2020 RAM 1500

The 2020 RAM 1500 remains a highly sought-after pickup truck in its class as it is not only a capable workhorse but also well suited for buyers who go for a pickup truck, not for traditional duties but more for the lifestyle and practicality aspect. The RAM 1500 in the Crew Cab box style offers two bed-length choices and is spacious enough to seat six people inside.

Motivating this big and burly pickup truck are three engine choices out of which you have a V6 and a V8 both in gasoline form while there is another turbodiesel V6 which has been vastly improved for this year. That being said, the 2020 RAM 1500 locks its horns with the likes of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the GMC Sierra 1500, and the Ford F-150.

The 2020 RAM 1500 Crew Cab comes in essentially six trims namely Tradesman, Big Horn, Laramie, Rebel, Longhorn, and Limited. Which is a lot of trims to suit your needs from a truck in the utmost way possible. It all starts with the Tradesman spec which comes for $34,945 and goes all the way up to Limited trim priced at $57,515. The base spec Tradesman is not essentially a feature-loaded trim and gets basic functionality like automatic headlamps and a tiny 5-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. 

After this, all the trims bring in incremental upgrades to the interior, comfort amenities, and also, hauling capacity. RAM also offers certain packages and equipment groups, the most famous of which is the Level 1 Equipment Group that adds in features such as advanced driver aids, automatic headlights, and windshield wipers, premium sound system, upgraded infotainment system, etc. Depending upon the trim level the equipment list on this package removes standard features of that trim and retains the rest of them.

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Every trim of the RAM 1500 has a purpose and is built for some special class of the market. That being said, the best buy if you want one for yourself is the Laramie trim as it is not absurdly priced like some of the top-spec trims and also gets you a lot of features like keyless entry, heated seats and steering wheel, leather upholstery, an 8.0-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a lot more.

"In driving the Ram 1500 with the eTorque system, we found the transition from electric motor to gasoline engine imperceptible, and the 8-speed automatic was both smooth and responsive." -KellyBlueBook

The 2020 RAM 1500 Crew Cab comes with a lot of engine and drivetrain options starting with a base 3.6-liter V6 with “eTorque” mild-hybrid technology. The mild-hybrid setup includes a 48-volt electric motor and a 0.4-kWh lithium-ion battery supplementing the powertrain by reducing the engine load. It allows the accessories to run off the engine so the engine can focus on its task of driving the truck. The 3.6-liter V6 is rated at 305 hp and 269 lb-ft. Now though the power figures are quite adequate for hauling the big truck around, it is more or less suited for smaller workloads only.

The motor is though quite refined and smooth which rarely gets vocal at higher RPMs. For those who want a more duty-friendly engine, the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 is the option to go for as it produces quite a healthy 395 hp and 410 lb-ft. This is a very tried and tested powertrain and has enough grunt for all the daily jobs. It is offered in two versions a standard gas-only or with the hybrid system which further helps the engine to work in a fuss-free manner. Lastly, for the year 2020, an updated 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 has been introduced which pushes 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque to the crank.

Now the power figure might not be very exciting but if you ask anyone who drives a truck, they will tell you how much that torque figure helps. The burly V8 ups the ante with a tow rating of 11,560 pounds although the maximum tow rating title still reset with the turbo-diesel which can pull around 12,560 pounds. All the engines come mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and power is sent to the rear wheels as standard while 4WD comes as an optional extra. The RAM 1500 is a pickup truck and certainly, it handles much better than the trucks in its segment.

As for the ride quality, the RAM 1500 again sets the benchmark for it among the truck segment. It comes with a standard coil spring suspension setup and though it is stiffly sprung, it is not a corner carver. You can drive the truck comfortably at highway speeds without any problems but the corners are meant to be taken with ease. There is also an option to upgrade to the adjustable air suspension on all four corners which takes the ride quality to next level. While for serious off-road enthusiasts, there is RAM Rebel which comes with a proper off-road-ready setup.

Powered by the V6 the 2020 RAM 1500 is no slouch and can do 0-60 mph in 7.5 seconds which is respectable for the segment. The 2020 RAM 1500 is a heavy vehicle and powerful truck and for that reason, the manufacturer has given it some serious braking hardware. The RAM comes with 14.9-inch rotors at the front and 14.8-inch rotors at the back which are the largest in the class and offer exceptional braking power. 

The RAM is among the most powerful pickup trucks in the bunch but the 3.6-liter engine is not very torque friendly. Although the RAM 1500 is not the fastest to hit 60 MPH from a standstill instead it is the GMC Sierra 1500 with 0-60 MPH coming in seven seconds flat. What's more remarkable is the fact that it also has the best towing capacity which is almost 1.5 times what the RAM 1500 can tow but when it comes to payload capacity the RAM 1500 surely tops the chart.

The 2020 RAM 1500 with the base V6 and a mild-hybrid system earned an EPA rating of 20/25/22 MPG while with the 4WD the mileage further drops to 19/24/21 MPG for the city, highway, and combined scenarios respectively. Lastly, the most famous engine, the 5.7-liter V8 is the least fuel-efficient as expected with fuel efficiency figures of 15/22/17 MPG and 15/21/17 MPG for the RWD and 4WD models respectively.

If you opt for mild-hybrid powertrains then the figures go slightly up to 17/23/19 and 17/22/19 for RWD and 4WD models respectively. While the newest of the bunch the 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel is the most efficient engine with a rating of 22 MPG in the city, 32 MPG on the highway, and 26 MPG under mixed driving. 

The RAM 1500 with its biggest fuel tank capacity and good gas mileage manages to beat all the trucks when it comes to range from a full tank of gas in the city. On the highway it beats the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra while the F-150 shares a similar range. 

"Inside, the 2020 Ram 1500 has supremely functional cubby stowage and cavernous passenger space." -CarandDriver

The RAM 1500 Crew Cab is easily the most luxurious pickup truck of the bunch. It is the true definition of luxury everyday motoring if we talk about pickup trucks only. The RAM 1500 Crew Cab comes with four proper full-size doors and seating for 6 people on board. The cabin is extremely spacious and practical and easily the best laid out among the competition. 

The whole dashboard is very well laid out and the more premium trims getting extended leather upholstery with impeccable fit and finish. We loved the way RAM has designed the interior of the RAM 1500 and also the quality of material used is quite premium. The cabin is also packed with features like a sunroof, dual-zone climate control, and a lot.

Most of the RAM 1500 come with bucket seats at the front which are massively supportive and accommodating. They hold you quite well and have a plethora of adjustability available to get you comfortable. They also come with heated and ventilated functionality in upper trims for added convenience. 

The 2020 RAM 1500 offers multiple infotainment units for different trims. The base trim gets a 5-inch infotainment system while the Bighorn and upwards trim levels get an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment display. While the Limited trim features a 12-inch vertically stacked touchscreen unit.

As for the cargo bed, you have two choices the standard one is a 5'7" size while the other one is a 6'4" size. The standard box offers 53.9 cubic feet of cargo volume while the bigger box offers 61.5 cubic feet of cargo volume. The 2020 RAM 1500 in the base trim has a payload capacity of 1,820 lbs which maxes out at 2,329 lbs.

Rear seat space is also one of the strong points of the RAM 1500. The rear seats are super wide and can easily accommodate even three adults abreast which is quite a rare sight. The legroom is class-leading and the backrest can also be adjusted to suit your liking. The seats can also be slid forward and backward in case you want some additional space to stretch.

All the trucks here offer to seat for six passengers but when it comes to space in front and rear seats it is a mixed bag here. For the front seats, the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra are the most spacious hands down.

While when it comes to rear seats if you keep the headroom aside the RAM 1500 offers the best space among all. As for the cargo volume in the standard bed, the Silverado and the Sierra twins once again take the lead here followed by RAM 1500.

Interior Features:

• Available Leather-trimmed front seats
• Available Heated and ventilated front seats
• Available Power-adjustable front seats
• Available Leather-wrapped wood steering wheel
• Available 19-speaker 900 watts Harman/Kardon Premium Audio system

"The 2020 Ram 1500 is available with three body/bed configuration: extended Quad Cab with a 6-foot-4 bed, or a Crew Cab with either the longer bed or a standard 5-foot-7 bed. The exterior dimensions are similar to its competitors." -Autoblog

The 2020 RAM 1500 Crew Cab has recently been redesigned and though it has lost its big daddy looks, it still has an imposing stance. They have completely changed the design of the truck by lowering the bumper and giving it a sleeker yet modern look. 

The base spec Tradesman is a non-expensive affair and gets all your basic utilitarian functionality. It is a good option if you want a no-nonsense abuse friendly truck. The upper trims though get a lot of blingy stuff especially in fronts like the large chrome grille and sleek LED headlight unit. 

At the sides, you would notice how well the side body has been sculpted to meet the rear box without taking a hit on the aerodynamics. While at the rear you have a choice of standard bed with a traditional tailgate or the split swing tailgate available on a select model.

RAM also offers what is called RamBox storage in-built in the bed which has storage compartments at the side apart from the regular storage. Moving on to the dimensions, the RAM 1500 is a big truck measuring 232.9-inches bumper-to-bumper and sitting 82.1-inches wide with 8.1-inches of ground clearance.

RAM is the heaviest here and is also the longest, widest, and tallest of the bunch which very much justifies its additional weight and imposing stance. As for the wheelbase surprisingly the Silverado and the Sierra twins are the ones that offer the longest wheelbase among all the trucks here.

Exterior Features:

• Available 22-inch painted/polished aluminum wheels
• Available Power release tailgate assist
• Available Active grille shutter
• Available RAMBox Cargo Management system
• Available Sleek LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights

Safety is not a very strong talking point of the pickup trucks because they are not what you exactly call very safe. They have a reputation of being quite easy to lose control of and also for not having a rigid structure. Well, thankfully that’s not the case with the 2020 RAM 1500 Crew Cab as it is among the safest pickup trucks in its class. It has received an overall five-star safety rating from the NHTSA and IIHS also awarded the car with a “Good” rating in all the categories.

Only the headlights just like any other truck in the class get a second-lowest “Marginal” and lowest “Poor” rating depending on the trim. Also for the first time, IIHS has awarded a truck with the “Top Safety Pick+” award and that is a real achievement for the RAM 1500.

Safety Features:

• Blind-spot monitoring system w/ rear cross-path and trailer detection
• Lane departure warning
• Adaptive cruise control w/ Stop and Go
• Active parallel and perpendicular park assist

2020 RAM 1500 Crew Cab vs 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab

The GMC Sierra 1500 is undoubtedly the best-looking pickup truck right now in the market without any second thought. Its engine is also more powerful than the RAM and the optional list is long and has some mouth-watering options. 

On the other hand, this all does come for a price as the Sierra is considerably more expensive than the RAM 1500 and also the RAM comes with a very fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain which makes the Sierra feel like an ancient dinosaur.  

2020 RAM 1500 Crew Cab vs 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is like the less rich cousin of the Sierra 1500. It essentially has the same underpinnings as the Sierra 1500, just misses out on some of the luxury bits on the inside.

Thus overall the Silverado 1500 is well built like a pickup truck but just misses out on the wow factor. And considering it is also more expensive than the RAM 1500 Crew Cab, it loses the competition hands down.

2020 RAM 1500 Crew Cab vs 2020 Ford F-150 SuperCrew

The Ford F-150 is the best-selling pickup truck in the States and that is for a reason. It comes with a lot of powertrain options, is lighter which makes it quite a lot fuel-efficient, is very abuse friendly, and obviously, Ford’s better after-sales is also one of the key reasons why F-150 is so big of a successful name in the trucking industry.

But the RAM is also not far behind as it offers better value for money than Ford and is considerably spacious and premium inside. Honestly, both are very well built and you won’t go wrong in picking any one of the two.

The RAM 1500 Crew Cab is undoubtedly a very well-built truck with quite a long list of creature comfort and safety features. While at the same time it is also very good at doing the pickup truck duties. It comes with a bunch of different drivetrain options and also has an option to choose from two-bed sizes. These small things make it quite versatile and purposeful. We genuinely think it is a very good buy for the money it demands and you can not go wrong with this one.

More from RAM:

• RAM and Dodge bags top honors in the J.D. Powers initial quality study
• RAM updates the 2022 RAM 1500 truck lineup with the Uconnect 5 infotainment system

FAQs on the 2020 RAM 1500 Crew Cab:

Does Dodge make the 2020 RAM 1500 truck?

After the split between Dodge and RAM in 2009, RAM started making the RAM 1500.

How reliable is the 2020 RAM 1500 truck?

With a predicted reliability rating of 4 out 5 from J.D.Powers, the 2020 RAM 1500 has above-average reliability. 

How much can the 2020 RAM 1500 tow?

The 2020 RAM 1500 when well equipped can tow a maximum of 12,750 pounds while as standard it can tow just 6,630 pounds.

How much to pay for the 2020 RAM 1500 Crew Cab?

The 2020 RAM 1500 Crew Cab price starts at $34,945 for the Tradesman 4x2 with a 5'7" box and goes up to $57,215 for the Limited 4x4 with a 5'7" box.