ground clearance and a less sophisticated suspension, but it makes for more confident driving on the trails or in the snow, as long as you keep the underbody free.
Some Catching Up to Do
For both the 2023 and 2024 model years, the team at The Car Guide picked the Ram 1500 as the third best buy in the full-size pickup segment. It would probably rank higher with more advanced powertrain options.
Competitors are not giving the Ram any break. Consider Ford with the all-electric F-150 Lightning and PowerBoost hybrid, or General Motors with the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado which are about to launch EV variants of their own.
Ram has recently announced that the 5.7-litre HEMI will not return for 2025, making room for Stellantis’ new twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine that produces 420 horsepower in Standard Output configuration or 540 horsepower with the High Output version. Also that year, a fully electric Ram 1500 REV built on the STLA Large platform will arrive with a choice of 168kWh and 229kWh batteries providing an estimated range of up to 483 km and 805 km, respectively. And don’t forget the Ram 1500 Ramcharger, which will feature a smaller 92kWh battery along with the Pentastar engine as a range-extending generator.
Time will tell whether all these new technologies elevate the Ram 1500 above the competition, but they sure sound impressive. For now, we’d recommend finding one of the remaining 2023 units and taking advantage of the big discounts offered by the company.
