Autoblog: 2024 Ram 1500 Remains Class-Leader

When looking for the critic’s choice in full-size pickup trucks, you will find them on the Ram side of Krusen Motors. The Ram 1500 was the 2021 MotorTrend “Truck of the Year.” It’s been Car and Driver’s “10 Best” for the last five years. Interestingly, it was awarded “Luxury Car of the Year” by Cars.com. Autoblog has also named it their favorite in the past, but considering all the changes in the segment, they decided to check on the 2024 Ram 1500 to see how it holds up.  Pretty well, apparently, because by the 4th paragraph, they state: “Despite being challenged by newer rivals, the 2024 Ram 1500 remains our favorite in the class. Its sophisticated ride and classy interior give it a leg-up over the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and Toyota Tundra.”

Superior Suspension

Autoblog wasted little ink before singing the praises of Ram’s coil spring suspension: “dramatically improved the handling, trailering control and most obviously, the ride quality. It rides much smoother than rivals, especially when the bed is unloaded.” The suspension comes up again later in the article: “The Ram 1500 continues to be so refined that it can feel like you're driving a large crossover rather than a pickup. Thanks to its five-link coil spring rear suspension, its ride quality is smooth and betters all its competitors.”

Excellent Interior Up and Down the Line

They also took time to praise the interior. The flagship Longhorn model is described as  “downright luxurious,” but more importantly, they were also impressed with the layout of the bare-bones Tradesman model, and from there, the interiors continue to better the competition as you move up the model hierarchy: “For instance, the rich gray cloth upholstery in a Big Horn test truck contributed to a far more premium environment than what we found in a comparable Ford F-150 XLT trim level.”

In addition to aesthetics, they praised the easily configurable front center console and its clever storage solutions. Kudos also went to the practical usability of the available RamBox bins that provide lockable storage within the bed walls. 

The UConnect touchscreen interface is lauded as “one of the most user-friendly interfaces on the market and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.” This statement applies to all the models, from the Tradesman’s 5-inch touchscreen, to the 8.4-inch screen, and the range-topping 12-inch vertical screen on upper grades. 

The rear of the Crew Cab was noted for its generous 45.2 inches of rear legroom, which is “about 2 inches better than the Silverado Crew Cab and F-150 SuperCrew, and 3.6 inches better than the Toyota Tundra Crew Max.”  The space enables the rear seatbacks to recline for improved rear seat comfort, a feature you won’t find on Ford and GM models. 

Powerful and Efficient

The standard 3.6-liter V6 is considered more than adequate and features eTorque. This mild 48-volt hybrid system enables a smooth launch from the start/stop system and adds electrical assistance in acceleration. The V-6 produces 305 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, which is channeled through an 8-speed transmission to provide an EPA-estimated 35 mpg on the highway. 

The optional 5.7-liter V8 also benefits from the eTorque system, producing 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. Highway mpg is 23 or 22 with 4WD. The resulting maximum towing capacity is 12,750 pounds.

Then there is the Ram TRX, with its Hellcat 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 producing an astounding 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, which is still available, but only through the 2024 model year. 

So Autoblog adds itself to the many automotive experts that consider the Ram 1500 the best full-size truck for general use. If you are even remotely considering a new pickup truck, you clearly need to take a close look at the Ram 1500. You will find them here at Krusen Motors along with its 2500 and 3500 siblings and, of course, its Chevrolet and GM competition. Yes, it's one-stop pickup truck shopping at Krusen Motors. Visit soon.