2018 RAM Promaster City

ProMaster city is successfully taking its European design-language to the American streets through its latest addition. The cargo van has its distinct European style, though it isn't all same as its European sister named as "Ducato". ProMaster city cargo is equipped with higher ground clearance and heavier suspension considering the uneven American roads. All variants of the cargo van are boosted with a powerful enough 2.4L engine with front-wheel drive mechanism and starts at a price of $23,995

 

'ProMaster City Tradesman' and 'ProMaster City Tradesman SLT', trims available for the cargo van, are priced at $23,995 and $25,645 respectively. The main highlights of the base variant, 'Tradesman', offers Cloth Low-Back Bucket Seats, Manual Remote Mirrors and Outside Temperature Display in Odometer.

The cargo van offers a decent infotainment system with integrated voice command, 5-inch touchscreen display, and Uconnect 3 navigation system on the board in both base and upper SLT trim. The feature rich infotainment is one of the main highlights of the cargo van as it's one of the best infotainment systems available in a mini cargo vehicle.

Trim	ProMaster City Tradesman	ProMaster City Tradesman SLT
MSRP	$25,095	$26,745
Key Features	Cloth Low-Back Bucket Seats Manual Remote Mirrors Outside Temperature Display in Odometer 5.0-Inch Touchscreen Display 4 Speakers Integrated Voice Command with Bluetooth Uconnect 3 with 5-Inch Display	Driver Height Adjuster Seat  Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel (w / Uconnect 3 NAV)    Steering Wheel Audio Controls (w / Uconnect 3 NAV)  Power Heated Exterior Mirrors w/ Manual Fold-Away

For an additional $2.5k, the upper SLT trim features Driver Height Adjuster seats, Steering wheel audio controls and Leather-wrapped steering wheel. The upper SLT trim also offers Power Heated Exterior Mirrors with Manual Fold-Away. In our view, the base trim is a smart buy as it offers the comfort, cargo capacity, and towing capacity. Spending $2500 for some extra features isn't a good bet especially when we're talking about a cargo van.

Engine and Transmission

Ram ProMaster City tradesman cargo is boosted with a 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir four-cylinder. The powerful engine is one of the best parts of the cargo van. The power output for the 2.4L engine stands at 178hp @6400 rpm, which is powerful enough for all your commercial needs. The tradesman comes with a 9-speed Automatic transmission in both the base trim and upper SLT trim. The 9-speed transmission in the cargo van is smooth but a bit slower than competitors. 

Models	Ram ProMaster City tradesman Cargo	Nissan NV200 S cargo	Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL	Mercedes Metris Cargo
MSRP	$23,995	$21,900	$23,215	$29,950
Engine	2.4L I4	2.0L l4	2.5L l4	2.0L l4
Transmission	9-speed automatic	CVT automatic	6-speed automatic	7-speed automatic
Horsepower	178 hp @ 6400 rpm	131 hp @ 5600 rpm	169 hp @ 6000 rpm	208 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque	174 lb.-ft @ 3800 rpm	139 lb.-ft @ 4800 rpm	171 lb.-ft @ 4500 rpm	258 lb.-ft @ 1250 rpm

The major competitors like Nissan NV200 S Cargo, Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL, and Mercedes Metris Cargo hold a power count of 131hp @5600 rpm, 169 hp @6000 rpm, and 208 hp @ 5500 rpm respectively. It is clear that, Mercedes Metris Cargo excels in terms of power and torque when compared with other competitors in the segment but it also comes with a higher price tag of around three grands.

Acceleration

The competent 2.4L Chrysler Tigershark engine offers a decent amount of acceleration considering the commercial nature of the Ram ProMaster City Tradesman. The cargo van takes 3.7 seconds while accelerating from 0 to 30 Mph, which is enough for keeping pace with other vehicles on the road. Though the acceleration wasn't that much nimble, it's still commendable in the segment.

Models	Ram ProMaster City tradesman cargo	Nissan NV200 S cargo	Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL	Mercedes Metris Cargo
0-60 MPH	9.3 sec	10.0 sec	10.1 sec	8.0 sec
Quarter mile	17.0 sec	17 sec	17.6 sec	16.0 sec
Engine	2.4L	2.0L	2.5L	2.0L
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	7.4	7.1	7.7	8.0

The CO2 emission for the cargo van is average in the segment. The vehicle emits 7.4 tons of CO2 for every 15K miles of distance covered. The other competitors like Nissan NV200 s Cargo, Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL, and Mercedes Metris Cargo have a CO2 emission rate of 7.1, 7.7, and 8.0 tons per 15k miles respectively.

Ride and Handling

"Ride quality is surprisingly pliant and the van is wonderfully maneuverable. The turning circle is 42 feet and the brakes (discs up front, drums out back) are confidence-inspiring." - Kelly Blue Book

The suspension was one of the best in the segment; the car handles the roads very well. The overall driving and handling experience was confident and convenient. Ram Promaster is blessed with a sharp and agile handling, the short turning radius takes the credit for it. 

Braking

The braking performance was more or less average in the Ram ProMaster City tradesman cargo van. The car offers reasonably large braking fronts of 12.0 and 10 inches for front and rear braking pads respectively while the competitors like Nissan NV200 S cargo and Mercedes Metris Cargo offer braking pads of (11.1, 9.0) and (11.8, 11.0) respectively.

Model	Ram ProMaster City tradesman cargo	Nissan NV200 S cargo	Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL	Mercedes Metris Cargo
Brake Front (in.)	12.0	11.1	12.1	11.8
Brake Rear (in.)	10.0	9.0	12.1	11.0
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3,512	3,260	3,505	4,222
60-0 MPH (ft.)		137

The braking performance was acceptable for a cargo van. ProMaster City Tradesman slides 135 feet while decelerating from 60 MPH to still. The braking performance was decent considering the commercial vehicle segment of the van. The van possesses a curb weight of 3,512 Ibs, while competitors like Nissan NV200 S cargo, Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL, and Mercedes Metris Cargo weigh at 3,260, 3,505, and 4,222 respectively.

Ram ProMaster City tradesman cargo impressed us in this segment. The cargo van offers best cargo-fuel ratio when compared with the other competitors in the segment. The commercial van offers fuel economy of 21 and 28 on city roads and highways respectively, which is marginally better than the competitors.

Model	Ram ProMaster City tradesman cargo	Nissan NV200 S cargo	Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL	Mercedes Metris Cargo
MPG (city)	21	24	20	21
MPG (highway)	28	26	27	24
MPG (combined)	24	25	23	22

The combined fuel economy for the Ram ProMaster City tradesman cargo van comes out at 24 MPG while other vehicles in the segment like Nissan NV200 S Cargo, Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL, and Mercedes Metris Cargo offer combined fuel economy of 25, 23 and 22 respectively.

"It's built for practicality and utility, but the ProMaster City is still roomy and comfortable. Forward visibility is good, and rearward visibility is helped by a rearview camera and optional rear parking sensors." - Edmunds

The ProMaster City Tradesman offers decent comfort and spacious interiors. The leg/head/shoulder space is best in the segment in the cargo van, though Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL and Mercedes Metris Cargo offer better and more comfortable interiors than the ProMaster City Cargo van. 

Interior Dimension

The Ram ProMaster City offers passenger capacity of two along with a decent level of comfort for the passengers. The interiors offered in the Ram ProMaster City tradesman cargo are spacious enough though aren't impressive enough. The materials used in the interior of the van remind users of its low price. Interiors are composed of low-cost plastic materials. Competitors like Nissan NV200 S Cargo, Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL, and Mercedes Metris Cargo offer somewhat better interiors than the Ram ProMaster City tradesman.

Model	Ram ProMaster City tradesman cargo	Nissan NV200 S cargo	Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL	Mercedes Metris Cargo
Passenger capacity	2	2	2	2
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	46.0/59.3/40.8	41.7/54.1/42.6	46.9/57.7/41.5	39.6/-/35.8

Infotainment System

The infotainment system featured in the Ram ProMaster City is a decent one. It comes with a 5-inch touchscreen with Uconnect navigation system. The infotainment system is feature-rich and convenient. The four-speaker module in the Ram ProMaster City offers an impressive sound output for the cargo van. The infotainment system features Integrated Voice Command with Bluetooth® and Steering Wheel Audio Controls on the board.

Cargo Capacity

Ram ProMaster City tradesman cargo offers a cargo capacity of 131.7 feet cube which is better than its close competitors i.e. Nissan NV200 S cargo and Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL. The Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL and Nissan NV200 S cargo offer a cargo volume of 103.9 and 122.7 ft.-cube respectively while Mercedes Metris Cargo offers better cargo volume.

Model	Ram ProMaster City tradesman cargo	Nissan NV200 S cargo	Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL	Mercedes Metris Cargo
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	131.7	122.7	103.9	183.0

Cargo capacity is one of the major factors while considering a commercial vehicle. Mercedes Metris excels in cargo capacity, it offers a magnificent cargo volume of 183.0 ft.-cube but also costs extra $6000. At last, it all depends upon your cargo needs; Ram ProMaster City tradesman cargo offers decent cargo capacity but if you need more than Mercedes Metris is there with best-in-class cargo volume.

Towing Capacity

Towing capacity is the next most important factor after cargo volume. It again depends upon your business needs, you should select the commercial vehicle accordingly. The Ram ProMaster City tradesman can have a towing capacity of 2000 lbs. which is just average in the segment. Though it has a powerful engine with decent acceleration, the towing capacity is not that impressive.

Model	Ram ProMaster City tradesman cargo	Nissan NV200 S cargo	Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL	Mercedes Metris Cargo
Maximum Towing Capacity	2000 lbs.	NA	2000 lbs	5000 lbs

Mercedes Metris Cargo again outshines the Ram ProMaster City tradesman in towing capacity as it has an impressive towing capacity of 5000 pounds. For high cargo and towing demands, Mercedes Metris Cargo is definitely a better option under three grands.

"The 2018 ProMaster City probably won’t cut a dash through the smarter parts of town as it rolls along on 16-inch steel wheels, but its European roots give it some flair. And anyway, the overall design emphasizes practicality over prettiness, as shown by its height of six feet and two inches." - Kelly Blue Book

When It comes to design, 2018 Ram ProMaster City tradesman cargo has its own design language. The design is borrowed from its predecessors, and It's definitely not the best Italian designed van. The design has some unnecessary tweaks; we prefer the simple design offered by Nissan NV200 and Mercedes Metris Cargo over Ram ProMaster City tradesman design. Though the design wasn't impressive, build quality seems acceptable.

Dimensions and Weight

Model	Ram ProMaster City tradesman cargo	Nissan NV200 S cargo	Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL	Mercedes Metris Cargo
Curb weight (lbs.)	3,512	3,260	3,505	4,222
Length(in)	187.5	186.3	173.9	202.4
Width(in)	72.1	68.1	72.2	75.9
Height(in)	74.0	73.7	72.5	75.2
Ground clearance (in)	5.1	6.5	6.0	4.4
Wheelbase (in)	122.4	115.2	104.8	126.0
Track width (in) F/R		60.0/59.8	61.4/61.7

The dimensions for the Ram ProMaster City counts at 187.5, 72.1, and 74 0 for length, width, and height respectively. The Tradesman cargo offers wide wheelbase of 122.4 inches. The group clearance offered by the cargo van is 5.1 inches while the competitors like Nissan NV200 S cargo, Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL, and Mercedes Metris Cargo feature ground clearances of 6.5, 6.0 and 4.4 inches respectively.

Safety Ratings and Reliability

The cargo van features all standard safety features on the board though we cannot expect advanced safety features in this segment. Ram ProMaster City is loaded with Electronic Stability Control, Speed Sensitive Power Locks, Brake Assist, and 4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes on the board.

Safety features

• 4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes
• Brake Assist
• Driver Inflatable Knee-Bolster Airbag
• Electronic Stability Control
• ParkView Rear Back Up Camera
• Supplemental Front Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Speed Sensitive Power Locks
• Supplemental Side-Curtain Front and Rear Airbags

There are Supplemental Front Seat-Mounted Side Airbags present with Supplemental Side-Curtain Front and Rear Airbags and a Driver Inflatable Knee-Bolster Airbag. For parking and safety, there is also a Parkview rear Back-Up Camera present in the Ram ProMaster City tradesman.

Ram ProMaster City vs Nissan NV200S Cargo

Ram ProMaster City is boosted with a powerful engine, better acceleration, higher strong capacity, and better infotainment system when compared with Nissan NV200S cargo. On the other hand, NV200S Cargo outshines Ram ProMaster City in segments like interiors, fuel economy, and ground clearance.

Ram ProMaster City vs Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL

Ford Transit Connect Cargo XL features better interiors, build quality, transmission, and ground clearance when compared with the Ram ProMaster City. On the other hand, Ram ProMaster City excels in segments like fuel economy, Cargo Capacity and acceleration.

Ram ProMaster City vs Mercedes Metris Cargo

Mercedes Metris Cargo is equipped with best-in-class engine and offers best acceleration and towing capacity in the segment. It excels Ram ProMaster City in segments like cargo capacity, interiors quality, and build quality while the Ram ProMaster City tradesman offer better ground clearance, fuel economy and spacious interiors. The Mercedes Metris Cargo is $6000 costlier than the Ram ProMaster City tradesman.

Ram ProMaster City is a decent option under $24K segment. It offers decent engine, acceleration, and infotainment system. The major highlights of the Ram ProMaster City tradesman are high storage capacity, better fuel economy, and low price. Ram ProMaster City lacks in segments like interior quality and towing capacity.