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The 2023 Ram 1500 is an excellent full-size pickup truck in a class full of talented rivals. Trims range from work-ready to luxurious to extreme. Prices start at $36,820. Why buy a new Ram 1500 instead of another half-ton pickup? In the end, it might come down to brand loyalty, since they’re all highly capable and priced competitively. But the smooth way the Ram 1500 drives is definitely a plus point. Among the more significant changes for the 2023 Ram 1500 lineup is the addition of the Limited Elite variant. This takes the usual upscale Limited trim then adds a few special touches like heated/ventilated front seats covered in premium leather, heated steering wheel, suede headliner, and a jeweled rotary gear shifter (who doesn’t want one of those in their work truck?). The (RAM)RED is also based on the Limited, with a red-accented grille and a (RED) badge on the center console. This is part of an initiative by Ram’s parent company to commit at least $4 million to people’s health around the world in conjunction with the (RED) charity. 2023 Ram 1500 PricingThe 2023 Ram 1500 starts at $36,820, plus a destination charge, for the extremely basic Tradesman trim with the Quad Cab and rear-wheel drive. A Tradesman Crew Cab with the shorter bed comes in at just over $39.5K. At the top end of the lineup is the desert-conquering TRX — available solely as a Crew Cab with the shorter bed and 4-wheel drive — starting at $79,355. This could end up being closer to $90K with options. In between these extremes are the Tradesman HFE, Big Horn (or Lone Star for buyers in Texas), Rebel, Laramie, Longhorn, and Limited. Some offer the choice of either cab, others are exclusively one or the other. Then there are the various drivetrains, including a diesel engine. Where it’s available as an option, 4-wheel drive is $3,500. The new Limited Elite Edition is priced from $65,305. For context, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 starts at $35.6K, a Ford F-150 is about $34K. These lineups begin with smaller cabs, however, which may or may not be a good thing. The most affordable Toyota Tundra is in the $36K region. The Nissan Titan starts a little higher, but comes with a V8 as standard. Before buying a new Ram 1500 truck, check the KBB.com Fair Purchase Price to see how much others in your area paid for theirs. The Ram 1500 doesn’t enjoy such strong resale values as its rivals, but it’s still quite close. Driving the 2023 Ram 1500Comfortable seats, quiet cabins, and a generally confident driving experience combine to make the 2023 Ram 1500 one of the more civilized choices in the full-size pickup class. The standard coil spring rear suspension is so much more refined than the leaf springs found in other trucks and horse-drawn buggies. The Ram 1500 even has an adaptive air suspension on the options lists of the Rebel, Laramie, Longhorn, and Limited trims. For 2023, the Rebel model (the saner of the two off-road variants) gains Selec-Speed Control, a low-speed cruise control for tricky ascents and descents. This becomes optional with the Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, Longhorn, and Limited trims. The wilder off-road variant — the TRX — has a specialized suspension with Bilstein components, and its 702-horsepower supercharged V8 ensures its rivals will be left in a cloud of desert dust. Back to more serious matters — maximum towing capacity is 12,750 pounds, achieved by a Tradesman Quad Cab with rear-wheel drive and the 5.7-liter gasoline V8. That’s outdone by the Chevy Silverado (13,300 pounds), and both trucks are beaten by the Ford F-150 (14,000 pounds). Swap in the diesel engine and it can still pull 12,560 pounds. The same vehicle but with the base 3.6-liter V6 gasoline engine handles the Ram 1500’s best payload figure of 2,300 pounds. Once again the Ford F-150 casts a giant shadow, with a payload capacity of 3,325 pounds. Interior ComfortQuad Cab or Crew Cab, those are the only choices. Both have seating for up to six (three per row) but the Crew Cab brings almost 10 inches more rear legroom, at an expansive 45.2 inches. Either way, in-cabin storage is plentiful, with a huge bin in the center console, plus more space under the folding rear seats. As is the way with pickups, the cheapest Tradesman version is really basic, while pricier top trims like the Limited are like luxury cars inside with real wood and leather. The infotainment systems are user-friendly, with the capability for over-the-air updates. Infotainment screen sizes range from a small 5 inches in base models to either 8.4 or 12 inches in higher trims. Exterior StylingIt’s bed time. The Quad Cab comes solely with a cargo bed 76 inches long. The Crew Cab can be paired with either that or a 67-inch bed. The longer bed/Crew Cab combo isn’t available with the HFE, Rebel or TRX, however. These beds also have lockable compartments on either side. Naturally, a spray-in bed liner is among the options, along with adjustable tie-down hooks, and a deployable bed step. In general, the 2023 Ram 1500 looks every inch a full-size truck. Buyers may choose exterior elements finished in black or the same color as the rest of the body. Favorite Features1. Multi-function tailgate 2. Digital driver information display 3. Glove box UV light 4 Trailer Reverse Steering Control 5. TRX 6. Park Sense Active Park Assist Engine & TransmissionRam offers an intriguing selection of powertrains. Even the basic setup has a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to smooth out the fuel-saving stop/restart function and help the engine attain its peak output with optimum efficiency. That base engine is the 3.6-liter V6, a stalwart of the Ram/Jeep/Dodge/Chrysler family and regarded highly. Output here is 305 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque, created from regular 87-octane gasoline. The best fuel economy in a 2023 Ram 1500 is achieved by the turbodiesel 3.0-liter V6, especially the High Fuel Efficiency (HFE) variant that comes solely with rear-wheel drive. This engine generates 260 horsepower and a substantial 480 lb-ft of torque. Ultimate towing chops of 12,750 pounds is made possible with the 5.7-liter gasoline V8, which is also augmented by a mild-hybrid system. Although 87-octane gas is acceptable, Ram recommends using the 89-octane stuff to access the full 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. More serious desert sports machine than work truck, the Ram 1500 TRX has its own exclusive method of propulsion — a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 making a mighty 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. All engines connect to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard in the lower trims. Each form of 4-wheel drive (4WD) fitted across the lineup — usually optional, but standard with the TRX — has high- and low-range gearing with a shift-on-the-fly transfer case. 3.6-liter
V6 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 5.7-liter V8 6.2-liter supercharged V8 (TRX only) 3/36 Warranty The basic new-vehicle warranty for the 2023 Ram 1500 half-ton pickup is three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. KBB Vehicle Review and Rating MethodologyOur Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings. We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology. Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing. Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.) We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability. More About How We Rate Vehicles When can a 2023 Ram 1500 be ordered?2023 Ram 1500 Limited Longhorn Crew Cab 4×4. (Ram). Orders for the 2023 Ram 1500 are now open. For more information, you can contact your local Ram dealer.
Is the new Ram crew cab bigger?The added cab length unsurprisingly means a longer truck: The Mega Cab checks in at 249.9 inches in total length compared with 238.8 inches for crew-cab models with the shorter bed.
Is the RAM changing the body style in 2023?The 2023 model year sees a holding pattern for Ram, with few changes to its broad-shouldered pickup trucks and ProMaster cargo van. Some new special editions debut for the trucks, while the ProMaster enjoys a minor freshening of its front end, as well as some new options and a new roof height.
Will the 2023 Ram 1500 have a Hemi?Boasting a towing capacity of up to 12,750 pounds 1 when outfitted with the available 5.7L HEMI® V8 engine with eTorque, the 2023 Ram 1500 has plenty of strength for both work and play.
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