The pickup truck segment is no longer just about flaunting muscle and capability; far from it. For top-end models like this you’d better be bringing smarts and a heaping dose of luxury if you want to compete. And for this all-new Ram Limited, the bar has just been raised.
Is this the golden age of pickup trucks? No matter what you’re need or desire there’s something out there that fits the bill straight from the factory. And so in charges the new Ram 1500. Trimmer, more aerodynamic, stronger…not to mention more efficient, spacious and techy; when the competition zigs Ram zags and that’s how they’ve been making the competition sweat. Whether it was the introduction of a rear coil spring suspension, the debut of the clever Ram box or the next generation air suspension here, this is a truck that’s been blazing its own trail and that’s something I can appreciate. With Ram, you always know you’re going to get something smart and a little different.
From the meat and potatoes Tradesman model all the way to this remarkably lavish Limited, Ram has a truck that’ll suit your needs. So who needs all of this? Well, you can think of the Limited as a raised 4X4 luxury sedan. It can expertly serve families for their day-to-day duties, tow over 11,000 pounds, and impress the truck expert and novice alike. Modern connectivity takes center stage with this 12” tablet-like touchscreen, an active noise cancellation system makes it the quietest truck I’ve ever been in, and with a 4” longer cab and reclining rear seats, it makes the Mercedes S-Class look like a compact.
What’s not to love about this cabin? Superb details and exquisite material choices combined with luxury car amenities make it the perfect big rig space. It looks good and is super smart.
5 USB ports of mixed types with fast-charging capability, a really cool wireless charge pad that can accommodate multiple smartphones at once or a tablet, a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system with a hard-hitting 10” subwoofer for unbelievably rich sound…there are oh-wow moments everywhere you look. The detailed embroidery, the masculine wood and leather decor, the huge panoramic roof…this is really something else, especially for a truck. I will say though that this new UConnect screen is a little bit of reach and now more distracting to the driver. I also wish some of the climate settings such as the heated steering wheel and seats had external controls. It’s bigger and cooler looking with an awesome surround view monitor but it’s busy and not as intuitive as the regular sized system.
OK, back to normal truck talk for a moment. This HEMI-powered Crew Cab 4X4 has another new trick up its sleeve; eTorque. With a small 48-volt battery pack located on the inside rear wall feeding energy to a motor generator and vice versa, eTorque adds up to 130 pound-feet of torque to the V8 at launch. It also allows for a faster acting engine start-stop system. The 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque feel really lively, especially on this truck fitted with the most aggressive rear axle ratio. And you know I love having a 4-wheel drive system with an auto setting for variable road conditions.
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