That smooth ride remains one of the Ram's most distinctive traits, and it comes courtesy of the class-exclusive coil-spring rear suspension, which is better at smoothing out and reducing the harshness of rough road surfaces than the typical leaf-spring setup. The flipside is mildly reduced towing capacity, but if you're running up against this truck's towing limits, you'd probably be better off with a heavy-duty model anyway. The optional air suspension makes the Ram even more comfortable, and it has a self-leveling feature that keeps the truck from drooping when dealing with a heavy trailer or full payload.
Revisions to the Ram 1500 are minimal for 2016. The full center console with connectivity and storage for mobile devices, introduced on a limited basis last year, is now the default specification. Several new variants of the Sport offer a choice of bright exterior paint schemes and minor trim tweaks. Also newly available are LED lights in the bed, an especially useful feature with the optional tonneau cover in place.
Even though the 2016 Ram 1500 is one of our favorite full-size pickup trucks, the 2016 Ford F-150 is quicker on its feet, with a lightweight aluminum body and two strong turbocharged V6 engines. The 2016 Chevrolet Silverado and the similar GMC Sierra offer competitive powertrains and features, while the all-new 2016 Nissan Titan XD splits the difference between regular- and heavy-duty with a diesel V8 that's more capable than the Ram's diesel V6. There's also the 2016 Toyota Tundra, but it lags behind in ride quality and fuel economy. The 2016 Ram 1500 may be the grizzled veteran in this segment, but it's still a prime pick.
Summary
Read Review Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options The 2016 Ram 1500 is a full-size pickup available in multiple body styles. The regular cab generally seats three and is available with either a 6-foot-4-inch or 8-foot cargo bed. The extended cab ("Quad Cab") can seat up to six and comes only with the 6-foot-4 bed. The crew cab increases rear-seat legroom and is available with either a 5-foot-7 or 6-foot-4 bed. There are 11 trim levels: Tradesman, Express, HFE, SLT, Big Horn/Lone Star, Outdoorsman, Sport, Rebel, Laramie, Laramie Longhorn and Limited.
The workhorse Tradesman comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels, black bumpers/grille/door handles, a seven-pin wiring harness, a Class IV receiver hitch, active grille shutters (with the eight-speed automatic transmission), automatic headlights, a locking tailgate, a spray-in bedliner, vinyl floor covering, air-conditioning, a 40/20/40-split front bench seat, vinyl upholstery, a tilt-only steering wheel, cruise control, a 3.5-inch driver information screen, privacy glass and a six-speaker sound system with a USB port and an auxiliary input jack. Extended and crew cabs also have power windows and locks.
The Express is similar to the Tradesman but deletes the receiver hitch and bedliner (both are optional), and it comes standard with 20-inch aluminum wheels, body-color bumpers/grille, foglights, carpeted floors and floor mats.
The HFE (high fuel economy) trim level comes only in the regular- or quad-cab body style with the 6-foot-4 cargo bed, rear-wheel drive and the gasoline or diesel V6 engine. It includes black bumpers/grille, automatic engine stop-start (not available on any other trim level), 17-inch aluminum wheels, a tonneau cover and cloth upholstery.
The SLT adds chrome exterior trim, heated mirrors, power accessories, remote keyless entry, full center and overhead consoles, dual gloveboxes, a 5-inch touchscreen interface, satellite radio and Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity. Extended and crew cabs add a rear backlight and a power-sliding rear window.
The Big Horn (Lone Star for Texan buyers) includes a 115-volt power outlet, upgraded cloth upholstery, a 10-way power driver seat (with power lumbar) and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The Sport adds the V8 engine, body-color exterior trim, 20-inch wheels, projector headlights with LED accents, LED taillights, LED interior lighting, power-adjustable pedals, a rearview camera, a charge-only USB port and an upgraded 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system with an SD card slot, "Uconnect Access" smartphone integration and online/emergency services (includes Wi-Fi hotspot capability). Note that the regular-cab Sport is packaged as a special R/T model with the 6-foot-4 bed, 22-inch wheels, performance gearing, a limited-slip differential, a unique hood, a black grille with R/T badging and a seven-speaker audio system.
The Laramie (extended and crew cabs only) reverts to the gasoline V6, chrome exterior trim and front bench seat from the Big Horn. Otherwise, it includes the features from the Sport, adding chrome-accented 20-inch wheels, two-tone paint, auto-dimming mirrors, leather upholstery, wood interior trim, interior ambient lighting, a 7-inch driver information display, dual-zone climate control, ventilated leather-trimmed front seats (vinyl rear seats), a heated steering wheel, driver memory settings, a six-way power passenger seat and a 10-speaker surround-sound audio system.
The Laramie Longhorn (crew cab only) adds the V8, unique exterior styling cues, the spray-in bedliner, tow hooks, LED bed lighting, a larger fuel tank, remote ignition, front and rear parking sensors, upgraded wood interior trim, a wood-accented steering wheel, upgraded leather upholstery, leather-trimmed rear seats, HD radio and a navigation system.
The Limited adds monotone paint, side-step bars, automatic windshield wipers, automatic high beams, chrome bed rails, a self-leveling air suspension, keyless entry and ignition, even fancier leather upholstery and heated rear seats.
The Ram is also available in two off-road-oriented variants, Outdoorsman and Rebel. The Outdoorsman can only be ordered as a four-wheel-drive model with the crew or Quad cab. It starts with the Big Horn trim and adds 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, heavy-duty rear shock absorbers, painted black fender flares, a larger fuel tank, underbody skid plates, tow hooks, auto-dimming mirrors, remote engine start, front bucket seats and rubber floor mats. On the entertainment front, you get the 7-inch driver information display and the upgraded 8.4-inch touchscreen
The Rebel is the more off-road capable of the two, and is only available in the crew cab with the 5-foot-7 bed. On the outside, you'll find features similar to what is included on the Sport R/T, in addition to 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, black fender flares, front and rear Bilstein shock absorbers, tow hooks, LED foglights and keyless entry. The interior is similar to that of the Sport, although a six-way passenger seat, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are also included, as is unique cloth-and-vinyl upholstery.
These trim levels are generally just starting points, as many of their standard items are optionally available on other trims (including the HFE's standard tonneau cover, which is optional on all other Ram 1500s). Notably, the "RamBox" weatherproof bedside bins are a standalone option on models with the 5-foot-7 and 6-foot-4 beds (except the HFE). Other à la carte items include various appearance enhancements, a sunroof and a rear defroster.
A rear-wheel-drive (2WD) layout is standard, but there are two available 4WD systems. Both have a two-speed transfer case with low-range gearing. However, one is a traditional part-time system with manual mode selection, while the other additionally offers an Auto 4WD mode that automatically switches between rear- and four-wheel drive as conditions dictate.
Naturally, EPA-estimated fuel economy of the Ram 1500 line varies widely among the various powertrains. With the standard V6, the 2016 Ram 1500 4x2 boasts EPA-estimated fuel economy of 20 mpg combined (17 city/25 highway), bumping up to 21 mpg combined (18 city/25 highway) in HFE trim. The 4WD falls to 19 mpg combined (16 city/23 highway).
In Edmunds testing, a Ram 1500 SLT quad cab 2WD with the V6 accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 7.9 secondsbundle.
The workhorse Tradesman comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels, black bumpers/grille/door handles, a seven-pin wiring harness, a Class IV receiver hitch, active grille shutters (with the eight-speed automatic transmission), automatic headlights, a locking tailgate, a spray-in bedliner, vinyl floor covering, air-conditioning, a 40/20/40-split front bench seat, vinyl upholstery, a tilt-only steering wheel, cruise control, a 3.5-inch driver information screen, privacy glass and a six-speaker sound system with a USB port and an auxiliary input jack. Extended and crew cabs also have power windows and locks.
The Express is similar to the Tradesman but deletes the receiver hitch and bedliner (both are optional), and it comes standard with 20-inch aluminum wheels, body-color bumpers/grille, foglights, carpeted floors and floor mats.
The HFE (high fuel economy) trim level comes only in the regular- or quad-cab body style with the 6-foot-4 cargo bed, rear-wheel drive and the gasoline or diesel V6 engine. It includes black bumpers/grille, automatic engine stop-start (not available on any other trim level), 17-inch aluminum wheels, a tonneau cover and cloth upholstery.
The SLT adds chrome exterior trim, heated mirrors, power accessories, remote keyless entry, full center and overhead consoles, dual gloveboxes, a 5-inch touchscreen interface, satellite radio and Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity. Extended and crew cabs add a rear backlight and a power-sliding rear window.
The Big Horn (Lone Star for Texan buyers) includes a 115-volt power outlet, upgraded cloth upholstery, a 10-way power driver seat (with power lumbar) and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The Sport adds the V8 engine, body-color exterior trim, 20-inch wheels, projector headlights with LED accents, LED taillights, LED interior lighting, power-adjustable pedals, a rearview camera, a charge-only USB port and an upgraded 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system with an SD card slot, "Uconnect Access" smartphone integration and online/emergency services (includes Wi-Fi hotspot capability). Note that the regular-cab Sport is packaged as a special R/T model with the 6-foot-4 bed, 22-inch wheels, performance gearing, a limited-slip differential, a unique hood, a black grille with R/T badging and a seven-speaker audio system.
The Laramie (extended and crew cabs only) reverts to the gasoline V6, chrome exterior trim and front bench seat from the Big Horn. Otherwise, it includes the features from the Sport, adding chrome-accented 20-inch wheels, two-tone paint, auto-dimming mirrors, leather upholstery, wood interior trim, interior ambient lighting, a 7-inch driver information display, dual-zone climate control, ventilated leather-trimmed front seats (vinyl rear seats), a heated steering wheel, driver memory settings, a six-way power passenger seat and a 10-speaker surround-sound audio system.
The Laramie Longhorn (crew cab only) adds the V8, unique exterior styling cues, the spray-in bedliner, tow hooks, LED bed lighting, a larger fuel tank, remote ignition, front and rear parking sensors, upgraded wood interior trim, a wood-accented steering wheel, upgraded leather upholstery, leather-trimmed rear seats, HD radio and a navigation system.
The Limited adds monotone paint, side-step bars, automatic windshield wipers, automatic high beams, chrome bed rails, a self-leveling air suspension, keyless entry and ignition, even fancier leather upholstery and heated rear seats.
The Ram is also available in two off-road-oriented variants, Outdoorsman and Rebel. The Outdoorsman can only be ordered as a four-wheel-drive model with the crew or Quad cab. It starts with the Big Horn trim and adds 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, heavy-duty rear shock absorbers, painted black fender flares, a larger fuel tank, underbody skid plates, tow hooks, auto-dimming mirrors, remote engine start, front bucket seats and rubber floor mats. On the entertainment front, you get the 7-inch driver information display and the upgraded 8.4-inch touchscreen
The Rebel is the more off-road capable of the two, and is only available in the crew cab with the 5-foot-7 bed. On the outside, you'll find features similar to what is included on the Sport R/T, in addition to 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, black fender flares, front and rear Bilstein shock absorbers, tow hooks, LED foglights and keyless entry. The interior is similar to that of the Sport, although a six-way passenger seat, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are also included, as is unique cloth-and-vinyl upholstery.
These trim levels are generally just starting points, as many of their standard items are optionally available on other trims (including the HFE's standard tonneau cover, which is optional on all other Ram 1500s). Notably, the "RamBox" weatherproof bedside bins are a standalone option on models with the 5-foot-7 and 6-foot-4 beds (except the HFE). Other à la carte items include various appearance enhancements, a sunroof and a rear defroster.
Read Review
Body Styles Powertrains and Performance
The 2016 Ram 1500's base engine is a 3.6-liter gasoline V6 generating 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is an eight-speed automatic. Rather than a traditional shift lever, the eight-speed is controlled by a rotary knob on the instrument panel.A rear-wheel-drive (2WD) layout is standard, but there are two available 4WD systems. Both have a two-speed transfer case with low-range gearing. However, one is a traditional part-time system with manual mode selection, while the other additionally offers an Auto 4WD mode that automatically switches between rear- and four-wheel drive as conditions dictate.
Naturally, EPA-estimated fuel economy of the Ram 1500 line varies widely among the various powertrains. With the standard V6, the 2016 Ram 1500 4x2 boasts EPA-estimated fuel economy of 20 mpg combined (17 city/25 highway), bumping up to 21 mpg combined (18 city/25 highway) in HFE trim. The 4WD falls to 19 mpg combined (16 city/23 highway).
In Edmunds testing, a Ram 1500 SLT quad cab 2WD with the V6 accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 7.9 secondsbundle.
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