2023 Ram 1500 Expert Review
Reviewed by Duncan Brady
Not only is the current-gen Ram 1500 our top-ranked full-size pickup , it also took home Truck of the Year — twice . The 1500 is also the smallest truck in Ram's lineup, since this automaker doesn't make a midsize pickup like a Toyota Tacoma or something even smaller like Ford's new Maverick. For 2023, Ram is adding a couple special editions and additional feature content.
What's New
- New Limited Elite Edition includes a multi-function tailgate, tailgate convenience features, a jeweled rotary shifter, unique instrument cluster, premium heated and ventilated leather seats, a suede headliner, and a heated steering wheel
- The RED Edition returns based on the Limited Crew Cab
- Newly available 12.0-inch fully digital instrument cluster
- Rear seat reminder now standard
- Glove box now features a hygienic UV light
- Lunar Edition with Ceramic Gray paint
What We Think
The Ram 1500 is the most well-rounded and recommendable truck in its segment. We named it our 2019 Truck of the Year upon its debut, saying "no pickup in the segment better balances capability, efficiency, value, and quality. The Ram 1500 retains its old-school appeal while being refreshingly modern in style and substance. It's refined and sophisticated without surrendering its dirty-fingernails roots." That said, comparing the Ram Rebel to the Ford F-150 Tremor, the Ford had a slight off-road edge.
Sure, its max towing and payload numbers trail those of its competitors, but the Ram makes up for it with generous feature content on lower trims and properly luxurious trucks at the top end of its range. The 1500 still feels modern even four years after its introduction, with a large infotainment screen and this year's introduction of a fully digital instrument cluster display. Ram's cabin is full of clever storage and charging solutions, too.
Plus, the Ram 1500 is still a workhorse, and there's a wide range of engines to fit any buyer. The 702-hp Ram TRX is a riot, too, and well executed enough to earn Ram's full-size pickup its second Truck of the Year win. This is an excellent pickup.
Performance and Efficiency
Buyers can find nearly anything they're looking for under the hood of a Ram 1500. That said, for drivers seeking something electric, Ram has yet to reveal its competitor to the electric Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV. Ram pairs all of its engines with an eight-speed automatic; in most cases, RWD is standard and 4WD is available as an option. Attention oil-burners: 2023 will be the final model year the Ram 1500 will be available with the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6.
3.6-liter eTorque Mild Hybrid V-6
- Horsepower/Torque: 305 hp/269 lb-ft
- Efficiency (city/highway): 19-20/23-26 mpg
- Acceleration (0-60 mph): 7.5 seconds
3.0-liter Turbodiesel V-6
- Horsepower/Torque: 260 hp/480 lb-ft
- Efficiency (city/highway): 21/29 mpg
- Acceleration (0-60 mph): 8.1 seconds
5.7-liter V-8 (Optional eTorque Mild Hybrid tech)
- Horsepower/Torque: 395 hp/410 lb-ft
- Efficiency (city/highway): 15-17/20-22 mpg
- Acceleration (0-60 mph): 5.9 seconds
6.2-liter Supercharged V-8 (TRX)
- Horsepower/Torque: 702 hp/650 lb-ft
- Efficiency (city/highway): 10/14 mpg
- Acceleration (0-60 mph): 4.1 seconds
Safety Ratings and Features
The Ram 1500 is especially safe for a full-size pickup. Not only did it earn Good scores in all crashworthiness categories from the IIHS, it also gets a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.
As for active safety tech, automatic emergency braking is included on all but the Tradesman and Bighorn trims. Adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and trailer sway control are all available or standard, depending on the trim level. For 2023, rear seat reminder is now included on all Ram 1500s.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
Ram doesn't offer an 8-foot bed like Ford does with the F-150, but for short-bed buyers, the Ram has a slight edge. The Ram 1500 also has more rear legroom than either of Ford's two-row cab configurations.
Cargo space (bed)
- 2023 Ram 1500 (67-inch bed): 53.9 cubic feet
- 2023 Ford F-150 (67-inch bed): 52.8 cubic feet
- 2023 Ram 1500 (76-inch bed): 61.5 cubic feet
- 2023 Ford F-150 (79-inch bed): 62.3 cubic feet
- 2023 Ford F-150 (98-inch bed): 77.4 cubic feet
Legroom (first/second rows)
- 2023 Ram 1500 Quad Cab: 40.9/35.6 inches
- 2023 Ford F-150 SuperCab: 43.9/33.5 inches
- 2023 Ram 1500 Crew Cab: 40.9/45.2 inches
- 2023 Ford F-150 SuperCrew: 43.9/43.6 inches.
Technology
Chevrolet and Ford have managed to catch up in technology, but the Ram 1500's available 12.0-inch tablet-style touchscreen infotainment system is still properly impressive. The 5.0-inch display on base models and the 8.4-inch mid-tier system are less impressive, but Ram's infotainment software is straightforward and intuitive. With the larger screens, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. There's also an available new 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster for 2023.
Shoot for the Moon With the Lunar Edition
Ram offers a Lunar Edition on the 2023 Ram 1500 Rebel and TRX models with slightly different equipment for each model. The Ram 1500 Rebel Lunar Edition receives Ceramic Gray paint, the Rebel Level 2 Equipment Group, a 5.7-liter Hemi eTorque V-8 engine, Rebel hood and bed graphics, and 18-inch gloss black wheels. The Ram 1500 TRX also receives the special edition's signature Ceramic Gray paint, but its cabin receives further distinctive touches such as Surf Blue accent stitching and a center console badge. Other features included with the Ram 1500 TRX are the Level 2 Equipment Group, Bed Utility Group, Advanced Safety Group, TRX Carbon-Fiber Package, TRX hood and bed graphics, dual pane panoramic sunroof, and the optional 18-inch black beadlock-capable wheels. The 2023 Ram 1500 Rebel Lunar Edition starts at $72,205 while the TRX Lunar Edition starts at $108,340.
No Longer the Fastest Truck
Although the Ram TRX sports a 702-hp supercharged V-8 out of the Dodge Challenger Hellcat and Charger Hellcat, that's no longer enough to hold the title of the fastest pickup truck we've ever tested. The TRX briefly sat atop that podium with a 0-60-mph sprint in just 4.1 seconds, but the Rivian R1T and GMC Hummer EV pickup accomplished the same in 3.1 and 3.0 seconds, respectively, thanks to mountains of instant electric torque.
Recommended Trim
No, this won't be the best pickup for a lot of buyers, but the Ram TRX is hard not to recommend. Alongside the F-150 Raptor R, the TRX will likely be the last supercharged V-8 megatruck of its kind, a thirsty, hulking dinosaur with an extinction meteor on its way. Enjoy the TRX before these trucks don't exist anymore.
