2020 Ram 1500 Trim Levels with Comparisons & Configurations.

The Ram 1500 is a capable truck, and it can be equally at home on the paved roads as it is on the trail or on the work site.

With a bench in the front, the truck can accommodate up to six passengers, but many customers may choose to get bucket seats instead. Both a quad cab and a crew cab are available configurations. The crew cab can either be matched with a 5'7" or a 6'4" box, and the quad cab is exclusively paired with the longer 6'4" box. Since leg room can be an issue to adults who ride in the back, it's important to note that the quad cab has 35.6 inches of rear leg room and the crew cab has 45.2 inches of leg room in the back.

Another key way in which the truck can be customized is under the hood. The Ram 1500 can be powered by four different engines. There are two 5.7L HEMI V8 models, with one coming with eTorque. A slightly less powerful engine is the 3.6L Pentastar V6 with eTorque. There's also the 3.0L EcoDiesel V6. All models can come with either as 4x2 or 4x4 vehicles.

The first HEMI V8 uses a mild hybrid system for better efficiency. It has 395 horsepower, 410 pound-feet of torque, and a towing capacity of 12,750 pounds. It's V8 counterpart that uses a traditional system has the same horsepower and torque, and its towing capacity is a little lower, at 11,610 pounds. The standard engine on the Ram 1500 is the 350-horsepower 3.6L model, which has 269 pound-feet of torque and the ability to tow a maximum of 7,730 pounds. An addition to this group for the 2020 model year is a 260-horsepower 3.0L EcoDiesel with 480 pound-feet of torque. It has solid capability, with a maximum towing capacity of 12,560 pounds.

Because there are several trims to choose from on the Ram 1500, the truck can come with an extensive range of features. This guide will help consumers decide which trim would be best for them.

 

Compare the 2020 Ram 1500 Tradesman vs Big Horn Trim Levels.  What’s the Difference?

The base model - the Tradesman - has some nice elements to it, such as remote keyless entry and the ParkView Rear Back Up Camera. Its infotainment system is the Uconnect 3, which has a five-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, the ability to accept voice commands, and six speakers located around the cab. The truck can act as a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot for those times when people need to stay connected to the network.

Seating is fairly standard in the Tradesman, and the front seat comes with a four-way manual adjustment. The rear seat can fold down to create a different configuration for storage.

Other interior elements include a 3.5-inch display that shows the driver certain types of vehicle performance data, rear heat ducts to get the air flowing into the back more efficiently, and assist handles that can help with entering and exiting the truck.

On the outside of the Tradesman truck, there are 18-inch wheels, black door handles, and black bumpers. The locking tailgate can help with securing cargo. This is in contrast to the Big Horn. This slightly higher trim has a chrome grille, bumpers, and door handles that stand out. Fog lamps on the Big Horn are included to help with those low-visibility days.

The cabin of the Big Horn is only slightly different from that of the Tradesman. The back seat comes as a 60/40 split-bench instead of one unit, and this can boost versatility.

The safety package on both trims is comparable. These trucks come with electronic stability control and traction control to improve stability, along with a full set of air bags that can protect passengers from impacts.

Compare the 2020 Ram 1500 Big Horn vs Laramie Trims.  What’s the Difference?

There are many noticeable changes when the Laramie trim is compared against the Big Horn.

First of all, many modern consumers will appreciate that the Laramie comes with a more advanced infotainment system and has nine Alpine speakers for better audio quality. The truck uses Uconnect 4, which comes with a sizable 8.4-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. SiriusXM Satellite Radio is supported, and the steering wheel comes with audio controls so hands can stay on the wheel. For some people, all of these factors might influence consumers to move up to at least this level. Note that the touchscreen can even be upgraded further to a 12-inch model.

Rather than having a somewhat small information display, the Laramie has one that measures seven inches. As a digital version, it's easy to read and simple to adjust in terms of what data is displayed.

The seats on the Laramie feel much more luxurious than they do on the lower trims, as they're leather-trimmed. In the front, the driver and passenger can enjoy heated and ventilated seats, and these seats come with 12-way power-adjustments. A bonus is that the driver's seat comes with the ability to memorize a position, and the exterior mirrors can also memorize certain positions. This is key for when multiple people are getting behind the wheel. Even the pedals can be power-adjusted in various ways. Those come with memory, so each driver can set them up to be in his or her favorite spot.

Other little touches that are quite convenient are the multiple power outlets. The Laramie has two 115-volt power outlets and one 12-volt power outlet. The Big Horn only has the 12-volt outlet, which is still very handy to have.

Both trims have coat hooks and in-floor storage bins. This creates some extra space and can help with keeping things organized. Additionally, the Big Horn and Laramie have overhead consoles and more storage in the front center seat cushion.

Outside the truck, the Big Horn has halogen quad headlamps and mirrors that come with a heating element so they can defrost themselves. These exterior mirrors can automatically dim whenever they detect bright lights, and they have a power-folding function. LED lamps are found throughout the truck, including in the taillamps and footwells.

Compare the 2020 Ram 1500 Laramie vs Rebel Trim Levels.  What’s the Difference?

The Rebel has a different feel to it, complete with its own badging and off-road fender flares. A powder-coated front bumper is different than what the other trims have. The truck has off-road rubber floor mats and vinyl door trim panels that are easy to clean, indicating that this Ram truck is built for the trail. In fact, it has integrated tow hooks that are ready to be put to work.

The tailgate's dampening feature ensures smooth operation, even when the weather may make other types of movements difficult. Tie-downs can be used to keep cargo from bouncing around in the bed.

Bucket seats are standard on the Rebel, which some may prefer. This configuration can make the cabin appear more spacious. The truck's rear power sliding window is nice to have so someone can quickly access the cargo bed or get some fresh air.

With the Rebel's infotainment system, everything is actually a notch down from what the Laramie has. Instead of the larger screen, it has the five-inch display with the Uconnect 3 infotainment system.

Compare the 2020 Ram 1500 Rebel vs Laramie Longhorn.  What’s the Difference?

With the Laramie Longhorn, things start to get more upscale. This is evident when looking at the finishes both inside and outside the truck. Premium leather is used on the seating, tow hooks and side steps shine with their chrome finish, and the interior trim can have either genuine wood, leather, or metal.

The infotainment system uses the Uconnect 4C NAV package, which has an 8.4-inch display and built-in navigation. This navigation can be used to provide drivers with up-to-the-minute traffic information so they can avoid busy streets in favor of the open road. SiriuxSM Traffic Plus and Travel Link are some of the services that the truck can connect to.

Inside the Laramie Longhorn, there are noticeable changes. The climate control system becomes a dual-zone system so the passenger can set his or her preferred temperature. Under the back seat, there is a full compartment that can be used to keep bags and other belongings out of the way. Plus, the truck comes with the functionality to act as a universal garage door opener. This can eliminate one extra thing from cluttering the cabin.

When the weather is chilly, people in both the front and back rows can take advantage of the heated seats, and in the summer, ventilated front seats can be refreshing. Bucket seats up front come with lumbar adjustment so everyone can find their optimal amount of support. Under-seat lighting gives off just the right amount of light.

Exterior differences between the Laramie Longhorn and Rebel are fairly numerous. Only the Laramie Longhorn has side steps that extend from wheel to wheel, lighting integrated into the truck bed, a standard spray-in bedliner, and 20-inch wheels. All of these factors help give the Laramie Longhorn a more custom look.

Compare the 2020 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn vs Limited Trim Levels.  What’s the Difference?

The Laramie Longhorn is packed with features, but the Limited has even more elements that make it a top-of-the-line vehicle. Starting off with the exterior of the Ram 1500, the Limited has power running boards that can automatically extend when it's time to enter the truck and retract when not needed. This is just one touch of many that shows why the Limited warrants a much higher price tag.

In terms of safety, the Limited has a blind spot monitoring system as a standard feature. It comes with the ability to detect rear cross traffic and can adjust its sensors if the truck is hauling a long trailer. It also comes with the ParkSense parking assistance that can help with steering.

One thing that's convenient about the Limited is that it has a remote-start system built into it. Drivers can simply push a button to remotely start the engine to ensure that things are warmed up or cooled down, depending on the season.

The materials in the cabin are soft and luxurious. Take the front bucket seats, for example. They're heated, ventilated, and covered with premium leather. Plus, the steering wheel is leather-wrapped with wood accents. Like the Laramie Longhorn, the assist handles are wrapped for comfort.

The technology on the Limited is impressive. It comes with a wireless charging pad and built-in navigation. The stand-out feature is the massive 12-inch screen that runs the Uconnect system. It has great resolution, is easy to use, and can connect with so many different systems like SiriusXM Radio, HD Radio, and Apple and Android smartphones.

Like the Laramie Longhorn, the Limited rides on 20-inch wheels, but its wheels are polished with sleek inserts. These types of wheels help heighten the size and style of the Ram 1500.

 

Which Trim to Choose?

There's a lot to think about with the 2020 Ram 1500. The basic trims are strong workhorses, and the higher trims have many luxury elements that make them a pleasure to ride in.

Overall, the Laramie and Laramie Longhorn seem to come with the most value, though the Rebel would be a great choice for anyone who wants a more unique pickup. The Laramie and Laramie Longhorn have nice interior details, a solid infotainment system, and convenient features that make them practical and fun to drive.