2023 Ram 1500 Limited test drive review

We love trucks around here, and when the 2022 Ram 1500 Limited showed up in our driveway we couldn’t have been more excited. A far cry from the utilitarian farm trucks of yesteryear, trucks these days are all about luxury, comfort, power and technology. 

The Ram 1500 has won numerous awards, and while we’ve driven the high-performance TRX variant, we had yet to drive a standard 1500 until now. After a week of driving, we can confirm it is absolutely deserving of its awards. With its styling and tried-and-true V8 power plant, the Ram 1500 Limited is an excellent truck that checks nearly every box, especially in terms of luxury and comfort. We admit it had us browsing KSL Cars for one we could call our own.

Price and value 

Trucks aren’t cheap these days, and that includes the Ram 1500 Limited. However, considering how spacious and versatile it is, some might view it as a bargain compared to similarly equipped vehicles. The MSRP range for the four-wheel drive 2022 Ram 1500 is $41,210-$84,555. Our Limited tester priced out at $78,770 with options. The four-wheel drive 1500 is available in seven trim levels, with a suite of standard features that includes best-in-class rear legroom, Ram’s Uconnect 5 infotainment system, in-floor storage (crew cab models) and the largest brake rotors in its class. Some of the major differences in trim levels are noted below. See all Ram listings

• Tradesman: $41,210 See listings

3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with eTorque 

LED trailer hitch light 

8.4-inch touchscreen 

• Big Horn: $46,625 See listings

Leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls 

Chrome grille surround and front and rear bumpers

18-inch aluminum wheels

• Laramie: $56,575 See listings

Heated and ventilated 10-way adjustable leather-trimmed front seats

Dual-zone automatic climate control 

Forward collision warning with active braking

• Rebel: $57,170 See listings

12-inch digital gauge cluster display

All-terrain 33-inch tires

Coil suspension with a 1-inch lift and 9.7 inches of ground clearance

• Limited Longhorn: $63,930 See listings

Genuine wood, metal and leather-trimmed interior

Heated and ventilated front and rear seats 

Full LED bifunctional projector headlamps with adaptive front lighting

• Limited: $67,800 See listings

Active air suspension

Premium leather bucket seats and a wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel

Standard 5.7-liter V8 engine with eTorque

• TRX: $84,555 See listings

6.2-liter supercharged V8 

Full-time four-wheel drive

35-inch all-terrain tires

The Ram 1500 has gotten more expensive in recent years, but it is packed with premium amenities, luxurious features and loads of space and comfort. It’s award winning for a reason, but whether you deem the Limited to be a good value will depend on your preferences and budget. 

Ram’s warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles of limited warranty, and five years or 60,000 miles of powertrain warranty. Ram does not include complimentary scheduled maintenance. See Rams for sale

Performance 

The Ram 1500 Limited is a joy to drive. It’s responsive, handles well and will keep you super comfortable, especially with its cozy air suspension.

Engine 

It may be an oldie, but the 5.7-liter is still a goodie. Fire up the truck, give it some throttle, and you’ll remember why. Coupled with a small electric motor, power sits at 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. That’s plenty to hustle around with, and it certainly feels as punchy as its throaty exhaust note suggests. Towing tops out at 12,500 pounds.

Fuel efficiency

Considering its heft and large V8 under the hood, the Ram 1500 Limited achieved decent fuel economy. In our week of combined testing, we recorded just over 19 mpg. On longer commutes, we averaged just over 22 mpg.

Drivetrain 

The 8-speed automatic transmission is excellent. Its shifts are smooth and intuitive. The four-wheel drive selection was as easy as pressing a button. All the tuning works so well together, it's easy to take this truck’s goodness for granted.

Acceleration and handling 

If you’re looking for a full-size truck that is fun and easy to drive, the Ram 1500 Limited is an excellent option. Motor Trend clocked its 0-60 mph time in just 5.9 seconds. Handling is superb, and the steering feel was nicely weighted and easy to maneuver.

Braking 

Braking was likewise excellent in its feel, responsiveness and power. The Ram 1500 Limited is also equipped with automated emergency assist braking and other safety systems like rear-cross traffic alert for those times you might need to slam on the brakes.

Interior comfort and convenience 

The Ram 1500 Limited’s interior is truly indulgent. So much so that you’d think you were in a full-blown luxury vehicle, not a workhorse pickup truck. From premium leather to expensive feeling and looking trim pieces, Ram has nailed the inside of this truck. We loved our time in it and wanted to move in. Road trip? Yes, please. Ram 1500s for sale here

Seats 

We’re not royalty, but in the Ram 1500 Limited, we sure felt like it. The seats are supremely comfortable, front and rear. The front seats feature heated and ventilated functionality, are perfectly cushioned and have acres of space for legs and shoulders. The rear seat is probably the most spacious rear seat we’ve ever been in. Three 7-foot-tall adults can easily fit across the bench and be perfectly happy. If comfort and space are important to you, you’ll love this truck.

Climate control 

Climate control was likewise top-notch. The heated seats were especially splendid on chilly mornings, and the heated steering wheel was one of the toastiest we’ve ever experienced. The front seats also get ventilated functionality. The rear seat occupants are also spoiled, as they get heated and ventilated seats to coddle them on their way to soccer practice.

Cargo space and cabin storage 

There is so much functional cubby storage in the Ram, if you need more room, you should probably take a trip to the local donation center. There’s additional storage under the rear seat, as well as compartments built into the floor in the rear.

Infotainment system 

The 12-inch vertically displayed infotainment screen will surely be divisive. While the resolution, cameras and icons look sharp, some drivers might not be too keen on the Uconnect 5 system and its small icons or somewhat confusing interface. The vertical display was a bit of an adjustment, but once we were used to it we really enjoyed it — even if we still prefer a more horizontal layout.

Exterior appearance and functionality 

The Ram 1500 Limited looks clean, understated and handsome. It’s a slightly aging design, but it still looks great today. We especially appreciated our tester’s Night Edition package which included black headlamp bezels, a black grille, black aluminum wheels and a sport performance hood. Coupled with its striking Granite Crystal Metallic paint, this was one sharp looking truck. Other colors include Diamond Black Crystal Pearl, Billet Silver Metallic, Patriot Blue Pearl, Delmonico Red Pearl, Bright White and Ivory White.

Bed

Adding to the Limited’s versatility is its 5.7-foot bed. Our tester had the Bed Utility Group option which included four adjustable cargo tie-down hooks. It also had Ram’s multifunction tailgate and a tri-fold cargo cover. The multifunction tailgate is especially useful, as it allows the tailgate to split in a 60/40 fashion. It also swings out instead of lowering, making loading and unloading a breeze.

Towing capacity and payload 

With the 5.7-liter V8 comes a 12,750-pound towing capacity, which should be plenty for most toys — reasonably sized boats and trailers. It also has up to 2,300 pounds of maximum payload.

Wheels 

The 22-inch black aluminum wheels looked nice and added to the overall high-end appearance of the truck. Shod with 285/45 R22 all-season tires, the Limited traveled the highways and byways without much road noise and with decent grip — except in the snow and slush. On days when it snowed an inch or two, it didn’t take much for us to put the truck in four-wheel drive. If you plan on driving this truck year-round in a snowy climate, some all-terrain or winter tires would be a better option.

Front and rear windshield 

Visibility in the Ram 1500 Limited is excellent. The windows are large and wherever you can’t see, there are cameras to help you out. Add in excellent LED headlights and you’ll have no problem seeing where you need to go.

Safety

Simply put, this truck is one of the safest vehicles you can buy. Not only does its size and spacious cabin help you feel protected, but the Limited is also loaded with all the latest safety technology.

Features 

This Ram has just about all the safety features you could ever want. With the Limited trim and Level 1 Equipment Group you get: 

• Adaptive cruise control 

• Adaptive steering system

• Automatic high beam headlamp control

• Blind spot detection

• Cross-path detection

• Lane-keep assist

• Forward collision warning with automated emergency braking

• Head-up display

• Parallel and perpendicular park assist with stop

Awards and ratings 

The Ram 1500 is no stranger to awards and high ratings. To start, it earned Good scores in all categories from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, as well as a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

In addition to its safety accolades, the Ram 1500 has been the recipient of numerous Motor Trend Truck of the Year awards, Car and Drivers 10 Best awards, the Highest Rank Appeal award by J.D. Power, the IIHS Top Safety Pick award, the Best Truck Brand award by U.S. News, Autotrader’s 10 Best Trucks award, Autotrader’s 10 Best Interiors under $50K award, Consumer Guide’s Best Buy Award and others. Browse Rams for sale

Final impression 

The Ram 1500 Limited is an extremely well-rounded vehicle. It’s a luxury vehicle that’s also a super versatile pickup truck and family hauler. It gracefully balances quality, value, power, efficiency and capability. It retains some old-school charm while still offering plenty of modern conveniences and features — all while still being the workhorse you might need it to be. In short, this is an excellent truck and we loved our time with it. So much so, we wouldn’t mind seeing one in our garage someday. 

We enjoyed the Limited trim, but some of the interior pieces — seat stitching flourishes and pinstriping effect — felt a little over-the-top. For some buyers, the Laramie trim might be a better choice. Were it our money, we’d spend a little more and get the high-performance TRX variant — if we didn’t need to tow heavy loads, that is. 

Find your Dodge Ram 1500 on KSL Cars today.

FAQs

Is the Ram 1500 fun to drive? 

Yes, it is fun to drive. Especially when equipped with the 5.7-liter V8. It’s quick, sounds good and handles very well. We enjoyed every opportunity to get behind the wheel of this truck for the week we had it.

Is it good for families? 

Absolutely. As long as you don’t mind if the beautiful interior gets a little dirty, the Ram 1500 is an excellent family hauler. It has plenty of room and storage, and the rear seat occupants will love the heated and ventilated features.

*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.

About the author: Having owned everything from a DeLorean to an E46 BMW M3 and a Toyota Land Cruiser, Jason Bell is a lifelong car enthusiast who loves sharing his passions as a teacher, automotive journalist and social media manager. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press where he serves on the Board of Directors. Contact him at jasonbellcars@gmail.com