The never-ending line-up of the 2016 RAM 1500 Crew Cab has a total of 8 trims. The Tradesman is the base trim priced at $32,960 and offers basic features like 17-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, 40/20/40 split front bench seat, vinyl upholstery, 3.5-inch driver information display screen, 6-speaker sound system, cruise control, tilt-only steering wheel, locking tailgate, and air conditioning. 

The SLT is the next-in-line trim priced at $37,380 and gets chrome exterior trim, heated mirrors, a 5-inch touchscreen display, satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, cloth upholstery, keyless entry, a rear backlight, and a power-sliding rear window.

The Outdoorsman is an off-road-oriented trim of the 1500 which costs $40,960. It only with an AWD drivetrain in Crew Cab configuration. It gets 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, heavy-duty rear shock absorbers, black fender flares, a larger fuel tank, tow hooks, auto-dimming mirrors, front bucket seats, rubber floor mats, remote engine start, a 7-inch driver information display, and an upgraded infotainment system which is an 8.4-inch touchscreen display.

Moving up the trim ladder, the Sport is priced at $41,550. It adds a more powerful V8 engine, 20-inch wheels, LED interior lighting, LED tail lights, projector headlights with LED accents, rearview camera, and Uconnect Access. 

The Laramie is priced at $41,610 and gets similar features to the Sport trim and adds dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, memory settings for the driver’s seat, 6-way power-adjustable passenger’s seat, and a 10-speaker audio system

The Rebel is a newly introduced trim that is also off-road-oriented just like the Outdoorsman, but performs better. It carries a price tag of $43,270 and gets front, and rear Bilstein shock absorbers, LED fog lights, and keyless entry in addition to the features standard on the Outdoorsman. The interior is similar to the Sport but it adds a 6-way manual adjusting passenger seat, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, and a unique cloth, and vinyl upholstery. 

The Longhorn gets the V8 engine, a unique exterior styling, LED bed lighting, a larger fuel tank, remote ignition, front, and rear parking sensors, wood interior trim, upgraded leather upholstery, HD radio, and a navigation system. 

The Longhorn Limited is the luxurious version of the Laramie which is also a newly introduced trim for this year. This is the top-tier trim priced at $48,785. In addition to the features standard on the Laramie, it gets monotone paint, side step bars, a self-leveling air suspension, heated rear seats, a fancier, and premium leather upholstery, automatic high beam headlights, and chrome bed rails. 

Which Trim should you buy?

While the Tradesman is a no-nonsense work truck, and the Longhorn leans more towards luxury, the Sport trim somewhat offers both. It gets the more powerful V8, and an upgraded interior as well. Overall, the Sport offers a combined deal of performance, and an array of features at a reasonable price. 

The base engine of the 2016 RAM 1500 Crew Cab is a 3.6L V6 that manages to produce 305 hp @ 6,400 RPM and has a max torque output of 269 lb-ft @ 4,175 RPM. The engine is coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission the power is sent to the rear wheels as standard but some trims have an option for an AWD drivetrain. There are two AWD setups to choose from - one is a traditional part-time system with manual mode selection whereas the other additionally offers an auto AWD mode. Both have a two-speed transfer case with low-range gearing.

A 5.7L Hemi V8 is available on some trims, and is standard in Sport, Longhorn, and Limited. This engine is capable of producing 395 hp @ 5,600 RPM and has a peak torque of 410 lb-ft @ 3950 RPM. This engine can either be paired to a 6-speed automatic or an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

The towing capacity of the V6 engine is 6500 lbs which is subpar in this segment. If you’re looking for some serious hauling capabilities then the V8 is the right choice for you as it can tow up to 10,650 pounds. 

The RAM 1500 produces the strongest powertrain figures in the segment but it is the slowest in terms of 0-60 MPH and quarter-mile timings. The fastest pick-up truck regarding the same is the Ford F-150 taking only 5.8 seconds to reach the 60 MPH mark, and 14.5 seconds to complete a quarter-mile. Another noteworthy mention here is the price of the RAM 1500. It is the most affordable pick-up truck in its class.

All of the pick-up trucks in this segment are powered by a V6 engine and an RWD drivetrain that results in a closely matched fuel economy among the 2016 Ram 1500 and its rivals. The figures mentioned below are for the standard V6 with the RWD drivetrain, with the AWD faring slightly worse. It manages to give a fuel economy of 16/23/19 MPG (city/highway/combined).

Opting for the 5.7L V8 will drop these numbers even further. For the RWD it checks at 14/20/16 MPG whereas the AWD results in 13/19/15. This is however for the 6-speed automatic transmission. The 8-speed automatic transmission's ratings are 15/22/17 MPG for the RWD, and 15/21/17 MPG for AWD.

As far as the RAM 1500’s competition is considered, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and the GMC Sierra 1500 provide identical fuel economies. Both manage to provide a slightly better range in the cities. The F-150 has the smallest fuel tank capacity of 23 gallons whereas all others have a 26-gallon fuel tank.

The interior of the 2016 RAM 1500 Crew Cab is attractive, modern, and well-organized, regardless of the trim and this is one of its strong suits. The dashboard and the center console are designed with an upright theme to offer more space for the passengers. The layout is simple yet practical. The seats are soft, comfortable, and provide adequate support. There is no shortage of space in the front as well as in the rear seats. The lower trims feature vinyl upholstery. 

Moving up the trim ladder will upgrade the upholstery from cloth to leather. Features like heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats are seen only in the higher trim levels.

The RAM 1500 has the least cargo volume. It can hold up to 50.3 cubic feet of load whereas the Silverado 1500, and the Sierra 1500 have the best in class cargo space of 53.4 cubic feet. Some of the standout features of the interior are:

• Cruise control
• Power-adjustable seat
• Vinyl, cloth, or leather upholstery (depending on the trim)
• 40/20/40 split-folding front bench seats
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Single-zone air conditioning 

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2016 RAM 1500 Crew Cab also features a handy infotainment system with a beautifully put-together interior. The lower trims are equipped with a 5-inch touchscreen display while the higher trims get an upgraded 8.4-inch touchscreen display. Right below the screen, you'll find a cluster of knobs, and buttons that are perfectly sized, and well-labeled used to manipulate the functions on the screen. 

This system is paired to a 6-speaker audio system in lower, and middle trims but the higher trims like Laramie get a 10-speaker audio system. Lower trims also feature a 3.5-inch driver information display. Higher trims get a better, and bigger 7.0-inch display. Features like Bluetooth, voice commands, Wi-Fi Hotspot compatibility, smartphone integration are optional. Some of the key infotainment features are:

• AM/FM Stereo
• Satellite radio
• USB port
• 6-speaker audio system
• Speed compensated volume control

The looks of the 2016 RAM 1500 haven't changed much over the years but it received minor updates. It continues with its unique styling, and looks which stand out from its competition. The front fascia changes according to the trim you choose. Almost every trim gets a trim-specific special grille style. Some trims like Laramie Limited, Rebel, etc. get RAM badging instead of the RAM logo. The front side also features automatic projector beam headlights, fog lights, a massive contoured hood, and a body-colored front bumper with tow hooks. 

The side profile is like a typical pick-up truck missing out on body lines. The fender flares are either body-colored depending on the trim. Also depending on the trim, the RAM 1500 features 17-inch wheels or 20-inch wheels. Body-colored power side-view mirrors and a comparatively low ground clearance of 7.6 inches are some more features. 

The rear end of the car also experiences changes depending on the trim. Some trims feature a black rear bumper with a single exhaust outlet while higher trims feature a body-colored rear bumper with dual circular exhaust outlets. LED lights in the bed and LED taillights are also some of the features seen only on the higher trims.

The RAM 1500 is dimensionally the smallest among its rivals. It especially features the shortest wheelbase of 140 inches and a low ground clearance of 7.6 inches. The Ford F-150 is the longest truck and has the longest wheelbase of 145 inches. All other trucks except the RAM feature an 8.7-inch ground clearance. Some of the key exterior features are:

• 17-inch or 20-inch wheels
• Automatic projector-beam headlights with LED accents
• Fog lights
• LED tail lights
• Power adjusting heated side-view mirrors
• Tow hooks

Regardless of the configuration, the 2016 RAM 1500 managed to earn an overall 4-star rating from the NHTSA, and a "Good" rating in most of the crash tests performed by the IIHS. The NHTSA awarded it four stars in the front crash protection test, five stars for side crash protection, and four stars for rollover potential. From the IIHS, it received "Good" on most tests except for the small overlap crash test and roof-strength tests for which it scored "Marginal". 

Standard safety equipment includes airbags, ABS, stability, and traction control, hill-start assist, trailer sway control, etc. Some features like front, and rear parking sensors, rearview camera, navigation system, etc are reserved only for the higher trims. Some key safety features on offer include:

• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Cruise control
• Fully integrated trailer-brake controller (optional)
• Sentry Key Theft Deterrent system
• Advanced multistage front airbags

When compared to its competition, the 2016 RAM 1500 Crew Cab falls short on many occasions. It can’t compete with them in terms of towing, and payload capacity, safety performance, and cargo space. The areas where it excels are its interior, fuel economy, and in its incredible handling capabilities. The 2016 RAM 1500 costs the least among its rivals making it the most affordable truck in the segment. Overall, the RAM isn’t a bad choice, but if you’re looking for a work-focused truck then we’d suggest you go for one of its competitors.