2023 Ram HD Expert Review
Reviewed by Duncan Brady
This is the big dog, the largest conventional pickup in Ram's lineup , the Ram 3500. The current-generation truck made its debut for the 2019 model year and impressed us enough to earn our Truck of the Year. In fact, it was the last heavy-duty dually pickup to earn that title, despite steep competition from the Ford F-250 and Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD.
What's New
- Available 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- Next-generation telescoping tow mirrors
- Camera system enhancements with new Trailer Tow app and multiple view modes
- Mopar sport performance hood available on Laramie and Limited
- Available digital rearview mirror
What We Think
We had few complaints about the current Ram 3500 when we named it our 2020 Truck of the Year. Despite slightly lower maximum towing and payload capacities than its competitors, the Ram delivers easy hauling and trailering alongside an exceedingly comfortable cabin, a great driving experience, and tons of tech. The strong interior and exterior design add appeal to an already impressive pickup.
Both engine options offer plenty of power and responsiveness, although the diesel engine could use a couple additional cogs in its six-speed automatic transmission. We can tolerate that for producing more torque than any other heavy-duty truck. Ride quality and handling are exceptional for the segment. It's nice to see available driver assist features on a heavy-duty pickup, too, and the Ram's huge available infotainment and instrument cluster displays provide a dose of modern tech.
Engine Options
The Ram 3500 can be had with the buyer's choice of two excellent engine options, one diesel and one gas. Standard trucks come equipped with Ram's burly 6.4-liter gas V-8 working with an eight-speed automatic to send 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque to just the rear wheels or all four.
The diesel engine is a pricey upgrade (just shy of $10,000 for the standard output or around $12,500 for the high output), but when you see the numbers, you'll understand why. If you won't be pushing the 3500's limits, the standard diesel, which is also available in the Ram 2500, produces 370 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque. The 3500-exclusive high-output version develops an outstanding 420 hp and 1,075(!) lb-ft, making it the torquiest engine in the heavy-duty segment. Diesels work with a six-speed automatic.
Towing and Payload
Like the high-output diesel's torque rating, the Ram 3500's maximum towing and payload figures can raise eyebrows. Regular cab long bed examples with the stronger diesel and RWD are rated to tow as much as 37,090 pounds. That same configuration with the 6.4-liter gas V-8 boasts a maximum payload capacity of 7,680 pounds.
Safety Ratings and Features
Like all heavy-duty pickups, the Ram 3500 has not been evaluated by the IIHS or the NHTSA. Ram offers a Safety Group package on all trims that adds lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
The Ram 3500 has less front legroom than the Ford F-350 across the board and less rear legroom with each trucks' largest cab option, but the Ram Crew Cab has significantly more rear legroom than Ford's SuperCab. Ram's 6-foot-4-inch bed can carry up to 57.5 cubic feet of cargo space and the 8-foot option will hold 74.7 cubes; those numbers don't stack up well to the Ford's 65.4 cubic feet in its 6-foot-9-inch bed or the 83.5 cubic feet in that truck's 8-footer.
Technology
For buyers who just need a work truck, the base Tradesman makes do with a 5.0-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity. All other models feature a huge 12.0-inch tablet-style infotainment display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the intuitive Stellantis UConnect 5 infotainment software. Four-speaker audio is standard, but higher trims include or offer 10- and 17-speaker systems. There's also a newly available 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a digital rearview mirror for 2023.
Cab and Bed Configurations
As a proper pickup should, the Ram 3500 offers a host of cab and bed options to fit the owner's work needs. A single-row regular cab is available on the base Tradesman trim with an 8-foot bed; a two-row crew cab can be had with the 8-foot long bed or a 6-foot-4-inch box. All other trim levels swap the regular cab option for a mega cab (two rows of seating with more second-row legroom) paired with the 6-foot-4-inch bed.
