Overview
EIGHT-CYLINDER purists would possibly baulk on the reality the Ram 1500 has shifted to six-cylinder energy. However the petrol-powered and twin-turbocharged ‘Hurricane’ mill is extra highly effective, torquier, and extra environment friendly than the long-serving Hemi, and is even priced the identical at $141,950 plus on-road prices in Laramie Sport format.
Whereas that’s one heck of a sticker value for a ute, it’s value remembering that regionally transformed American pick-up vans don’t come low cost (partly due to the value to transform the fashions to right-hand drive right here and partly due to the worth of the Aussie greenback in opposition to the buck).
By the use of reference, the Chevrolet Silverado LTZ Premium begins from $130,500 + ORC, whereas the Ford F-150 XLT begins at simply $106,950 + ORC. Toyota’s hybridised Tundra Restricted is the dearest entry mannequin of the lot at $155,990 + ORC.
To be honest to the Ram 1500, it does supply a beneficiant stage of normal gear for the value, bettering its rivals on nearly each entrance.
Along with a bunch of driving modes and all-wheel drive, we discover LED lighting, 20-inch alloy wheels, digital instrumentation and infotainment screens, a separate passenger display, a harman/kardon audio system, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, twin wi-fi telephone charging cradles, a powered tailgate, and leather-based upholstery with heating and air flow all spherical.
There are acres of storage cubbies and trays, a handful of USB shops, an enormous dual-pane sunroof, automated aspect steps, sturdy seize handles, and a substantial stage of security gear thrown into the discount.
As-standard security package consists of adaptive cruise management, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, driver monitor, ahead collision warning with steering help, entrance and rear parking sensors, intersection help, lane conserving help, a reversing digicam, six airbags, and tyre stress monitoring.
Three child-seat restraints are supplied throughout the big second row bench.
The tray mattress can be not with out its very personal checklist of options. Along with generally discovered gadgets like a spray-in bedliner and tie-down factors, the Ram 1500 presents lockable aspect storage packing containers (often called Ram Bins) over the wheel arches, a powered tailgate, helpful (and retractable) kerb-side step, and an easy-to-use tri-fold tonneau cowl.
Payload capability is listed at 836kg – or about the identical as a Ford Ranger or Toyota HiLux – and braked towing capability at 4200kg (or 700kg greater than the Ranger or HiLux). There aren’t any helpful ‘trailering’ controls or surround-view cameras as supplied in some rivals, however there’s a trailer brake controller included as a part of the deal.
On the different finish of the automobile is the guts and soul of any workhorse truck, the engine.
Displacing simply 3.0 litres, the force-fed inline six is obtainable in two states of tune, with the ‘SO’ (or Customary Output) entry mannequin outputting 313kW/635Nm (+22kW/79Nm greater than the outgoing 5.7-litre Hemi V8) and the ‘HO’ (Excessive Output) Restricted grade making 403kW/707Nm.
Cogs are shuffled by way of an eight-speed torque converter transmission, the 1500 additionally providing a two-speed switch case and 5 engine modes together with Regular, Offroad, Snow, Sport, and Towing.
The Laramie Sport rides on metal coil springs whereas the Restricted beneficial properties air suspension. Braking on each variants is by way of all-wheel discs.
Within the case of the Laramie Sport, gasoline is saved in a 98-litre tank (Restricted is 125 litres) with the 1500 requiring 91RON common unleaded on the pump. Ram says the Hurricane engine is within the neighborhood of 12 per cent extra economical than the Hemi V8, the North American measure quoting between 17-23 MPG (13.8-10.2 litres per 100km) between metropolis and freeway cycles.
Ram Vans Australia backs the 1500 with a three-year/100,000km guarantee, matching the length of the Chevrolet Silverado. Ford and Toyota every supply a five-year guarantee which could be sufficient to push some consumers over the road.
Service intervals are set at 12 months or 12,000km however with no capped-price servicing schedule to talk of.
Driving Impressions
The Hurricane engine mightn’t have the stirring soundtrack of the nice ol’ Hemi, but it surely’s actually a extra fashionable engine. Energy supply is extra versatile, gasoline economic system higher, and total refinement appreciably improved.
Acceleration, too, is measurably faster – some 1.3 seconds quicker in opposition to the 0-100km/h commonplace at simply 6.2 seconds.
Whereas we’d love to debate the automobile’s potential to haul and tow, our time with the automobile was such that we had solely the chance to drive our commonplace take a look at loop – unladen, and with no trailer in tow. Nonetheless, the train confirmed how the six-cylinder engine performs in unusual site visitors, simply outpacing the established order with its effortlessly accessible torque.
The Ram 1500’s TorqueFlite eight-speed computerized transmission is a terrific match for the Hurricane engine. Gear modifications are immediate and ratio choice diligent. We by no means as soon as discovered the transmission within the fallacious gear, even rising used to the volume-style shift selectors on the decrease steering spoke when deciding on cogs manually.
We additionally appreciated the automobile’s seat, column, and pedal field adjustment in serving to to realize that ‘good’ really feel on the ‘wheel. The controls themselves are weighted effectively to provide a way of presence to the Ram 1500, however not so heavy as to make piloting the automobile a chore.
We discovered the braking motion respectable, and the suspension setup – being coil all-round – way more snug than conventional coil entrance/leaf rear preparations, providing an nearly SUV-like trip on most street surfaces, and even with no load within the mattress.
On the draw back, there’s a little tyre hum and a major stage of wind noise when travelling at freeway speeds. The Ram 1500 has a whole lot of space to push by the air, and it’s apparent this can be a downside to not solely the automobile’s acoustics, but in addition its gasoline economic system.
As spectacular because the Hurricane engine is – and whereas it’s undoubtedly extra environment friendly than the Hemi V8 – it exhibits rapidly that with no diesel various the Ram 1500 is a thirsty contender, returning a 15.3-litre per 100km common on our 200km take a look at loop.
These figures fall effectively in need of these achieved not too long ago by the hybridised Toyota Tundra Restricted, however are nonetheless a suitable quantity given the refinement, efficiency, and functionality on supply.
Whereas Hemi followers would possibly lament the lack of that throbbing bent-eight iron, there’s no getting by the very fact its substitute is a perfect match for the job at hand – and one we expect will elevate the eyebrows of most 1500 consumers keen to leap on board for a take a look at drive.
