The Ram pickup truck has been around in some form or another for decades. It morphed from Dodge’s D-Series into the Dodge Ram in 1981 and then lost the Dodge badge when Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (now known as Stellantis) spun off its trucks into the separate Ram brand in 2011. The Ram spinoff came just two years after the basic Ram pickup had been comprehensively redesigned and it didn’t lose the Dodge badge right away, so we’ve included some information here about those early years.
The Ram 1500 is beloved for its smooth ride and early adoption of upscale features like a large touchscreen and top-quality interior materials. That smooth ride came about with the 2009 redesign, which swapped out the traditional big pickup leaf spring rear suspension, as on a 19th-century carriage, for a very car-like five-link, coil-spring design. Though some pickups had used such an idea in the past, the Ram was the first traditional, modern, full-size truck to go this route, and it yielded a much better driving personality.
Ram also bundled lots of convenient innovations into its truck, including loads of in-cab storage options, the stretched mega cab, and the RamBox in-bed storage lockers. The very successful design was entirely remade in 2019, setting new standards for room and refinement in the large pickup class, and most recently updated with a new family of powerful, efficient six-cylinder engines for 2025.
The current Ram 1500 can be had in Tradesman, Big Horn, Rebel, Limited Longhorn, and Limited trims. The lower trim levels still offer decent appointments like automatic headlights, heated side mirrors, and a folding rear seat. Mid-grade Ram 1500 Big Horn (or Lone Star in Texas) adds unique badging and nice option-package features like dual-zone climate control and side steps. At the top end, the Ram 1500 Limited features plenty of chrome, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a unique grille and bumpers.
Buyers have their choice of rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD), a long or a short bed, and three different cab configurations: regular, Crew Cab, or Quad Cab. Engine options include a diesel, a V6, or a choice of two different Hemi V8 power plants, and some are offered with a mild-hybrid system. From 2020 to 2023, buyers could also choose the wild 702-horsepower Ram 1500 TRX, an off-road warrior aimed at the Ford F-150 Raptor.
The first-generation Ram pickup continued for much of the last five years as the Ram 1500 Classic, with a smaller lineup focused on work trucks and value models.
RAM 1500: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- RAM 1500 Pros and Cons
- RAM 1500 Generations
- Second generation (2019-present)
- First generation (2011-2018)
- First generation "Classic" (2019-2024)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which RAM 1500 years are the best?
The most recent ones. The Ram 1500 is a reliable vehicle with hard-wearing components, but outlets like Consumer Reports and J.D. Power rate most years as average or fair in terms of reliability. 2020 and newer models have fewer issues than late 2010s versions, while the earlier 2009 to 2011 models also do better. Ram 1500 Classic models also do well, having fewer complex systems than the redesigned 2019 and newer Ram 1500s.
What are the worst RAM 1500 years?
Some sources disagree, but 2012 and 2013 Ram 1500s generate the most significant number of gripes. Consumer Reports gives them both below-average ratings, and they are the subject of more reports on CarComplaints than other years, but J.D. Power rates both years very highly for reliability. Some sources also single out 2018 and 2019 models as having a higher-than-average rate of problems with their electrical and infotainment systems.
Is a used RAM 1500 a good deal?
It depends on what you want out of your truck. The Ram tends to have lower payload and towing limits than the Ford F-150, but it also delivers superior refinement on the road in both generations. The second-generation Ram 1500 also only offers crew cabs. Most consumers want that, but if you want a single-cab model, you’re out of luck. Rams sell for a little less than corresponding Fords but more than alternatives such as the Toyota Tundra or Chevy Silverado 1500.
RAM 1500 Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Smooth ride
- Roomy cabin
- Quality interior materials
Cons:
- Base engine in early models is inefficient
- Tow ratings tend to lag the competition
- Advanced driver’s aids are only offered on higher trims
RAM 1500 Generations
Second generation (2019-present)
In 2019, Ram completely redesigned the 1500 for the first time since being spun off into a stand-alone brand. In keeping with sales trends, the company decided to concentrate only on extended and crew-cab models; this new truck has no single-cab versions. Other changes included an updated frame and mild hybrid technology, a comprehensively new and plush interior featuring FCA’s latest infotainment and driver assistance technology.
Payload and towing capacity rose to 2,300 pounds and 12,750 pounds, respectively, and both of the truck’s engines got a new eTorque mild hybrid system. This system, which uses an integrated belt starter, helps with fuel efficiency, makes the start/stop system much smoother, and also makes a little power. The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 was rated at 305 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, and the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 at 395 ponies and 410 pound-feet of twist. Both engines were mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The 48-volt eTorque system allows for short blasts of extra torque and some brake regeneration. On the V6 engine, the system adds 90 pound-feet of torque while the V8 gets an additional 130 pound-feet.
Ram also added a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 in 2020, making 260 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. What was special about this engine was its fuel economy, which came close to matching Chevrolet and GMC’s equally new turbodiesel inline sixes. Unfortunately, few buyers were interested in the Diesel, and upcoming emissions regulations meant it was dropped at the end of 2023.
A 12-inch touchscreen was available in 2019, as was a 19-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system. Advanced driver aids such as adaptive cruise control were also available in 2019 but most were part of an extra-cost package. Nevertheless, the Ram 1500 earned “Top Safety Pick” and “Top Safety Pick+” designations from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety from 2019 to 2023, one of the few full-size pickups ever to earn those awards. 2020 also saw the introduction of Ram’s multifunction tailgate.
In 2021 the company went bonkers and introduced the Ram 1500 TRX with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, previously seen in the Dodge Hellcats and Jeep Trackhawks. In addition to the impressive powertrain specs (and unimpressive fuel economy), this truck boasts 13 inches of wheel travel at all four corners, 11.8 inches of ground clearance, and specially tuned Bilstein shocks. The TRX started at $71,690 and reached over $100,000 before being discontinued in 2024. It’s expensive to buy used, too.
For 2025, Ram has refreshed the 1500 again and replaced the 5.7-liter V8 with its new “Hurricane” family of turbocharged inline-six engines, with outputs ranging from 420 to 540 horsepower, and introduced a new “RHO” model to take the place, temporarily, of the TRX. Fully electric (Ram 1500 REV) and Series Hybrid (RAM Ramcharger) versions will also arrive late in 2025.
Since the Ram 1500 range is very broad, so is used pricing. This is a really good truck, however, and it’s worth paying a little more at the dealership over a comparable Chevrolet or GMC, and certainly more than a Nissan Titan.
Low-end Tradesman models are easy to find for under $37,000 but they don’t have much equipment. Big Horn and Laramie grades are plusher but not much more expensive, and plenty of them, with V8s, should be available for less than $40,000, with six-cylinder Big Horns going for much less. Rebels go for $38,000 to $45,000, and higher models are correspondingly expensive. EcoDiesels command a small premium (it was an expensive option) but are hard to find. Expect to pay a minimum of $75,000 for a TRX.
First generation (2011-2018)
The new Ram trucks didn’t lose their Dodge moniker until the 2011 model year, but they were launched right into the maw of the Great Recession in 2008. The fourth-generation Ram 1500 was the first to offer a coil spring rear suspension instead of a leaf spring, making for a more comfortable ride, and many new storage, infotainment functionality, and active-safety features were integrated into Ram’s lineup on this truck. Over time, it also saw the introduction of a new V6 base engine and updated versions of the Hemi V8 introduced on its predecessor.
In 2011, the first year this truck was properly a Ram, it came in ST, SLT, Big Horn, Outdoorsman, Sport, and Laramie trims with single, quad, or crew cab configurations, though the higher trims came only as crews. Depending on cab selection, buyers could get a 5.5-foot bed, a 6-foot bed, or an 8-foot bed.
Engine options included a 3.7-liter V6 with 215 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque, which was mated to a four-speed automatic transmission in all RWD models. 4WD Ram 1500s, meanwhile, got a 4.7-liter V8 with 310 ponies and 330 lb-ft of torque or a 5.7-liter V8 pushing out 390 horses and 407 pound-feet of torque, both mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The 1500 could tow a maximum of 10,250 pounds.
2012 brought a six-speed automatic transmission to the 4.7-liter and 5.7-liter engine. The following year, Ram replaced the 3.7-liter engine with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, and added an eight-speed automatic transmission. =
Ram also introduced a four-corner air suspension system in 2013, with five different ride heights. Maximum towing for this model year was 10,450 pounds. Ram went all-in with technology, offering an 8.4-inch touchscreen with an upgraded Uconnect infotainment system and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Trim levels in 2013 included Tradesman, Express, HFE, SLT, Big Horn/Long Horn, Outdoorsman, Sport, Laramie, and Laramie Longhorn.
In 2014, Ram dropped the 4.7-liter V8 engine and replaced it with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 diesel engine with 240 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. This oil burner was capable of towing 9,200 pounds. After a temporary hiatus, the SLT trim returned in 2015, and the off-road-themed Ram 1500 Rebel debuted. The Rebel offered 33-inch tires, a 3.92 axle ratio, a 1-inch lift, skid plates, tow hooks, and other off-road goodies.
In 2016 Ram introduced the Laramie Limited trim and killed the Outdoorsman trim a year later. Ram also nixed the six-speed automatic in 2017, leaving the eight-speed automatic the only transmission available. For tech upgrades, look to 2018 with the introduction of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, but the truck remained largely the same with the introduction of the second-generation 1500 in 2019.
There are many different Ram 1500 configurations and trims over these years, and prices vary accordingly. It’s possible to find early SLT, Express, and Sport models for as little as $15,000 with less than 80,000 miles, but most models cost between $18,000 and $25,000, with top-tier Laramie and other heavily optioned models still running to more than $30,000 in very good shape. Even the nicest late-model Laramie and Rebel models shouldn’t cost more than $40,000, and if you’re spending that much, the second-gen trucks are worth a test drive.
First generation "Classic" (2019-2024)
Amazingly, you can still buy a first-generation Ram 1500 new in the year 2024. That’s because Ram kept a truncated lineup of first-generation trucks going as the Ram 1500 Classic when the second-generation model arrived. These are budget models, and many of them are work trucks, but they’re still hanging on.
Early on, Ram continued to offer the Classic in many different trims from the 2018 models, but the Classic lineup was soon pared down to only two versions. The low-budget Tradesman is the work model, and until the end of 2023, it offered the lone single-cab option as well as a crew cab. The other is the Warlock, which is a continuation of the first-generation Ram 1500 Rebel, with Rebel-like styling and equipment.
Ram 1500 Classic models are offered only with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 in 240 or 305 horsepower form or with the old 5.7-liter Hemi V8 (395 horsepower). The discontinuation of the Hemi and the single cab for 2024 likely heralds the end of this model, but it’s been a low-budget alternative to newer trucks ever since the second-gen Rams were introduced. They don’t have the latest infotainment setups and don’t get many driver assistance systems, which helps keep the price down.
Almost all Ram 1500 Classic models cost less than $35,000 used, and since not much more money buys you a most sophisticated second-gen truck, it isn’t worth shelling out big bucks on one. They can offer great deals as work trucks, though, with early Ram 1500 Classic Tradesmans going for less than $20,000 in some cases. The Warlock costs more, but it still offers the Ram Rebel image for less than the second-gen Rebel. However, it won’t hold its value as well as the second-gen truck.
