2018 RAM 1500

The 2018 RAM 1500 Crew Cab now gets a rearview camera and smartphone connectivity as standard. The infotainment of the RAM 1500 has also received an update while what hasn't changed on the RAM 1500 is its mechanicals, interiors, and exterior. The RAM 1500 Crew Cab gets two bed length options and two engine options. The standard one is a V6 engine while the optional is a Hemi V8 capable of pulling the RAM 1500 from 0-60 mph in under seven seconds. 

If you frequently tow a trailer from your truck then the Hemi V8 powered RAM 1500 will impress you with more than 10,000 pounds of towing capacity. That's about the mechanical bit, moving inside, the cabin of the RAM 1500 gives priority to function over form in lower trims while the higher trims are luxurious to the level which isn't seen in any of its rivals so far. Speaking of rivals, the 2018 RAM 1500 locks its horns with the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500.

The 2018 RAM 1500 full-size pick truck can be had in various cab styles, bed lengths, and engine options. For this review, we will be looking at RAM 1500 Crew Cab available in short bed (5' 7") and standard bed (6' 4") length. The RAM 1500 Crew Cab is further available in eight trims namely Tradesman, Express, Big Horn / Lone Star (for Texas), Sport and Night, Harvest, Laramie, Longhorn, and Limited. The Tradesman and the Express are entry-level workhorses with similar pricing but a slight difference in their equipment level.  The Big Horn / Lone Star adds some creature comfort features thus making it a more liveable workhorse. The Sport and Night trim share a lot in common and are priced the same. The only thing Night trim differs from the Sport is that it gets everything in black like exterior trim, alloys, etc. 

For 2018 RAM 1500 Crew Cab has added one new trim that goes by Harvest which is priced similar to the Big Horn trim but separates itself by giving extra ground clearance, more protection underneath, two extra exterior color options, and more off-road specific equipment. As you come to the Laramie trim and go above it the RAM 1500 enters the lifestyle pickup truck segment. Where it offers a blend of luxury and a capable workhorse that can serve as a daily driver, as a load carrier, or as an off-road truck. The Longhorn and the Limited trim are the ones that get the juicy 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine as standard and comes loaded with creature comfort features.

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Suggesting one particular trim for a pickup truck can be tricky as the requirement for each individual varies a lot. Keeping that in mind we suggest going for the Big Horn or Lone Star trim, which even in the highest configuration cost less than forty-five grand and provides a right mix of a capable workhorse along with a decent list of creature comfort features to make daily riding a bit more pleasant experience.

"The 2018 Ram 1500 is quiet and delivers arguably the smoothest ride in the class. Its base V6 provides ample power, but the available V8 has better acceleration and a higher towing capacity. The available turbodiesel is also great for towing”-Cars.USnews

2018 RAM 1500 Crew Cab Engine and Transmission

The 2018 RAM 1500 Crew Cab can be had in two engine options. The standard one is a 3.6-liter V6 that puts out 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque while the optional one is a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine churning out 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. Both the engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission sending power via either an RWD or 4WD.

  The base V6 engine and even the Hemi V8 engine have started feeling the heat with the onslaught of newer and efficient powertrains from the rival trucks. That being said, the V6 is sufficient for daily driving while if you need that kick in the pants feels and faster acceleration timings then the Hemi V8 should be your pick.

Ford has been able to price the F-150 very competitively and thus it can undercut the RAM 1500 and other rivals by a couple of grands. Although the cheaper F-150 packs in an aging powertrain that lacks sufficient power and torque. The RAM 1500 puts out the best power figures while the Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 put out more torque than any truck in the comparison.

2018 RAM 1500 Crew Cab Acceleration

The 2018 RAM 1500 powered by the V6 can go from 0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds and covers the quarter-mile in 15.8 seconds. The same with the Hemi-powered V8 drops the 0-60 mph time to 6.7 seconds.

Among the rivals, the Silverado 1500 beats the RAM 1500 by one-tenth of a second in a 0-60 mph run but loses out to the RAM 1500 by the same margin in the quarter-mile race.

2018 RAM 1500 Crew Cab Ride and Handling

The ride and handling game of the RAM 1500 has always been strong. The RAM 1500 ditches the commonly used leaf spring setup at the rear for a coil spring setup that improves the ride quality and keeps the back of the truck from bouncing and pitching when the rear is not loaded. The other plus of the coil spring is that the RAM 1500 can offer the adjustable air suspension available on the Limited trim which is the gold standard for ride quality in pickup trucks.

Just like the ride quality, the handling of the RAM 1500 is among the best in the pickup truck category. There is no nervousness felt in the steering at high speed and it offers a connected feel with the road and tires. The RAM 1500 is a full-size pickup truck with a well-controlled body roll, even when the truck isn't loaded. Taking the truck off-road is also not an issue as the brilliant suspension setup ensures crawling over a surface is as easy as rolling on smooth tarmac.

2018 RAM 1500 Crew Cab Braking

The 2018 RAM 1500 Crew Cab gets a set of 13.2-inch rotors at the front and 13.8-inch rotors at the rear. The RAM 1500 stops from 60-0 mph in just 127 feet and that is good because it weighs more than 4,945 pounds. 

In comparison, the F-150 took the longest distance to stop from 60-0 mph, and against the RAM 1500, it took 12 feet more.

2018 RAM 1500 Crew Cab Towing and Payload Capacity

The 2018 RAM 1500 Crew Cab can tow up to 4,600 pounds when powered by the V6 while the Hemi V8-powered truck can tow up to 10,000 pounds. Similarly the payload capacity for the RAM 1500 tips at 1,923 pounds.

The rivals especially the Silverado 1500 and the Sierra 1500 can tow more than double what the RAM 1500 can tow while the RAM 1500 has the highest payload capacity.

The V6 powered 2018 RAM 1500 has an EPA estimated gas mileage of 17 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 20 mpg combined. While the same engine with the 4WD sees a drop of 1 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway. the Hemi V8-powered RAM 1500 returns 15 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway while the 4WD model sees a drop of 1 mpg on the highway.

Being heavier, the RAM 1500 remains the least efficient in the city while on the highway it returns a similar gas mileage as the F-150 while the Silverado 1500 and the Sierra 1500 returns 1 mpg less than it.

“Lower trim levels feel well built with quality materials, and upper trim levels are predictably very well executed, with available wood trim and premium leather upholstery that class things up quite a bit.”-Edmunds

2018 RAM 1500 Crew Cab Seating and Comfort

The 2018 RAM 1500 might be aging but when it comes to the interior this pickup truck sets the bar up for the rivals. The RAM 1500's cabin varies in terms of luxury and opulence with the trim, the lower one gets a basic looking dash which is boxy in shape and takes function over form as a priority. Moving up the trim ladder unlocks a bigger screen, better plastic around the dash, and some trim even goes on to offer genuine wood trim. 

What doesn't change for the RAM 1500 is the seat comfort and the amount of adjustability it offers to find the perfect driving position. Except for the lower trim which is pretty barebones in terms of creature comfort, the higher trims offer heated and ventilated seats along with power-adjustable front seats. That said, the only negative about the cabin is the lack of enough storage space which is a must for a workhorse.

When you talk about the cabin space there is the Silverado 1500 and the Sierra 1500 which are the clear winner. They offer the best headroom and legroom in both the rows compared to the RAM 1500 and for that matter the Ford F-150. That is due to the fact that the Sierra 1500 and the Silverado 1500 have a 3-inches of extra wheelbase even though they sit just 1-inch longer compared to the RAM 1500. 

Interior Features:

• Air conditioning
• Tilt steering wheel
• Vinyl upholstery
• Available dual-zone automatic climate control
• Available power-adjustable front seats
• Available heated and ventilated front seats
• Available leather upholstery

2018 RAM 1500 Crew Cab Infotainment System

Except for the base Tradesman trim, the 2018 RAM 1500 gets the updated Uconnect system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen. The screen is a proper upgrade from the older unit which was not only smaller in size but also cumbersome to use.

On the contrary, the new display is crisp and very easy to use. Standard features include Bluetooth, CD, USB, AUX, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Lower trims get a six-speaker sound system while the higher ones offer a 10-speaker premium sound system.

2018 RAM 1500 Crew Cab Cargo Volume

The 2018 RAM 1500 offers 50.3 cubic feet of cargo volume in its bed. As far as bed dimensions are concerned, the standard bed length measures 67.4-inches in length, 60.4-inches in width, and 20-inches in height. 

Compared to the rivals, the RAM 1500 gets the smallest bed while the Ford F-150 offers the highest cargo volume of 62.3 cubic feet which is 12 cubic feet more in volume compared to what the RAM 1500 offers. 

“The new 2018 Ram 1500 is the best-looking full-size truck in this class. Bold and brash with big-rig style, the Ram is more curvaceous than the hard-edged Ford and Chevy.”-KelleyBlueBook

2018 RAM 1500 Crew Cab  Dimensions and Weight

The 2018 RAM 1500 sports a very distinct look that has no parallel among the rival trucks. The RAM 1500 radiates a macho look with that big and bold grille up front finished in chrome in higher trims. The squared lights flanking from the side look sharp and compliments the overall buch appearance of the RAM 1500. The hood has a pronounced hump and from the front, the RAM 1500 looks like a truck that isn't to be messed with. 

Moving to the sides you will quickly realize the RAM 1500 isn't the longest pickup in the Crew Cab body style. The RAM 1500 measures 229-inches in length and sit on a 140.5-inches of wheelbase. The other thing that will catch your attention is the 7.6-inches of very low ground clearance, as a matter of fact, some SUVs nowadays offer higher ground clearance. That said, the one noteworthy thing is the clever placement of a small rear spoiler at the tailgate which otherwise goes unnoticed.

Except for being the tallest pickup among all the RAM 1500 is dimensionally smaller than the rivals. The F-150 is the longest truck and beats the RAM 1500 by 2.9-inches. The Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 are the widest truck and are wider than the RAM 1500 by 0.6-inches. Coming to the wheelbase the Ford F-150 offers a 4.5-inches longer wheelbase compared to the RAM.

Exterior Features:

• Automatic headlights
• Locking tailgate
• Available 20-inch alloy wheels
• Available projector headlights
• Available 22-inch alloy wheels
• Available side steps
• Available parking sensors

The 2018 RAM 1500 isn't the safest pickup in the segment due to a lack of advanced safety features. The NHTSA gave the RAM 1500 an overall rating of four out of five stars with a four-star rating in the front crash and tilt over mitigation test while it scored a perfect five stars rating in the side crash test. The IIHS gave the RAM 1500 a rating of 'Good' in three parameters while a second-lowest rating of 'Marginal' in the other two parameters. the headlights of the lower trims of the RAM 1500 were rated the lowest 'Poor' while the ones with advanced headlights setup got the second-lowest 'Marginal' rating. 

Safety Features:

• Traction and stability control
• ABS
• Six airbags
• Available parking sensors

2018 Ram 1500 vs 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 

The 2018 Silverado 1500 is although expensive than the RAM 1500 but it offers a bigger displacement engine that puts out more torque than the RAM 1500's engine. The Silverado 1500 is also quicker than the RAM 1500 in 0-60 mph run and also returns better gas mileage in the city. although the RAM 1500 bounces back by beating the Silverado 1500 in the quarter-mile run and achieving better gas mileage on the highway.

Being a pickup truck the towing capacity of the Silverado 1500 is almost double than what the RAM 1500 can tow, both in the standard configuration, while the RAM 1500 offers slightly better payload capacity. Moving inside the cabin, the Silverado 1500 offers better space in both the rows and more cargo volume making it a more useable and practical workhorse. Thus the Silverado 1500 is a clear winner between the two.

2018 Ram 1500 vs 2018 Ford F-150

The Ford F-150 undercuts the RAM 1500 in terms of pricing but cannot beat the RAM 1500 V6 engine's power and torque figures. Thus it cannot beat the RAM 1500 in both the 0-60 mph and quarter-mile runs. Coming to the towing and payload capacity, the F-150 can tow a few hundred pounds more than the RAM but it has a lower payload capacity. Although the less powerful F-150's engine helps it achieve slightly better gas mileage than the RAM 1500.

Inside the cabin, it is the RAM 1500 that offers better space in both the rows but the F-150 being dimensionally bigger in length and wheelbase gets more cargo volume. In the end, the Ford F-150 is also much more updated inside out than the RAM 1500, and thus even after these misses, the F-150 manages to be the highest selling pickup in America.

Even after not being updated for quite some time the RAM 1500 hasn't lost its sheen. It still is a capable workhorse that can give modern-day pickups a run for their money. But the poor safety ratings, lack of safety features, less practical cabin, and aging powertrain lineup are bound to make it look like a losing bet in front of better and more sophisticated rivals. Thus those looking for the old-school charm can pick the RAM 1500 otherwise you should definitely go with more modern trucks or wait till RAM updates 1500 completely.

More from RAM:

• Check out what's expected in the latest RAM 1500
• Find out what's new on the 2021 RAM 1500

FAQs on the 2018 RAM 1500:

How much for the 2018 RAM 1500?

The 2018 RAM 1500 price ranges from $33,495 to $57,195.

Is the Hemi V8 powered 2018 RAM 1500 fast?

The 2018 RAM 1500 powered by the Hemi V8 can do 0-60 mph in 6.7 seconds.

How much power does the Hemi V8 in the 2018 RAM 1500 have?

The 2018 RAM 1500 powered by the Hemi V8 puts out 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque.

Is the 2018 RAM 1500 reliable?

The 2018 RAM 1500 has a reliability score of 81 out of 100 and predicted reliability of four out of five from J.D. Powers.