2018 Ram 1500 Buyer's Guide

The Swan Song

Formerly known as a Dodge product, the Ram 1500 is soon to be replaced by a redesigned and shiny new model in 2019. The current Ram 1500 has been around in some form or another since 2013 and needs an upgrade to keep pace with the offerings from Ford and General Motors. Although it's soon to be jettisoned, it deserves one more look before it's given a gold watch and sent off to retirement. Follow along and we'll tell you everything you need to know about the last of 2018 Ram 1500 models. 

Options Aplenty

For starters, you have plenty of trim levels to choose from. As you would expect, over the better part of a decade, Ram has introduced many different trim levels. Truck buyers love options and the ability to make their truck stand out from a crowd. In no particular order, you can buy the Ram 1500 in the following trim levels: Tradesman, Express, High Fuel Economy (HFE), SLT, Big Horn, Sport, Laramie, Laramie Longhorn, Limited, Rebel, and Tungsten. They say variety is the spice of life. In that case, Ram has a cupboard full of spices for buyers to choose from. 

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Sizes to Choose From

Staying in line with the Burger King effect, "Have it your way", the Ram 1500 can be ordered in different cab and bed lengths. Starting with the regular cab, the 1500 offers nearly 40 inches of headroom, 41 inches of front legroom, and the choice of 6-foot 4-inch bed or an 8-foot bed. The slightly larger quad cab provides 31 inches of front headroom, 39.7 inches of rear headroom, 41 inches of front legroom, and 34.7 inches of rear legroom. Bed choices on the quad cab are limited to the 6-foot 4-inch bed. Finally, the most spacious choice is the crew cab which gives 41 inches of front headroom, almost 40 inches of rear headroom, 41 inches of front legroom, and 40.3 inches of rear legroom. For the crew cab, two bed lengths can be had: a 5-foot 7-inch cargo box or a 6-foot 4-inch cargo box bed. 

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Engines to Get the Job Done

When the 2009 model debuted, the Ram 1500 sported a wimpy 226 horsepower 3.7 liter V6 and two V8 options. The most popular (and most usable) engine was the 5.7 liter Hemi. Fast forward to 2018 and the engine choices are far more palatable. The entry-level motor is a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 which produces a respectable 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque. If towing and fuel economy are your priorities, the 3.0-liter Ecodiesel V6 is more suitable to your lifestyle. While the Ecodiesel only pumps out 240 horsepower, it's the 420 lb-ft of torque that'll keep you satisfied. Lastly, this wouldn't be a Chrysler product if you couldn't buy a truck with a Hemi badge. For those keen on a high horsepower truck with a bass-driven exhaust note, the 5.7 liter Hemi carries on with 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. 

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The Moving Living Room

In the Ram crew cab, there's no shortage of space. The number one thing Ram has improved upon over the course of a decade is their interiors. A lot of the credit goes to the introduction of the UConnect touchscreen infotainment system. Features like push-button start, blind spot monitoring, Wifi, remote start, and Android/Apple integration are just some of the reasons Ram is closing in on General Motors and Ford. Comfort is at an all-time high thanks to air suspension and a silky smooth 8-speed automatic transmission.  

>>Join the conversation about the 2018 Ram 1500 right here in Dodge Forum.

Moving Gracefully Towards the Sunset

In addition to the interior upgrades, the Ram has done its best to keep up with the demands for improved safety and fuel efficiency. On the safety side, the Ram 1500 earned 4 out of 5 stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It fared best in the side crash protection test earning five stars. Results vary in the rollover ratings based upon cab and bed sizes. The only notable points of weakness in NHTSA tests were the driver's side front crash protection, roof strength, headlights, and child seat anchors. As for fuel economy, the real stud of the pack is the Ecodiesel V6 which returns 20 miles per gallon in the city, 27 miles per gallon on the highway, and an estimated combined rating of 23 miles per gallon in rear-wheel configuration. 

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Available at a Price You Can Afford

The good people at Ram won't let a silly little thing like sales price get in the way of your dreams for new truck ownership. The base-level Tradesman starts at $28,000 and change before the $1,645 destination fee. Of course, if you have more expensive tastes, a Limited model stretches just above $55,000. For most buyers, there is bound to be a sweet spot somewhere in the upper middle. For my money, a crew cab with a Hemi is a great starting point. And with competitive pricing and incentives, everything else is gravy. 

>>Join the conversation about the 2018 Ram 1500 right here in Dodge Forum.

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