2017 Ram 1500 Big Horn Crew Cab Reviews
The Car Connectedness Expert Review
Managing Editor
June half dozen, 2017
Likes
- Base V-6 strikes the right balance
- Efficient turbodiesel V-half-dozen
- Functional interior
- Relatively adept ride quality
Dislikes
- Rough air interruption at highway speeds
- Insubordinate's grille is but likewise much
- $3,000 premium for diesel engine
Ownership tip
features & specs
Big Horn 4x2 Crew Cab 5'7" Box
Big Horn 4x2 Crew Cab half-dozen'4" Box
Big Horn 4x2 Quad Cab half dozen'4" Box
The 2017 Ram 1500 can agree its own among the Detroit Three thanks to a adept powertrain lineup and smart lineup additions.
Perhaps 30 years ago, there was a greater differentiation among full-size trucks, only now we're not and then certain.
The 2017 Ram 1500 is proof of that. As the oldest among its competitors, the total-size Ram is no canis familiaris. It offers a full complement of solid engines—each its own tool for a specific job, handsome interiors, intuitive features, and increased condolement.
It earns a half-dozen.0 overall rating out of 10, an higher up-average score that reflects its good feature ready, proficient performance, and handsome style. Like other full-size pickups, it falls in fuel economy and its age is starting to testify in its federal safety scores. (Read more than about how we rate cars.)
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Styling and performance
The Ram 1500 ranges from basic to advised on the outside. Work trucks are plain affairs with a simple, blackness-clad crosshair grille and steel wheels. Ram Rebels sport a blackness, framed "Death Race 2000" maw and rear badging that'south subtle similar a stick of dynamite.
Same goes for the interiors that span basic vinyl benches to deep, ability adjustable leather buckets. Throughout the range, we wouldn't exist agape to climb aboard in boots and gloves, and the Ram still sports a rough-and-tumble quality that'due south somewhat endearing.
Last year's engine lineup has remained in the Ram. The base of operations 3.6-liter 5-six is the best remainder between adequacy and fuel economy, and can haul up to vii,600 pounds. It's rated at 305 horsepower and 269 pound-anxiety of torque, and is equipped with a shine shifting 8-speed automated.
The 5.7-liter Hemi 5-8 is optional on most models except Sport, Express, Laramie, and Laramie Longhorn versions, where its standard. The engine makes 395 hp and 410 lb-ft and is skillful for upwards to 10,500 pounds of towing, dragging any more requires an HD model.
A three.0-liter turbodiesel 5-6 is the efficiency champ and our favorite. It'south the only full-size, lite-duty oil burner around and its stiff 420 lb-ft of pull is enough to forget that information technology's only rated for 240 hp. It's rated to tow more than than ix,000 pounds, and tin can get up to 30 mpg on the highway. It adds $3,000 more to the bottom line, but over the long life of a pickup, that price may be justified.
Most engines volition be paired to a smooth shifting viii-speed automatic, although a 6-speed is available in some configurations.
Comfort, prophylactic, and features
3 cab configurations—regular cab, extended cab and crew cab—and two bed options—short (5-foot-7) and long (half dozen-foot-4)—are available on most trucks. (Regular cab trucks can exist fitted with an 8-pes bed; extended cab models can't accept a long bed option.)
Near quad-cab pickups will be driven as substitutes for cars, and tin can haul upwards to four adults comfortably. There's plenty of interior space and storage options, and the optional leather buckets up forepart can exist downright luxurious.
We like the layout and configuration of the 1500, although the Ram isn't as opulent as upper trims of Ford or Chevy trucks.
The IIHS has given the Ram by and large "Skilful" scores, although the feds oasis't been as kind. It was rated at four stars overall, with 3 stars for rollover condom.
Similar other modernistic pickups, the number of trims and layouts can exist dizzying and demanding. When combined with axle ratios and a la carte options, the Ram 1500 tin be trimmed in thousands of different configurations. That's skillful for specific needs, but bad for buyers who don't do their homework.
The Ram 1500 is however office start, but its form isn't bad either.
The Ram 1500 has the most extroverted style of any from the Detroit Three, and every flavor has its ain design—some y'all may similar more than others.
The Insubordinate and Limited models accept their ain unique grille that replaces the Ram (nee Contrivance) crosshair with big Ram nameplates. Those are more controversial, and we're still non sold on the idea—specially the Rebel's "Death Race 2000" look.
(Too, those models' tailgates are festooned with a Ram billboard that takes highway branding to a new level.)
We say the interior and exterior of the Ram 1500 are above average, but stop brusque of going farther. Information technology earns a vii out of x on our style-o-meter. (Read more about how nosotros rate cars.)
HFE models get aerodynamically designed side steps, a grille with shutters that close when the engine is not hot, a seat between the bed and cab, and a rear lip on the tail gate, all designed to reduce wind resistance and improve fuel economic system.
Somewhere in betwixt is an answer that'll work for most people: Sport and Outdoorsman models have body-colored grilles that look great without being flashy.
Chrome grilles, LED taillights and side markers farther distinguish upper-level models. Some models have dual exhaust fared into the rear bumper for a finished expect.
The Ram 1500 cabin is comfy and functional in lower trims, lavish and opulent in college trims. The common thread throughout is that each Ram is still decidedly a pickup, and every control can still exist manhandled with gloves on.
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At that place isn't a bad pick among the agglomeration, we only wish the diesel wasn't so much more expensive.
Three engine choices are available in Ram 1500 models, which range from budget friendly to beastly. Near are paired to an first-class eight-speed automatic and can be fit to part-time or on-demand iv-bike-drive systems.
The Ram scores above boilerplate on our performance scale for its good engines and transmissions, which help it climb to a 7 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
The base of operations three.six-liter V-6 is our pick for shoppers looking for a good remainder between fuel economy and capability. The V-6 makes 305 horsepower and 269 pound-anxiety of torque and is rated to tow upwards to 7,600 pounds. Information technology will haul a load without much effort, though the engine notation moves from a 5-eight audio just off idle to a strained V-half dozen note at higher speeds. The 8-speed automatic works well with the V-6 to keep it in its proper ability range without hunting for gears.
The 5.seven-liter V-8 makes 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque and tin can be paired with a 6- or 8-speed automatic. Variable valve timing and a cylinder shut-off organization are used to amend fuel efficiency, simply the engine still generates a throaty growl under acceleration. The big Five-viii is predictably the towing champ: up to 10,700 pounds in certain configurations, but hauling a load any heavier than that and we'd recommend looking at a heavy-duty truck instead. The 5-8 is the most popular engine choice, according to Ram, and it'southward not a bad pick for anyone non willing to spring for the diesel.
The three.0-liter turbodiesel V-half-dozen is the mileage champ and the best available engine choice, if yous ask usa. The engine is rated at just 240 hp, but its biggy pulling power of 420 lb-ft of torque is plenty to fool anyone that it's the brawniest of the bunch. It's rated to tow up to 9,200 pounds and tin manage highway fuel economy in the high-20s, only doesn't come cheaply; Ram asks $iii,000 more for the diesel engine. That additional cost may be justified over a long life of a pickup truck, but the initial pill tin can be too much for many to eat.
1 caveat: The EPA alleges that the EcoDiesel engine may have cheated its emissions testing. An investigation is ongoing, although the outcome is non yet clear.
Iv-wheel drive is optional on all models. A office-fourth dimension 4-wheel-drive system is standard, but an all-wheel-drive, on-need system is available for V-8 models.
The Ram'southward ride and treatment are quite skilful for a full-size pickup, but nosedive and steering feel are withal most what you'd expect from a truck. It's not fair to wait much feedback from a huge-wheelbase, four-wheel-bulldoze truck, so don't. Information technology's yet nearly the best you'll find in a full-sizer.
The Ram has a relaxed, comfortable demeanor underway, though ride quality is greatly affected past the configuration of the model. The front intermission is contained, with ringlet springs on the rear axle.
An optional air suspension replaces the rear coils with air spring-damper units that give drivers a pick of five ride heights (Normal, Aero, Off-route 1, Off-road 2, and Park modes). That allows a high ground clearance when driving off road, forth with generous departure and break-over angles. It also enables a lower step-in height. The air interruption smooths rough terrain and levels the truck when hauling or towing. At highway speeds, the HFE intermission goes into its lowest setting for ameliorate aerodynamics and hence improve fuel economic system, but at that place's less compliance left for bumpy surfaces and uneven textures; we thought it should exist softer and more comfy.
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No i will mistake it for a luxury car, but the Ram is all the same a comfy place to exist.
The Ram 1500's interior is on par with others from Chevy and Ford in disquisitional dimensions, but features more than storage and cubbies, and its controls are the easiest to interpret and use. Like all trucks, in that location's a broad spectrum of cab and bed configurations, and varying levels of comfort found in its motel.
We gave it a 7 out of x for good front seats and exceptional utility that only a truck can provide. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
The near bones trucks are ii-door, regular cab models that have a sliver of in-cab storage infinite behind the bench or optional cloth bucket seats. Nominally relegated to work-truck detail, regular cabs can skimp on interior storage and condolement in favor of price.
Next upward are four-door, Quad Cab models that have four front-hinged doors, but aren't ideal for carrying 4 adults for long distances. They're essentially extended-cab versions of the Ram 1500 and have more than interior storage capacity, but just one long (6-foot-4) box configuration.
Bigger 4-door, full-size pickups are called Crew Cabs and are the most popular size for the Ram. Offered in short (5-foot-7) or long (6-foot-4) bed configurations, the Crew Cab models brand sense for near looking to carry four adults in their trucks. They may exist the best replacement for a standard car, just near long-bed versions won't fit inside standard garages.
Every Ram has a broad stance, which can make the standard bench seat seem to stretch on forever. Three adults will fit easily across, with a decent amount of leg support. The seats themselves are wide and flat, doing an honest imitation of their Midwestern roots, for better or worse. Bench seats comes with a large fold-down console that can be used when no middle-seat passenger is present. A bench seat tin be a good choice when a canis familiaris is in the back seat because the seat provides an unbroken barrier separating it from the forepart.
The rear seat can flip out of the style and a platform flips down in the rear cabin for cargo or dog transport, though the cupholders remain in identify, and tin be an encumbrance.
Optional bucket seats can replace front benches and place a huge middle console in the middle that can swallow huge devices, file folders, or small bags. Padding on the commuter's door makes for comfy elbow resting, a feature expensive sedans don't always get right. The power bucket seats offer lots of adjustment, letting taller drivers lower the seat and tilt the steering cavalcade for the best driving position. Power-adaptable pedals are also available.
The Ram's interior ranges from plainly to palatial, with attention to particular in top-range models that you'd look in luxury sedans. For example, Laramie Longhorn Limited models sport cross-stitched leather-covered handgrips and Rebels have two-tone red trim stitching and soft fabric floor mats that can be removed in foul-weather.
It'south an arms race for pickup buyers between Ram, General Motors, and Ford, and while the latter 2 have gone beyond luxury with upper trims, the Ram exhibits a rough-and-tumble nature that'due south still endearing to us.
Gas-powered Ram models can exist quiet downward on the road, but diesel versions of the Ram still have a off-white amount of clatter. Four-corner air suspension helps smooth over choppy terrain, and even unladen trucks offer a relatively smooth ride.
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Safe ratings are in, and they're mixed.
Concluding twelvemonth, the IIHS comprehensively rated the top-selling pickups in the U.S. for safe for the first fourth dimension.
Ram's 1500, the relative oldest of the bunch, escaped with by and large "Good" ratings except in the small-overlap front crash and rollover protection, where it earned a "Marginal" score.
That's the good news. The bad news? The feds weren't as kind and gave the Ram a four-star overall score, including three stars for rollover protection in four-cycle-drive models.
It's those results and lack of standard rearview camera that nets the 1500 a 3 out 10 on our safety score. (Read more nigh how we rate cars.)
All Ram 1500 models come up with airbags, anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, loma-get-go assist (which maintains braking until the gas is pressed when starting on an uphill), and trailer-sway control (which uses the brakes and stability control to mitigate the wagging effect induced when towing).
Front and rear parking assistants are available, simply no blind-spot monitors are offered. All trucks come up equipped with the standard complement of front and side curtain airbags.
The 2016 Ram 1500 has received mixed scores from both major U.S. testing agencies. In the IIHS' comprehensive testing, the Ram managed "Skilful" scores in well-nigh crashes, except the small overlap crash and roof strength tests, where it earned a worrisome "Marginal" score.
Federal safety officials gave the 2016 Ram 1500 four stars out of five overall. That included five stars in side crash, 4 stars in frontal crash and three stars in rollover.
Features and trim levels grow in the Ram, merely pack a lunch earlier you begin to club—y'all'll be a while.
Similar most modern pickups, the Ram 1500 comes in countless configurations and specifications, ranging from work-focused to downright lavish trucks.
Its splendid range for customization and proficient optional equipment are reasons the Ram 1500 earns a 7 out of 10 on our ratings scale. (Read more about how we charge per unit cars.)
Three cab configurations are available with 3 bed sizes. Regular cab trucks can exist fitted with a long (8 feet) or short (6-foot-4) boxes. Four-door trucks, chosen Crew Cabs, tin can be fit with long (6-foot-4) or short (5-human foot-7) boxes, while extended-cab models, called Quad Cab, come only with a long (half dozen-human foot-4) box.
Starting with Tradesman piece of work trucks, the Ram 1500 tin exist trimmed into Express, SLT, HFE, Big Horn, Lone Star, Sport, Rebel, Laramie, and Laramie Longhorn Limited packages with varying levels of condolement or utility. Ram folded the R/T models and their 22-inch wheels into the Sport lineup.
Tradesman trucks come sparsely equipped with merely the bare essentials: vinyl seats, manual windows and locks, 17-inch wheels, and an AM/FM radio.
Jump for a top-of-the-line Laramie Longhorn Limited truck and an 8.4-inch touchscreen, leather upholstery, chrome everywhere, power adaptable heated seats, xx-inch wheels, 7.0-inch configurable gauge display, rearview camera, Bluetooth, and navigation are standard.
Predictably, all 11 trims have varying levels of equipment and options to suit individual buyers.
For 2017, Ram has added a Dark parcel to Sport-trimmed trucks that adds a blacked-out grille, big 20-inch wheels, flat-black lettering, and yup, a black stamped Ram badge on the tailgate.
Some of our favorite features for trucks are found in the 1500, including integrated storage bins that Ram calls "RamBox" (on 5-foot-iv and 6-pes-7 beds only), and the 7.0-inch multifunction musical instrument cluster.
Chrysler's UConnect multimedia and connectivity organization is aging, only however among the best in the industry. Its configurable brandish and easy readout make it clear and hassle-free, but the lack of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto support is frustrating. The 8.4-inch touchscreen is optional on SLT models, standard on Large Horn trucks and college. The 5.0-inch touchscreen that's standard on SLT and optional on Tradesman and Express trucks is helpful, but a little small in the big truck.
The Ram's cargo camera is handy, same goes for the in-cab wi-fi broadcasted from a congenital-in hotspot that uses Sprint's data network that requires a monthly subscription after a gratuitous trial. Mobile apps let drivers lock or unlock or start their Ram with their phones.
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30 mpg in a full-size pickup? It's possible. But even base of operations models manage respectable numbers.
With an eight-speed automatic that coerces a thirsty Hemi V-viii into 17 mpg combined, we think nearly buyers will exist somewhat surprised past the Ram'south fuel efficiency. That rating is good enough for a 5 and the basis for our rating. (Read more than almost how we rate cars.)
The EPA is taking a longer look at the diesel, so official numbers for 2017 aren't nonetheless in.
The base iii.6-liter V-vi is rated at 17 mpg city, 25 highway, 20 combined in rear-drive configuration. Calculation four-bicycle drive drops that to 16/23/19 mpg.
The bigger 5.7-liter V-8 is the volume engine and its rated at 15/21/17 mpg with four-bike drive. (Rear-drive models gain 1 mpg on the highway.)
That diesel fuel was tops last year, and rated at 21/29/24 mpg in HFE models, 19/27/22 mpg in four-wheel-drive versions.
The most efficient versions of the Chevy Silverado and Ford F-150 peak out at xx and 22 mpg respectively.
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The Car Connection Consumer Review
Source: https://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/ram_1500_2017
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