2020 Ram 1500 Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

When Ram and truck are used in the same sentence, it means the speaker is referencing Fiat Chrysler’s full-size pickup truck. It has quite the legacy, spanning several decades starting in the early 1980s. Since then, the Ram has been a powerhouse of domestic design as well as an ongoing award-winner.

With the 2020 Ram 1500, consumers receive what worked in the fifth-generation model introduced in 2019. There are also some new items for added enticement. Nevertheless, there may be some drawbacks that give buyers pause.

What's New for 2020?

The biggest change is the introduction of a new engine -- the 3.0L V6 EcoDiesel. It's a more powerful and fuel-efficient powertrain that rivals the Ram's V8 options when it comes to towing capacity. In addition, it brings the Ram even with other manufacturers with the same type of diesel engine.

Another updated feature is additional exterior styling packages for all trims. These include items named Night Edition and Black Edition.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2020 Ram 1500 – The Pros

1. It's A Powerful Truck

No matter the engine type or trim, Ram makes a powerful pickup truck. The 2020 Ram 1500 is not an exception to this rule. Take the new 3.0L EcoDiesel engine. At its maximum, it offers 480 pound-feet of torque for a tow maximum of up to 12,750 pounds. The other powertrain offerings can tow between 4,000 and 9,000 pounds.

2. Smooth Ride and Control Across All Environments

Other full-size pickup trucks sometimes have issues with handling. This is particularly true when they travel on rough surfaces or are towing heavy loads. The 2020 Ram 1500 has an advantage over these thanks to its Class-Exclusive Active-Level Four Corner Air Suspension. While on the highway, this system lowers the vehicle. In turn, the vehicle's drag is reduced while its fuel efficiency increases.

3. Wide Variety of Trims

Chrysler wants to make sure there's a 2020 Ram 1500 for every consumer and budget. To help with this, they offer six different trim versions. The most durable and stylish of these is the Rebel. With different exterior designs than the other trims, including a darker, more menacing grill, the Rebel focuses on off-road adventures instead of lugging lumber down the highway.

4. Quiet and Roomy Cabin

The perception of some consumers is that pickup truck interiors are plain, drab, and loud. The 2020 Ram 1500 looks to quash those beliefs. First, it fits five passengers with the leg and headroom of a full-sized sedan. Second, active noise cancellation keeps the interior quiet in real-time thanks to frame-mounted sensors and noise filters.

5. Largest Infotainment Touchscreen

No seven-inch infotainment touch screens for the 2020 Ram 1500. Instead, the driver has control of a 12-inch model with the companies Uconnect technology. This allows drivers to see the full driving map without the need to scroll. In addition, it offers a split-screen option, pinch-and-zoom (similar to smart phone operations) and physical controls to operate the radio and other audio equipment.

6. Above Average Fuel Efficiency

The 2020 Ram 1500 does quiet well when it comes to fuel efficiency. This is particularly true with the 3.0L EcoDiesel. In addition, the efficiency comes from engines that range up to 480 horsepower and 12,000 pounds of towing capacity.

On average, The Ram 1500 trims get 22 mpg in city environments. On the highway, it averages out to 30 miles per gallon. Of course, those numbers change depending on the surface traveled and the load being carried.

7. Bran Door Tailgate Option

The 2020 Ram 1500 has an advantage when it comes to storage, and it all takes place in the pickup truck’s bed. Not only does the tailgate pull down like other trucks but it also opens like a barn door. The 60/40 split allows consumers to load items via forklift or permits drivers to step up to bring on bulkier objects.

8. Top Award-Winning Pickup for Years

Being around since the early 1980s, designers and engineers tasked to work with the RAM 1500 series have learned their lessons. Thus, they're able to maintain high standards for each model year. It's no exception with the 2020 Ram 1500. It ranks #1 on several lists for full-size pickup trucks. It has been the Truck Trend Pickup of the Year and a Consumer Guide Best Buy Award Winner eight years running.

9. Extensive Warranty

While the 2020 Ram 1500 has a five-year warranty on most items, it goes one step further. Instead of 60,000 miles of average warranties, it sets the limit at 100,000 miles. This also includes built-in roadside assistance.

10. Rambox Design for Extra Storage

For consumers who don't want to store their tools and other loose items in the truck bed, the 2020 Ram 1500 offers the Rambox. It's an enclosed area on the exterior of the truck bed where drivers might store small equipment, needed tools, and other items that require quick access. Rather than looking out of place, the Rambox is the same color as the exterior.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2020 Ram 1500 – The Cons

1. Limited Driver Assist Standards

Items like Lane Assist and Blind Spot warning are becoming standard on other vehicles like pickup trucks. However, many of these are not offered on the standard trim. Instead, they are saved for the high-end offerings. Thus, consumers have to pay more for safety.

2. Not as Powerful Off-Road

The Ram 1500 is built for traveling with heavy loads across different surfaces. It isn't designed for off-road adventures for the fun of it. Consumers may have a reaction to this workhorse versus entertainment mentality.

3. Slow steering

Despite a handsome power steering capability, this model year's Ram 1500 is still somewhat sluggish, particularly when towing a large amount of material. When matched against other full-size pickup trucks, it is, on the average, one second slower. It doesn't seem like much. However, that short period time can determine a safe turn or an accident.

4. Fully Loaded Models Can Get Pricey

The 2020 version of the Ram 1500 starts around $33,000. This is slightly above the average of other full-size pickup trucks, yet, it's still an affordable model. Of course, as consumers look at higher-end trims, the price goes up due to more standards or increased power.

Unfortunately, if the buyer is not careful, they could end up buying a fully-loaded truck for about $70,000. There are some full-size luxury SUVs that are less money. In the end, the buyer needs to look at the available packages to see if their worth the return on investment.

How it stacks up to the competition

Consumers tend to match the Ram 1500 against the Ford F-150. In this model year, both are equal when it comes to turbocharged diesel engines, towing, and fuel efficiency. The Ram 1500 edges out in comfort and ride quality. In addition, it's strong in interior storage, most likely due to the inclusion of the Rambox.

When paired against the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the Ram wins out in most categories except bed capacity. Overall, it is better with interior quality, technology, and driving aids.

Finally, in a comparison between the 1500 and the Toyota Tundra, it seems like the Ram is aging more gracefully. The Tundra lacks the fuel efficiency of the Ram as well as the interior comfort that consumers look for in today's trucks.

Conclusion

Despite some of its minor weaknesses, the 2020 Ram 1500 remains a solid vehicle with a long history of top-notch performance. Even when the American car market was faltering, the RAM stayed ahead of the game, just as it does this model year.

With the introduction of a 3.0L EcoDiesel engine, the Ram 1500 now has more towing power than some other full-size pickup trucks. That includes its own siblings who have V8 engines. Thus, a consumer can use it to haul over six tons of material.

What trim is bought depends on the vehicle's use. Most of them will work fine for hauling supplies and equipment. However, consumers want to consider the Rebel trim should they want to use it exclusively off-road. Most of the other trims are similar enough in features that it consumers will be as happy with the standard Limited trim as they would if they purchased the upper-end Tradesman.

While it still retains high marks across the board, consumers need to be aware of some of the pitfalls. For instance, many driver assist options available as standards in other pickup trucks are only for higher-end trims. In addition, when the numbers are added up, a fully-loaded Ram can go over the budgets of many consumers. Thus, the features they look for may not be available if the financing isn't there.

In the end, buyers need to use their best judgement when looking at this type of vehicle. Study of the product, comparing the trim options, and doing a test drive will provide a better understanding of which trim to choose.