The RAM 1500 pickup truck is Business Insider's 2019 Car of the Year
The 2019 RAM 1500 Crew Cab I originally tested was a Western-themed Laramie "Longhorn" edition, which was $54,000 before the addition of many extra features. As tested, the price was $68,500. We drove the vehicle a total of three times, in Los Angeles and the New York-New Jersey metro area.
The RAM 1500 is a critically important truck for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in the hypercompetitive, highly profitable full-size-pickup segment.
And this latest iteration is a formidable competitor in the full-size-truck segment.
The RAM front end is a study in forcefulness, intended to invoke semis and deliver a singular road presence.
The RAM 1500 weighs about 5,400 pounds and can tow 12,750 pounds.
The three different trucks we drove were all four-wheel-drive, in Crew Cab trim.
The rear step bumper made getting in and out of the bed relatively simple. And of course that massive chrome RAM badge shines in the sunlight!
The tailgate is powered and can be operated remotely using the key fob.
Each of my two East Coast test trucks had short beds, though one of them had a nifty retractable tonneau cover.
The mighty Hemi powerplant in our test truck featured a mild hybrid "eTorque" system coupled to the 5.7-liter V8, making a total of 395 horsepower with 410 foot-pounds of torque. The zero-to-60 time is about 6 seconds. Fuel economy is OK: 17 mpg city/22 highway/19 combined.
The 2019 RAM 1500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 is a staggeringly good pickup. The secret weapon, of course, is the four-corner coil or air suspension (competitive pickups from Ford and Chevy continue to use rear leaf springs)
The RAM lineup is known for plush interiors. Here we have one in all black, but crammed with subtle details and elegant textures.
The panoramic sunroof is an epic extra.
Crew Cabs are all about transporting fully grown adults. The back seat of the 1500 is comfortable and quite roomy. Tall humans won't want for legroom.
Driving the RAM 1500 is an absolute joy. You have a commanding view of the road, and the handling is like butter.
The multifunction steering wheel is the sort of thing that never would have been seen on the work trucks of yesteryear.
Like other full-size pickups, the RAM 1500's cabin has a lot going on. But these days pickups are often pressed into double duty, as hardworking vehicles for ranchers and contractors, but also as competitors to luxury SUVs.
The 12-inch center touchscreen is stunning. The infotainment system is FCA's Uconnect, which we've found to be excellent.
GPS navigation is solid and the system offers a suite of apps to go along with USB/AUX ports for device connection. Bluetooth pairing is easy and the RAM 1500 has wireless charging. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also available.
The combination of buttons, knobs, and screen might seem cluttered and overly complicated. But that's until you have to handle the RAM 1500 while wearing gloves in subfreezing weather.
Say hello to Business Insider's 2019 Car of the Year — a pickup truck!
The 2019 RAM 1500 is the best full-size pickup truck I've ever tested. I even got to challenge the 4x4 system with about a foot of snow at our suburban New Jersey test center, and the RAM brushed it off like nothing.
OK, I'll accept that the F-150 and Silverado loyalists out there don't like the RAM's suspension. Yes, it could break down under serious stress. But in my testing, this truck was bliss to drive.
"It truly is the level of refinement that the RAM 1500 brings to the segment that helps it stand out, even as Ford and Chevy/GMC sell more trucks," I wrote in my review of the outgoing generation. "RAM has carved out far more than a niche at No. 3 and isn't dropping the ball when it comes to what its loyalist expect."
With the all-new 2019 pickup, RAM might have moved past that No. 3 niche and positioned the Silverado in its sights. The RAM 1500 is a no-compromise pickup, perfectly pitched for the new pickup market, which is as much about everyday driving as hardcore performance.
Don't get me wrong: The Silverado is no slouch. And in fairness, the RAM 1500 I tested cost $12,000 more, so it should have been impressive.
But even taking that into account, the RAM is a superior full-size beast, and while the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 isn't as powerful on paper as the Silverado's 6.2-liter V8, the RAM's torque-boosting hybrid makes the 1500 feel as though it has more punch. And the RAM's 8-speed transmission, in my hands, felt like it shifted more smoothly than the Silverado's 10-speed.
I also checked back in with the F-150 during the year, and while it remains a fantastic truck, the RAM is just a little bit better right now.
Pickup-truck buyers don't want for choices these days. But, boy, I challenge anybody seeking a new truck to sample the RAM 1500 and not be tempted by what I think is the best full-size pickup money can buy.
Congratulations to RAM and FCA for winning our sixth annual Car of the Year award and becoming our first-ever pickup to contest for the honor — and win!
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