2021 RAM Promaster City

However, the 2021 RAM ProMaster City Cargo does suffer from a lack of safety and tech features. However, it is best for light-duty work around the town. The 2021 RAM ProMaster City is available in two different variants: cargo van and wagon. The cargo van has a starting price tag of $25,065. The main competitors of the RAM ProMaster City Cargo are the Ford Transit Connect, Mercedes-Benz Metris, and Nissan NV200. 

The 2021 RAM ProMaster City Cargo Van is available in two trim levels. The base Tradesman trim features a manual tilt and telescopic steering column, cloth upholstery, tinted glass windows, remote keyless entry, speed-sensitive power-locks, Bluetooth, hill-start assist, and a rearview camera. The Tradesman SLT comes with steering wheel mounted audio controls, upgraded upholstery, rear quarter interior trim panel, color-keyed power heated side mirrors, and body-color fascia.

Numerous packages are also available on both trims. The Lights & Wheels group provides 16-inch aluminum wheels, a wheel center cap, and front lamps. The Rear wiper and defroster group offers a rear window defroster and rear window wiper. The MOPAR Trailer tow group adds a class III receiver hitch and 4/7 pin wiring harness.

 Which Trim should you buy:

Though both trims share the same power plant and there are no major differences in the exterior design as well, SLT trim still offers better features such as premium cloth upholstery, power heated side mirrors, and cruise control just for an extra $1,315. 

The 2021 RAM ProMaster City Cargo Van has only one engine option under the hood i.e. a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. It is connected to a 9-speed automatic transmission and churns out 178 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. And the front-wheel-drive is the only drivetrain on offer. With this setup, the ProMaster City Cargo Van crosses 60 mph from rest in 17.1 seconds. With this timing, ProMaster City manages to take the runner-up position in the competition as Mercedes-Benz Metris is the fastest one. 

 Furthermore, even if the ProMaster City Cargo Van does not have very quick acceleration, it is still better than most of the opponents. That said, the RAM RAM ProMaster City Cargo Van can tow up to 2000 pounds and has a payload capacity of 1890 pounds. Meanwhile, the Mercedes-Benz Metris has a towing capacity of 5000 pounds and a payload capacity of 2,205 pounds. 

The Mercedes-Benz Metris is the only cargo van with a turbocharged engine whereas all other rivals come with a naturally aspirated motor. The Nissan NV200 has the lowest engine output but it is still faster than the Ford Transit Connect and does the 0-60 mph in 10 seconds while the latter van does it 0.6 seconds late. 

How well does the RAM ProMaster City Cargo Van handle?:

The throttle response is decent when ProMaster City is unloaded but things change when it is loaded. The engine has good delivery but automatic transmission makes things go another way since it is hard to get it in top gear. That said, one can’t possibly expect a sporty ride from a van but the ride quality is acceptable and the steering wheel is a bit heavy weighted. 

The RAM ProMaster City Cargo Van has a tall physique and higher center of gravity which results in significant body roll around the corners. It is made for city jobs and it is better you don’t try it out on the off-road. Despite everything, it is comfortable inside, and ProMaster City handles small bumps really well. The front windshield is massive which provides great visibility. 

2021 RAM ProMaster City Cargo Van Braking Performance:

The 2021 RAM ProMaster City Tradesman comes with a set of 12-inch front brake rotors and 10-inch rear brake rotors. It does have features like brake assist, all-speed traction control, and ABS which helps in braking. That said, the data for braking distance from 60 to 0 mph is currently not available but we will update it as it is out. However, for now, we expect that ProMaster City will display an average braking performance like its peers. 

The Nissan NV200 has 11.1-inch front brake rotors and 9-inch rear brake rotors. With the help of these brake rotors and brake assisting features, NV200 comes to a halt from 60 mph over a distance of 137 feet. Meanwhile, the Mercedes-Benz Metris has the biggest pair of front and rear brake rotors among the bunch. 

As per EPA estimation, the 2021 RAM ProMaster City returns a fuel economy of 21 MPG in the city, 28 MPG on the highway, and 24 MPG combined. With these figures, the Promaster City becomes the most fuel-efficient one on the highway. It comes with a fuel tank of 16.1 gallons capacity which combined with its rate of fuel consumption translates into a combined range of 364 approximately. 

The RAM ProMaster City could not proclaim the tilt of most fuel-efficient cargo minivan in the city and the same has already been taken by the Ford Transit Connect and Nissan NV200. Both of these vehicles also provide the highest combined fuel economy in the competition. Lastly, the Mercedes-Benz Metris shows the highest fuel consumption but it tries to manage off things with a fuel tank that has the highest storage capacity. 

The interior of the RAM ProMaster City Cargo Van is pretty spacious. It is also very easy to enter the cargo area. The cargo van variant of the ProMaster City allows two people inside but if you want more then the passenger van model features rear seats which ultimately provide a seating capacity of five. The base trim comes with cloth upholstery which can be upgraded to premium cloth upholstery on the SLT trim. 

Tradesman trim has 4-way manual front seats but on the Tradesman SLT trim, the driver seat gets 6-way manual adjustment. The base trim gets left out from the heated seats as they are only available on the Tradesman SLT. Manual tilt and telescopic steering column, three 12V outlets, power-sensitive door locks, front one-touch power windows, and manual air conditioning are some standard cabin features on the ProMaster City cargo van. 

The RAM ProMaster City and fellow competitors have a roomy cabin but the Mercedes-Benz Metris is a little low in space, especially when it comes to legroom. However, Metris has the highest capacity which is 182.9 cu-ft while the least is offered on the NV200. Next in line is the ProMaster City which offers a cargo capacity of 131.7 cu-ft. Finally, the Transit Connect provides a cargo space of 127.4 cu-ft. Highlights of the interior features in the 2021 RAM ProMaster City Cargo Van are:

• Optional heated front seats 
• Leather-covered steering wheel
• Manual air conditioning 
• Manual tilt/telescoping steering column
• Remote keyless entry 
• Cloth upholstery

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2021 RAM Promaster City Cargo Van comes equipped with the UConnect3 infotainment system which features a 5-inch touchscreen. You get a 4-speaker sound system standard on both trims. The navigation system and SiriusXM are optional but voice commands with Bluetooth and aux jack are standard. Sadly, neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto is available on the Promaster City. Highlights of the infotainment features:

• 5-inch touchscreen
• 4-speaker sound system
• Bluetooth
• Optional SiriusXM satellite radio
• Optional Navigation system 

The ProMaster City Cargo Van has a simple look but the design is blessed with graceful curves which makes it attractive. At the front, a similar black grille but smaller in size compared to the ProMaster cargo van is given on the ProMaster City cargo van. Plastic front and rear bumpers, halogen headlights, tinted glass windows, and LED brake lights are standard on the Tradesman trim. Climb the trim ladder and you will get a deep-tinted glass window, power heated side mirrors, wheels with full cover, and color-keyed front, and rear bumper will be standards. The 2021 RAM ProMaster City cargo van runs on the default 16-inch steel wheels which can be upgraded to 16-inch aluminum wheels. 

The Mercedes-Benz Metris is the biggest cargo minivan of all in terms of size but has the third-highest ground clearance of all. On the other hand, the Nissan NV200 is the smallest one but comes with the highest ground clearance. The RAM ProMaster City has the second-largest wheelbase and Ford Transit Connect shares a nearly similar width with it. If we look at the height, then the rival from the Nissan is taller than the rival from the Ford. Highlights of the exterior features:

• 16-inch steel wheels
• Halogen headlights 
• Optional fog lights
• Optional DRLs
• Tinted glass window 
• 180-degree opening rear window doors

Nor NHTSA or IIHS has conducted any crash tests on the 2021 RAM ProMaster City. That being said, the list of standard safety features in the base ProMaster City is very short as it only includes a backup camera, hill start assist, trailer sway damping, and tire pressure monitor. Upgrade to the Tradesman SLT and cruise control will be added. You don’t get advanced safety features such as blind-spot monitor, rear-cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and more. Highlights of the safety features are:

• Trailer sway damping
• Optional rear park assist
• Cruise control
• Backup camera
• Tire pressure monitor 

RAM ProMaster City Cargo Van vs Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van

The Ford Transit Connect has a smaller and less powerful engine compared to the ProMaster City. It also has more fat in comparison. That is why the RAM ProMaster City shows a better performance. The towing capacity of both cargo vans is the same but if payload capacity is taken for debate then ProMaster City has the lead. RAM has also given a higher cargo space in the ProMaster City which manages to keep the odds in its favor.

RAM ProMaster City Cargo Van vs Nissan NV200 Cargo Van

Among all the rivals, the Nissan NV200 has the least engine output. However, in the city, it is more fuel-efficient than the ProMaster City. It is cheaper than the ProMaster City but that will get you a smaller fuel tank and interior cargo capacity. That being said, the NV200 despite many shortcomings still has a decent amount of features inside. 

RAM ProMaster City Cargo Van vs Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van

The Mercedes-Benz Metris has more enthusiastic acceleration compared to the RAM ProMaster City and offers higher power figures in comparison. However, the ProMaster City has a few cards up its sleeve as well. Such as it has better fuel economy, spacious cabin, and lighter chassis. But it is not enough to give a grand slam to the Metris which excels in other aspects.

If only the Nissan NV200 was up against the RAM ProMaster City, we would have told you to keep a blind eye and go with the ProMaster City. But competition gets intense because of the other two rivals. Expensive but Mercedes-Benz Metris has a higher payload and towing capacity and cargo space along with superior driving capabilities. On the other hand, Transit Connect promises more tech and safety features. Therefore, if you can stretch out your budget and compromise with the lackluster fuel economy then the Metris is for you. Otherwise, if you can deal with the lower cargo space of the Ford Transit Connect, it is the best option for you.