The Ram 1500 is the most competitive half-ton pickup truck to the best-selling Ford F-150. And rightfully so. Ram has figured out a lot of the ergonomics and styles that truck buyers like and integrated them into its trucks with success. The Ram 1500 was introduced in its current generation in 2019. For 2022, Ram made a handful of small changes to the truck, such as adding the Uconnect 5 infotainment upgrade and two new trim packages.
There are a variety of options for the 2022 Ram 1500, starting with two cab configurations (quad or crew), two bed lengths (if the crew cab is chosen), and four engine choices. The quad cab model has a 6 foot 4 inch long bed and less legroom in the back seats of the truck. The crew cab has much larger rear seating space and can be had in either a 5′ 7″ short bed or a 6′ 4″ long bed. Trim levels determine engine availability, but outside of the TRX-only supercharged V8, most engines can be paired with most trim points.
Starting things out is a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that outputs 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. This engine comes with Ram’s mild hybrid system (called eTorque) that adds power and fuel economy by electrifying some of the engine’s accessories and boosting power to the crankshaft with an electric motor.
Next up is a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 producing 395 HP and 410 lb-ft. This engine can have eTorque added for more fuel economy and slightly improved towing, but is otherwise the workhorse option for the Ram 1500 and the most likely go-to for most buyers.
The best of the bunch, in our opinion, is Ram’s smooth-running 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine that produces 250 horses and 480 foot pounds. This is a very efficient, very capable engine that offers good towing capability and a comfortable purr.
And of course, for the truly insane, there is the Ram TRX model (aka T-Rex) that uses a Hemi Hellcat-derived 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that outputs 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. This setup is pure, raw, muscular enjoyment at its most basic and true.
The 2022 Ram 1500 has a spacious, comfortable interior and offers a smooth ride whether under load or running empty. The rear coil spring suspension is key to that comfort, but the upscale interior (even in the base model) is surprisingly good. Remote and keyless entry, power windows and locks, and trailer sway damping are all standard equipment in the 1500.
Newly-added for 2022 in the Ram 1500 are a new 10th Anniversary Edition for the Limited package that adds some cosmetic changes to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Ram Truck brand. The Backcountry model adds some off-road goodies to the lower end packages for those looking to get out and about without springing for the full Rebel off-road package. Also added this year are special editions for first responders that are exclusively order-only.
The Ram 1500 is, however, facing strong competition this year. The Ford F-150 was newly reminted for 2021 and includes a hybrid model with a lot of compelling goodies as well as the F-150 Lightning all-electric model coming to showrooms shortly. General Motors at both Chevrolet and GMC have refreshed 2022 models of the Silverado and Sierra as well and Toyota has added a turbocharged engine to the long-lived Tundra. It’s likely that we’ll see a response from Ram Truck soon to confront this renewed competition.
For now, however, the 2022 Ram 1500 still remains an excellent choice in pickup trucks. It’s strong, well-designed, comfortable, and capable. The Ram remains one of the most comfortable daily driers in the full-sized pickup truck arena.
This review was originally published on DriveModeShow.com.
