2021 RAM 1500

The RAM 1500 is a formidable name in the truck segment and the 2021 model tries to rock the sales charts with its luxury-grade interior, comfortable seats, and more innovative features than its rivals. It is available in seven trim options namely the Tradesman, Big Horn, Rebel, Laramie, Limited Longhorn, Limited, and the newly introduced TRX edition. The prices start at $ 37,595 for the Tradesmen and go up to $85,515 for the top-of-the-line TRX edition. It faces competition from the likes of Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500.

The new Ram 1500 Crew Cab model comes in seven trim options to cater to different buyers. With many options to choose from you are bound to find your desired choice. Also with a choice of optional packages, you can customize your truck as per your taste.

Which Trim should you buy?

We find the Laramie trim to be most well-specced up at a suitable price point. It comes with many creature comforts like leather-trimmed seats, Uconnect 4 with 8.4” display, heated and ventilated front seats, etc, and optional packages like Night Edition, Chrome Appearance Group, and the Sport appearance package. The optional packages will further muscle up the Laramie trim in the aesthetics department.

The best thing about the RAM 1500 is that it's available with different engine options, four to be precise. The standard one is the 3.6 L V6 PentaStar engine with etorque assistance, producing 305 HP and 296 lb-ft of torque. Other optional engines are the 5.7 L V8 Hemi Engine with or without etorque assistance producing 395 HP and 410 lb-ft of torque. 

The last one is a diesel engine producing 260 HP and 480 lb-ft of torque from its 3.0 L V6 engine. No matter which engine you select, it gets mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The diesel engine is slower than the HEMI, but is refined in nature and gives better fuel economy than its gas-guzzling brothers.

The Silverado and Sierra are based on the same platform and come with the same higher-capacity engines. They smash the competition with similar 0-60 mph sprint times. The RAM 1500 comes with a comparatively small engine and does the same in about 7.5 seconds which is adequate The Ford F-150 comes with the smallest engine of the lot and takes about 7.9 seconds for the sprint, which is a good thing but it has a lower top speed

How well does the 2021 RAM 1500 handle?

The RAM 1500 is a well-behaved truck for sure and provides a balanced and controlled ride over many surfaces. However, it requires higher steering effort around the corners. The straight-line stability is good and owing to the presence of rear belt spring-type suspension and stabilizer bar, the corners are not very scary to tackle and it inspires confidence.

The steering effort is a bit more as it's an enormous truck. However, owing to the presence of electronic power steering, lane drifting on highways is effortless. The steering response is accurate and it's one of the better trucks to drive both on-road and off-road.

2021 RAM 1500 Crew Cab Braking Performance

The 2021 RAM 1500 is equipped with 14.9-inches and 14.8-inches rotors in the front and the rear respectively. They can be considered quite large when compared to rivals in the segment. But to stop the momentum generated by a truck with a curb weight of 4971 lbs, they are well designed. The 60-0 mph stopping distance is also quite less at just 125 feet for a truck of this size.

Despite being heavier than the rivals, the RAM 1500 provides a lesser stopping distance which is quite commendable. The Ford F-150 is the lighter truck here is equipped with smaller rotors and they provide a stopping distance of 127 feet which is the second-best. The Chevrolet and GMC twins come with the same rotor sizes and stop at 129 feet and 130 feet respectively, the GMC Sierra is on the heavier side.

The 2021 RAM 1500 comes with different engine options and all of them deliver different fuel economies. However, the 48-V mild hybrid system helps in providing e-boost when required and helps in improving fuel economy. The 3.6 L V6 with etorque offers a combined fuel economy of 22 mpg. The larger HEMI engine with etorque provides 20 mpg combined fuel efficiency and the Ecodiesel engine provides a staggering 27 mpg combined fuel economy which is commendable for a truck of this size.

The Ford F-150 comes with the smallest engine of the lot, yet it delivers the same fuel efficiency as that of the larger RAM 1500 engine. The reason is that the F-150 lacks hybrid support as found in the RAM 1500 engine. As expected the Silverado and Sierra offer the same efficiency as they both are based on the same platform and come with the same drivetrain. The fuel tank capacity difference is just about 2 gallons among the competitors.

Usually, all the trucks are focused more on practicality and usage. So the creature comforts and the cabin layout takes a back seat. Luckily that’s not the case with the 2021 RAM 1500. It comes with a bunch of advanced features, comfortable leather trimming in higher trims, and ample passenger space. The lower trims come with all manual functionality and lack the finesse of the higher trims. As you move up the trim ladder you get features like dual-zone climate control, heated and ventilated seats, 7-inch premium information color cluster, Ambient LED Lighting, wireless charging, heated rear seats, panoramic sunroof, genuine wood accents, etc.

All these features were previously unheard of in a truck, but the RAM 1500 changed the trend and set a benchmark in the segment. As with most full-size pickup trucks, the RAM 1500 Crew Cab offers higher cubby stowage, clever design for improved interior storage, and a unique split-folding tailgate. The Crew Cab gets two-bed options namely the 5’7” bed and 6’4” bed for higher storage capacity. The RAM 1500 cabin feels like that of an upmarket SUV rather than that of a truck

.

The RAM 1500 offers less headroom across both rows but excels at better legroom in the second row. The GMC and Chevrolet twins excel with their cargo capacity in the short bed version. The RAM 150 comes second and Ford F-150 offers the least cargo capacity. The GMC and Chevrolet twins offer more balanced interior dimensions as compared to the competition. Some of the standout interior features of the RAM 1500 are:

• Vinyl 40/20/40-split front bench seat with manual adjust(Base trim)
• Leather-trimmed 40/20/40-split front bench seat (Higher Trim)
• Full stadium-folding rear bench seat
• Base door trim panel 
• Black instrument panel (Higher Trim)
• Dual-zone climate control (Higher Trim)
• Heated and Ventilated seats with memory (Higher Trim)
• 7-inch premium color cluster (Higher Trim)
• Leather-wrapped/real-wood steering wheel (Higher Trim)
• LED interior ambient lighting (Higher Trim)

What’s in the 2021 RAM 1500 to keep you entertained?

The infotainment system of the RAM 1500 is equipped with FCA’s UConnect Interface which is easy and intuitive to use. The lower trims get Uconnect 3 with a 5-inch display which is just okay. The upper trims come with the upgraded Uconnect 4C NAV with an 8.4-inch display and are more responsive to use. The TRX edition comes with the largest 12.0-inch display with a Uconnect 4C NAV interface. 

The lower trims get 6-speakers as the standard setup for the audio system. The higher trims get an Alpine 10-speaker premium sound system or an optional Harman-Kardon music system with 19-speakers. The connectivity features like the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available only in the Uconnect 4C NAV interface that comes in the 8.4” and 12.0” options. The 4G LTE WiFi Hotspot is available for easy internet connectivity, The SiriusXM satellite services are also available with the higher trims only. Some of the standout infotainment features of the 2021 RAM 1500 are:

• 5” display with Uconnect 3.0 (Lower trim)
• 8.4-inch touchscreen display (Higher Trim)
• 12 inch Central Touchscreen display (Higher Trim)
• 7-inch Driver Information Digital Cluster Display (Higher Trim)
• SiriusXM satellite radio and services (Higher Trim)
• Android Auto (Higher Trim)
• Apple CarPlay (Higher Trim)

The 2021 RAM 1500 looks different from other trucks and has changed the very definition of how a truck should look like. The sleek side profile, bolder front with signature RAM grille with a black background, LED headlight design, and better bumper design gives it a distinctive look. It is thus recognizable even from a distance. 

The base Tradesman variant impresses with its work-oriented features but on the higher trims such as the Limited, there’s a generous use of chrome and fancy LED all around. Also, there are plenty of optional packages available to shimmer your beloved truck and make it stand out in the crowd.

The 2021 RAM 1500 is the heaviest of the lot and is also the longest. It comes with a higher ground clearance than some of its rivals, which aids it in some off-road scenarios. The GM twins offer lesser ground clearance than the RAM 1500 and F-150. Hence, they are more suitable for paved surfaces. However, they both get longer wheelbase which can help with high-speed highway stability. Some of the standout exterior features of the 2021 RAM 1500 are:

• Quad-halogen headlamps (Tradesman)
• All black grille, front bumper, door handles, rear bumper (Tradesman)
• 18-inch steel wheels (Tradesman)
• Sport Performance Hood (Rebel)
• Powder-coated bumpers (Rebel)
• LED headlamps and taillamps with Black bezels (Rebel)
• 18-inch cast-aluminum wheels (Laramie)
• Power-folding mirrors with chrome mirror caps(Laramie)
• 20-inch cast-aluminum wheels with premium painted inserts (Limited)
• Power running boards (Limited)

The RAM 1500 truck is the toughest RAM pickup truck ever with its 98 percent of high-strength steel frame. The redesigned crumple zones are now more capable in terms of absorbing impact energy. This structure is further strengthened by splayed frame rails and side-impact beams. The NHTSA has given it a 4-star safety rating and the IIHS has praised it with the “2021 Top Safety Pick ”award. The testimonies of both organizations are enough to prove the RAM 1500’s safety credentials. Some of the standout safety features of the 2021 RAM 1500 are:

• ParkView Rear Back-Up Camera (Tradesman)
• Sentry Key Theft Deterrent System (Tradesman)
• Hill Descent Control (Rebel)
• ParkSense Front and Rear Park Assist with Rear ParkSense Stop (Limited Longhorn)
• Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Path and Trailer Detection (Limited)

2021 RAM 1500 Crew Cab V/S 2021 Ford F-150 Super Crew 

The 2021 RAM 1500 has a bigger engine than that of the Ford F-150 and still, it offers better fuel economy than F-150, thanks to the 48 V hybrid system embedded in the RAM 1500. The 2021 F-150 has got an updated list of features and better styling to take on the RAM 1500 and it has better towing capacity than the RAM 1500.

2021 RAM 1500 Crew Cab V/S 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab

The Chevrolet Silverado offers more engine options and performance than the RAM 1500 but it cannot beat the efficiency of the RAM 1500. The towing capacity of both trucks is similar. However, the Silverado looks better with its bold design and offers much more cargo space than the RAM 1500. The RAM 1500 offers better interior features than the Silverado 1500.

2021 RAM 1500 Crew Cab V/S 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab

The GMC Sierra shares its platform with the Chevy Silverado 1500 and thus all its pros can be found in the Sierra too. It offers better performance and better cargo space than the RAM 1500. However, the RAM 1500 is a more capable off-road option owing to better ground clearance. Also, the Sierra cannot offer the rear seat comfort as that of the Ram 1500. The RAM 1500 offers better fuel efficiency and has a modern engine with a 48 V hybrid system.

With the RAM 1500 model, you get better features, an efficient engine, a sturdy built, and a cabin with modern amenities. Very few trucks in the market have the ability to match the value offered by the RAM 1500 at a starting price of $ 35,395. It has also scored a very good safety rating from both the NHTSA and IIHS. 

The 2021 TRX edition is unlike any other truck in the world with the raw performance of a sports car and practicality of a truck put together in one single package. It offers competitive towing and payload capacity, and also has the most fuel-efficient engine amongst others making it a worth buy.