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Hyundai Elantra vs Mazda32024 Ram 1500 Review
The 2024 Ram 1500 ends its Hemi era with clever storage solutions and a comfortable interior. We look at towing capability, infotainment, and more.
What’s New for the 2024 Ram 1500?
Ram is deep into its fifth generation of the 1500 and it’s now available in seven trims with several engines as well as rear or four-wheel drive to pick from. Known across the nation as one of the most comfortable trucks around, the Ram 1500 also benefits from clever storage spaces, serious capability, and a great infotainment system.
The 2024 model year Ram 1500 is unchanged from the same model in 2023. A major refresh is coming for the 2025 model year, so buyers won’t need to wait long for the next generation.
2024 Ram 1500 – media.stellantisnorthamerica.com | Shop 2024 Ram 1500 on Carsforsale.com
Carsforsale.com Score
9/10
Powertrain
Score
9.25/10
Interior
Score
9.25/10
Technology
Score
8.75/10
Value
Score
9/10
The Breakdown
Excellent ride quality
Innovative features
Great capability
Lacking safety features
Underwhelming hybrids
Standard warranty is lacking
A highly capable pickup
YEAR MAKE Specs
- 305 horsepower from base engine
- 273 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 7 available trim levels
- Sync 4 Infotainment System
- 5-Star NHTSA Rating
- Basic 3-year warranty
- 12,750-lb Towing capacity
2024 Ram 1500 Powertrain 9.25/10
Under the hood of the base Ram 1500 one will find a 3.6-liter V6 that develops 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to a 48-volt mild hybrid system that smooths power delivery, supplements power in low RPM zones and improves fuel economy overall. It gets up to 20 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway.
Next in the lineup is a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 that develops 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. It’s available with or without the 48-volt mild hybrid system but makes the same power and torque regardless. It’ll get up to 18 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway but those figures require the use of mid-grade gasoline.
Finally, the TRX comes standard with a batty 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that makes 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. Sure, it only gets 12 mpg combined but who cares. It’s a fun flagship model and a great way to send off the HEMI when it finally leaves production this year.
Since Ram switched to a coil suspension in the rear for its pickups it’s been the leader in on-road comfort and handling in this segment. The 2024 edition doesn’t buck that trend. Most trims are easy to pilot and great at soaking up bumps without becoming unsettled.
It’s worth noting that the 1500 weighs, on average, nearly three tons and no amount of engineering can cheat physics. That means that braking, handling, and accelerating characteristics are still far shy of smaller lighter vehicles with similar power-to-weight ratios.
Every Ram 1500 save for the TRX comes standard with rear-wheel drive but 4WD is available across the lineup for a fee. All 1500s use an eight-speed automatic gearbox to transmit power regardless of engine and drive-wheel configuration. Towing capacity maxes out at 12,750 pounds which is second only to the Ford F-150 which can tow 13,000 pounds. Payload capacity is capped at 2,320 pounds. The EcoDiesel that won in our longest-range car competition is no longer available.
2024 Ram 1500 Interior 9.25/10
Ram set the standard for truck interiors a few years back and it continues strong in 2024. This is a very spacious truck, and it fits five adults without issue because of it. The seating is comfortable and supportive, but we’d like a bit more lateral padding. In harder turns it’s easy to feel like you’re slipping out of the seat due to the mostly flat padding.
During everyday driving, it’s the most comfortable pickup to spend time. The dash is simple and mixes hard and soft surfaces admirably. The controls are well within reach and important everyday systems are represented with physical buttons and knobs instead of being buried in the infotainment system.
Cargo space is another big win for Ram since the 1500 offers so much of it and does so in clever ways. The center console is cavernous and even hides little easter eggs depending on the trim. The rear seats flip up in most trims to reveal additional storage and in some cases there’s more in the floor itself. Finally, the innovative Ram Boxes on the sides of some beds are an excellent use of space.
2024 Ram 1500 Technology Features 8.75/10
Ram offers three different tech packages in the 1500 starting with a very basic 5-inch infotainment system. It features a touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity but beyond that it’s quite limited. Still, this is a truck, meant for work, right? It’s just fine for those sorts of situations and helps Ram keep costs down on fleet sales that almost exclusively select the Tradesman trim.
Buyers who want more can option up (standard on Laramie and above) to an 8.4-inch system with Sync4 as the standard interface. We’ve argued in the past that it’s maybe the very best user experience in the business and it’s still good here despite the relatively small screen real estate. It also comes standard with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for those who prefer it.
Finally, Ram offers a 12-inch screen on higher trims that’s worth the extra cash for those willing to spend it. It still uses Sync4 but leverages the additional space to make the visuals bigger and easier to use. All 1500s benefit from several USB and USB-C power ports and top trims have access to wireless chargers too.
In terms of safety tech the Ram 1500 offers a very mixed bag. It didn’t win any awards with the IIHS this year but the NHTSA gave it a five-star crash test rating. Buyers literally have to pay extra to get simple tools that come standard on $30,000 economy cars. That includes lane-keep assist, advanced brake assist, pedestrian emergency braking, and more. This is one reason the F-150 beat it in a head-to-head competition here at Carsforsale.com.
Some technology, like adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams aren’t even available in lower trims and simple parking sensors aren’t standard unless one buys the top trim model. That’s not what we’d call making safety a paramount concern for those driving a gargantuan vehicle on the road, even if it drives better than the competition.
2024 Ram 1500 Trims & Pricing
Tradesman – $41,415
The base 1500 comes with 18-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, power windows, power door locks, heated power-adjustable mirrors, cruise control, air conditioning, vinyl upholstery, vinyl flooring, a 5-inch infotainment display, Bluetooth connectivity, six speakers, and trailer-sway damping.
Big Horn/Lone Star – $46,580
The Big Horn, known as the Lone Star in Texas, comes with 18-inch aluminum wheels, chrome bumpers, fog lights, carpet flooring, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat. In addition, this trim gets access to additional packages that add tech features like a larger infotainment system.
Laramie – $56,630
This trim automatically includes an 8.4-inch infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, satellite radio, 10 speakers, LED headlights, a power-sliding rear window, remote start, automatic dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, and power-adjustable pedals.
Rebel – $57,445
Consider this the first off-road-leaning Ram 1500. It comes with LED exterior lighting, an off-road-tuned suspension with a small lift, underbody skid panels, tow hooks, an electronically locking rear differential, all-terrain tires, front bucket seats, cloth and vinyl upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, storage bins under the rear floor, rubber floor mats, and forward collision mitigation. It doesn’t get the heating or ventilation for the front seats and the front passenger seat is manually adjustable only.
Longhorn – $63,390
The Longhorn adds 20-inch wheels, upgraded LED headlights, automatic high beams, rain-sensing wipers, side steps, a spray-in bedliner, in-bed lighting, unique leather-upholstered seats, reclining heated rear seats, rear under-seat storage, integrated navigation, and parking sensors.
Limited – $67,805
This is for truck buyers who like to be fancy too. It has air suspension, power running boards, premium leather upholstery, a 12-inch infotainment system, a wireless charging pad, and blind-spot warning.
TRX – $98,335
The daddy of all production trucks, the TRX is the only one in the lineup to come standard with 4WD and the bonkers 702-horsepower supercharged V8. Adding to the package are unique fender flares, amber LED lights, a performance exhaust system, 35-inch all-terrain tires, bigger brakes, underbody skid plates, and an electronically locking rear differential.
2024 Ram 1500 Overall Value 9/10
The Ram 1500 represents a solid value but that’s especially true of the lower trim levels. Buyers seeking the best value do well to pick the Tradesman, Big Horn, or Laramie, and then add options as desired. Higher trims aren’t so much a great value as they are specialized trucks that only offer good value in unique and rare usage cases.
CarsForSale.com Overall Score 9/10
2024 Ram 1500 – media.stellantisnorthamerica.com | Shop 2024 Ram 1500 on Carsforsale.com
In most ways, the Ram 1500 meets expectations but there are a few glaring concerns. First, its warranty is average. It consists of the same very basic three-year limited and five-year powertrain coverage that almost every other car on sale gets. Secondly, the standard safety tech on the 1500 is somewhat underwhelming considering just how big the vehicle is. We’d love to see Ram really grab the bull by the horns here and become class leaders in each category.
2024 Ram 1500 FAQ
How much can a Ram 1500 tow?
12,750 pounds when properly equipped.
How much does a Ram 1500 weigh?
Roughly 5,800 pounds depending on configuration and options.
What is the Ram 1500 TRX Final Edition?
A special limited edition of the Ram TRX with unique stitching, faux suede door panels, and exclusive colors.
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