Take one part simple Ram 1500 pickup, add one all-black appearance package with blacked-out everything, value-bundle a list of must-have options, and keep the price reasonable, and you’ve got a truck aimed squarely at first-time buyers after a low entry price, sharp looks, and plenty of funds left for a trip to the accessory catalogue.
This one’s all about value and simple pickup truck charm. It’s got a three-person bench seat up front so the kids can ride right next to dad, and there’s room on the floor for the dog, since there’s no floor console, since there’s a column shifter, which creates more space for your truck-guy things.
Storage bins mounted against the rear of the passenger compartment add more room and storage flexibility, and when it’s not a seat, the giant flip-down centre console provides even more. There’s a drawer on the dashboard, two small cubbies flanking it, a big bin on the passenger dash segment, and door panels with enough bins and cubbies and compartments to rival an Ikea closet organizer. Add in no fewer than 4 power outlets to feed delicious electricity into your gizmos, and you’ve got a sporty little truck that makes it easy to stay organized on the go.
And maybe, a sporty little truck that’s also a bit of a sleeper. With all the chrome badges left at the factory, including the telltale HEMI emblem, the shiny dual sports exhausts poking out from the rear bumper serve as the only chrome on the tester, as well as the only visual hint at what’s under the hood. All blacked-out and de-badged, the tester had a bit of a mysterious secret sleeper-agent thing going on. You might be a Ram guy and you might not, but you have to agree: few pickups are as handsome looking as this one.
Tall gears and a numbed-down initial throttle take-up make it easy to drive the RAM 1500 Express gently, using the big torque to glide the Express up to highway speed and beyond with noise levels and revs kept down. Driven thusly, cylinder-deactivation engages often and eagerly, with the fuel-saving “ECO” message popping up on the driver computer to let you know that half the HEMI is taking a snooze.
Or, hammer down to impress your buds with your dual exhausts and some excessive spinning of the rear semi-gloss twenties, and the 5.7 litre unit emits a tastefully-restrained bark while twisting the speedometer upwards with authority. Shifts from the 6-speed automatic are nearly imperceptible at low revs, and deliberate and solid at full throttle. All said, this is a proper gentleman’s pickup: quiet and reserved usually, but potent and strong when called upon.
The highway drive is mainly relaxed. Lightweight power steering and that tall-up driving position mean you can lounge about and relax on the open road, and wind and road noise levels are kept to a very dull roar. At night, low-beam performance is adequate, and the high-beams, both in terms of lighting spread and saturation, are above average.
In town and on rougher roads, truck guys will love the way the RAM feels. It’s got that tough, rigid and jiggly ride that feels more robust and durable than Eugene Levy’s eyebrows, though the 20-inch wheels don’t do the ride any favors if you’re after something a little more on the comfy side. Be sure to test-drive Ram 1500 Express on as rough a road as you can find to ensure the ride quality fits into your boundaries.
Steering stiffens up at highway speeds to help the RAM lock onto position within its lane, and proves perfectly isolated on very rough surfaces, where the wheel stays straight and true, even at speed.
It’s also an easy machine to drive. A tight-for-a-pickup turning circle, the tall and commanding forward view and great big mirrors all help, and glass all around makes it feel like you’re driving in a great big glass box. Though rear shoulder-check visibility out the rear window is blocked slightly by the headrests and pillars, you can, virtually, see right to all four corners of the vehicle with ease.
If you’re set on a two-wheel drive model, consider opting for the limited-slip rear axle, which will add traction and confidence in the snow. Also, (and maybe I’ve just had bad luck with tonneau covers in the past), the tester’s included Mopar accessory cover is only slightly more difficult to operate than a salad, and can be opened and closed with one hand, in seconds, and with no cursing.
Complaints included some dated interior styling elements, and the fuel mileage, even in the 4×2 tester, landed around 14.5L/100km– which may prove heavy for some shoppers.
Carrying some $3,500 worth of add-on accessories, a $225 exclusive paint colour and a $1,000 preferred equipment package, the tester came in around the mid-thirties.
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2015 RAM 1500 Express
Engine: 5.7L HEMI V8, 395 horsepower
Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive
Observed Milege: 14.5L/100km
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Features: Bluetooth, backup camera, power accessories, driver computer, cruise control, spray-in bedliner, automatic lights, air conditioning
What’s Hot: Plenty of power, great looks, great overall value, solid and tough ride, good high-beam performance, great steering, plenty of storage
What’s Not: Fuel mileage may prove thirsty, some shoppers will wish for a more comfortable ride
As Tested: $35,270