2023 Ram 1500: Comfort King
The 2023 Ram 1500 is a powerful and comfortable full-size pickup. With 8 available trims and a bevy of powertrains, we look at all the options in our review.
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What’s New for the 2023 Ram 1500?
Building on a storied 40-year history that we look back on here, the 2023 Ram 1500 enters its latest model year laden with luxury options, renowned coil-sprung ride comfort, ample capability, and the dominance of the TRX.
Updates over last year’s model that we review here include an Elite Limited Edition that joins the lineup with a seriously ritzy cabin and multi-function tailgate. On the tech front, Rear Seat Reminder is lineup standard and a 12-inch digital gauge cluster is now available. As well, the EMS Edition is added in honor of first responders with special paint options and interior touches.
The Breakdown
Existence of the TRX
Smooth-riding air suspension
Ritzy interiors
Few standard driver aids
Pathetic TRX fuel economy
Everything is extra
Simply an excellent truck
2023 Ram Specs
- 305 horsepower from base engine
- 273 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 8 available trims
- 5’7″ or 6’4″ foot bed
- Can parallel park for you
- 19-speaker Harman Kardon stereo
- Barn door-style tailgate
- 100,000-mile diesel coverage
2023 Ram 1500 Powertrain
The 2023 Ram 1500 comes standard with a 3.6L V6 rated for 305 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. An optional 5.7L V8 with the HEMI badge adds $3,000 to the price tag and bumps that output to 395 horses and 410 torques. Both of these gassers are fitted with “eTorque”, Ram’s name for a mild hybridization system that replaces the alternator with a motor-generator capable of capturing wasted energy to improve overall efficiency.
For an extra $5,500, there is also a 3.0L turbodiesel V6 putting down 480 lb-ft of twist. The truly wild can find a 702-horse supercharged 6.2L V8 with 650 torques as well, but only in the TRX.
All four motors pair with an 8-speed automatic, albeit with different internals based on application. Ram has been fitting their 1500-series with an independent rear suspension for over 10 years now and has been reaping the associated ride comfort praise ever since. Blending coil springs, instead of the more common leaf springs, and a solid rear axle, this setup in combination with the independent front is a boon to those who are commuting in their pickup.
For those looking to really enjoy the ride, an available four-corner air suspension truly smooths things out. This trick system can automatically lower itself on the highway for better efficiency and be manually jacked up for better ground clearance. Depending on the trim configuration, that clearance ranges from six to nearly 12 inches – the latter for the TRX. Of course, dual-range 4WD is also available with higher-end versions bringing an Auto mode to the table.
Towing & Payload
The base 2023 Ram 1500 can tow 7,690 pounds, but perusing the FIFTY-TWO different truck configurations reveals a max rating of 12,750. As we note in this comparison, Ford’s F-150 boasts a 14,000-pound capacity, but both ratings are impressive. Payload tops out at 2,300 pounds and every new Ram 1500 comes with a 7-pin wiring harness, engine oil cooler, trailer sway control, and Class III bumper hitch.
2023 Ram 1500 Fuel Economy & MPG
In base V6 form, the Ram 1500 is rated for 20 mpg in city driving and 25 on the highway. Adding 4WD drops both of those figures by a single mpg. The 5.7L HEMI reduces efficiency to the tune of 18/23 mpg in RWD-guise and 17/22 mpg with 4WD. The 4WD-only EcoDiesel powertrain helps somewhat with ratings of 21 mpg around town and 29 on the highway. Those buying the TRX probably aren’t worried about fuel efficiency, which is good as its combined rating is just 12 mpg.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
As pickup trucks have continued their march toward high-end luxo-barges, Ram has stepped up as evidenced by the 2023 1500 cabin. Everything from quilted leather to ventilated seats and open-pore wood is available, though it requires higher-end models. Work trucks, like the Tradesman, still come with vinyl on both front and rear three-position benches. But even those trucks have a reclining rear bench with the option for front buckets.
Gone are the days of the old-school regular cab, replaced by a quasi-four-door Quad cab or true four-door Crew Cab. That latter configuration is huge inside, boasting 45 inches of rear legroom. A 2022 Chevy Silverado, which we compare to the Ram here, comes in at 43 inches for this metric.
Buyers can choose from a 5′ 7” or 6′ 4” foot cargo bed that offers RamBox secured storage integrated into the bed walls and a nifty tailgate that impersonates a Swiss Army knife by folding down or splitting open in a 60/40 ratio.
Entertainment & Technology
Though every 2023 Ram 1500 has a central touchscreen, the version on lower-end models is a rinky-dink 5-inch display. You’ll need at least a Laramie for the 8.4-inch unit that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Limited Longhorn models and above sport a huge 12-inch display with wireless smartphone connectivity, and navigation, plus a 12-inch digital gauge cluster.
Harman Kardon’s 19-speaker audio system requires a package on any model as does a wireless charging pad, head-up display, and digital rearview mirror. And those packages can be quite pricey as seen by the nearly $7,000 option found on the Longhorn that also adds a self-parking system and 360° exterior view.
Safety Features
Both NHTSA and IIHS award the 2023 Ram 1500 top marks for crew cab models, dinging the quad cab by one point in each case. Surely this is due to the six standard airbags and general hugeness of the Ram as there are no advanced safety systems included until the mid-pack Laramie that comes with Forward Collision Mitigation. Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert are added to the Ram Limited but the rest of these modern safety nets require a separate package.
2023 Ram 1500 Trims & Pricing
Tradesman – $39,305
Essentially a work truck, the Tradesman sits on steel wheels but comes with heated side mirrors, air-conditioning, and power accessories. There are a pair of front USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 5-inch touchscreen but no smartphone integration.
Tradesman HFE – $40,942
The RWD-only HFE – for High Fuel Efficiency – has a special thermal rear axle and lowered ride height vs. the base Tradesman but strangely cannot be built with the EcoDiesel for 2023. The 20-inch alloys look sharp though.
Big Horn – $44,520
18-inch aluminum wheels and a leather-wrapped steering wheel move the Big Horn out of worksite-special status. For $2,100, you can add a towing package with a trailer brake controller and trailer reverse steering via a rotary dial.
Laramie – $54,470
The $10,000 jump in price for a Laramie brings LED taillights, leather upholstery, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen with Apple and Android device integration. It also features dual-zone automatic climate control and climatized front seats.
Rebel – $55,285
Thanks to a 1-inch suspension lift, skid plates galore, 33-inch all-terrain rubber, and fender flares, the Rebel is off-road ready. Full LED exterior lighting and red interior trim complete the look.
Limited Longhorn – $61,230
With 20-inch rims, passive entry, and a power-tailgate release, the Limited Longhorn is quite the truck. Inside, genuine metal and wood trim looks smart as do the matching 12-inch screens doing instrument and infotainment duty.
Limited – $65,695
The only 2023 Ram 1500 to come standard with the 5.7L HEMI and air suspension, Limited models sport premium leather hides, Active Noise Control, and wireless smartphone mirroring.
TRX – $86,250
Absolutely bonkers is the Ram 1500 TRX with its fire-breathing powertrain, 88-inch width, mammoth wheels, and flared everything. With packages, you can fly way beyond $100,000 for this beasty.
Warranties
Ram’s warranty is good for three years of 36,000 miles of basic coverage and five years or 60,000 miles of standard powertrain coverage, though the diesel extends the mileage limit to 100,000. There is no complimentary maintenance but roadside assistance is included for five years.
What we think
2023 Ram 1500 – media.stellantisnorthamerica.com | Shop 2023 Ram 1500 on Carsforsale.com
Without doubt, the 2023 Ram 1500 is a supremely comfortable and capable full-size pickup that stands out on that coil-sprung rear suspension. You can go wild with amenities and the ludicrous TRX remains the segment champion, but the way Ram prices their lineup feels bait-and-switchy as most of the good stuff requires a pricey package. So, be sure to look over the latest new car incentives before shopping. For overall value, I’d aim at the Laramie as it does all the traditional truck things competently with a healthy dose of creature comforts.
