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For many obvious reasons, America loves its trucks, and Ram has made some strides recently, bringing back the HEMI V8 and now extending the powertrain warranty to a 10-year, 100,000-mile level. Such changes, which Ram didn’t have to work too hard to achieve, have found new recognition in the Ram 1500 with the V8 engine and its new eTorque mild hybrid setup. All in all, the Ram 1500 in the top “Limited” trim is one of the most luxurious trucks on the market today.
Powered by the returning 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine and an eTorque mild hybrid system, the new Ram 1500 Limited produces 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. Sure, these numbers may be lower than the new twin-turbocharged, six-cylinder in-line Hurricane, but the V8 rumble and expected consistency of instant grunt is simply something the purest will always enjoy – and that’s exactly what you get with the HEMI V8. Combine that with the 4WD auto setting and you have a nicely placed V8 hype truck that screams America!
In some ways, everything about the V8-powered Ram 1500 suggests that it will perform worse compared to the new turbo powertrains. However, I would argue with enthusiasts that equipping my test vehicle with the Mopar GT exhaust coupled with that harmonious V8 stimulates the senses in ways an inline-six could never achieve. Luckily, the exhaust automatically quiets down at cruising speeds if you don’t accelerate hard. Theatrics aside, performance is still decent and remains easy to drive, but you end up with a slower truck, accelerating to 60 mph in about 6 seconds, compared to the 5-second to lower 4-second range for the other turbocharged powertrain configurations. Still, this V8 and its 48-volt mild-hybrid setup with a combination generator/starter still proves to be the right fit for many enthusiasts, and Ram knows that—hence its return.
Fuel economy is affected by the V8, making it a difficult choice even for those who don’t mind different noises and driving sensations. The HEMI V8 delivers consistent numbers, but at a lower scale to match its real-world EPA estimates of 16 mpg city and 20 mpg highway. The 18 mpg combined is about what you’d expect if you pay attention to road speed limits when driving on both the highway and in the city. The fuel tank is quite large at 33 gallons, giving you a massive range of around 660 miles on the highway.
Ram has long prided itself on being the more luxurious truck, tending to be among the best in the vast 1500 segment field. On the one hand, the air suspension of the Ram 1500 Limited is an advantage in many cases because it allows you to adjust different vehicle heights and enjoy a comfortable driving experience.
As for towing and payload, the HEMI V8’s maximum payload is 1,650 pounds and maximum towing capacity is 11,320 pounds when properly configured, which is only about a 170 pound difference over the Hurricane powertrain setup. If you look closely, this difference lies in the weight factor between the powertrains.
The interior of the Ram 1500 Limited 4×4 is a luxurious space with many forward-thinking innovations, starting with the configurable center console with two wireless smartphone charging pads. From there it continues with the variety of screens, from the driver’s digital instrument cluster to the largest-in-class 14.5-inch portrait infotainment touchscreen and the 10.3-inch passenger touchscreen display. Ram stays true to the luxury truck theme in the Limited trim, adding massage, heated and ventilated front seats that prove quite comfortable on long trips. The rear outer seats also have heating and ventilation. There’s neat leather stitching throughout and a limited amount of open-pore wood trim.
Ram takes its versatile storage options a step further and has placed the Ram Box in the back, which tends to take up some bed space but is quite handy for storing items in a locked and weatherproof box that you can easily access when you just have your key fob in your pocket. The Ram 1500 is state-of-the-art and now features the active hands-free driving assistance system, which has proven to be quite good, although with the noticeable disadvantage that activation is only possible relatively late after the function has been requested. Otherwise, Stellantis seems to have a good system that can compete with other hands-free systems.
Other amenities that make trucking life easier include trailer reverse guidance setup, digital rearview mirror with tow mode, trailer health monitoring, digital key option for your Android device or iPhone, and the many expected active safety features, including a neat 360-degree camera system that can be accessed at any time.
Ram manages to do all the truck things with style and luxurious comfort, but you have to pay a little for that treatment, to the tune of $88,480 for my well-equipped Ram 1500 Limited 4×4 test vehicle. There’s still room for a little more, but there are countless other trim levels as well, starting at the base end at $41,575 for the Tradesman trim.
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Malcolm Hogan is the founder and editor of ArticleSubmission.news, a trusted voice in the world of automotive media for over two decades. With more than 20 years of hands-on experience in the industry, Malcolm has earned a reputation for delivering honest reviews, incisive insights and in-depth coverage of everything from new car debuts to high-performance test drives. Malcolm is passionate about evolving automotive culture and staying ahead of the curve. He continues to make ArticleSubmission.news a destination for enthusiasts and industry professionals alike.
