Quick Spin: 2020 Ram 1500 Laramie

2020 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4×4

Class: Large Pickup Truck

Miles driven: 290

Fuel used: 19.8 gallons

Real-world fuel economy: 14.6 mpg

Driving mix: 55% city, 45% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 17/22/19 (city/highway/combined)

Fuel type: Midgrade gasoline recommended

Base price: $46,740 (not including $1695 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Advanced Safety Group ($1695), Bed Utility Group ($945), Night Edition ($3495), Laramie Level 2 Equipment Group ($4895), Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover ($550), 3.92 rear axle ratio ($95), 5.7-liter Hemi V8 eTorque engine ($1695), dual-pane panoramic sunroof ($1495), power running boards ($995), rear wheelhouse liners ($195), Multi-Function Tailgate ($995), 33-gallon fuel tank ($445), Uconnect navigation system with 12.0-inch portrait-style screen ($1395), RamBox cargo management system ($995), trailer brake control ($295)

Price as tested: $68,615

Quick Hits

The great: Excellent ride quality; classy interior trim

The good: Quietness; extra-spacious cabin; clever Multi-Function Tailgate

The not so good: Disappointing observed fuel economy with Hemi V8’s eTorque system

More Ram pickup price and availability information

CG Says:

When Ram fully redesigned its half-ton 1500-series pickup for 2019, Consumer Guide tested it extensively, sampling four trim levels, a couple of cab configurations, and 5.7-liter Hemi V8s with and without the “eTorque” mild-hybrid system. Considering that, the 2020 Laramie that came our way felt very familiar—even if it did have a couple of small surprises for us.

The Flame Red crew cab was outfitted with the new Night Edition option package for looks and a little more convenience, as well as the multi-function tailgate that creates more bed-loading flexibility.

For $3495 the Ram Laramie or Big Horn owner can enjoy the Night life with 22-inch aluminum wheels (cast or forged; ours were forged), vented “sport performance” hood, and black interior and exterior accents. More-practical elements of the package include black tubular side steps (replaced on the test truck by power-retractable running boards), a full-length floor console, and wireless charging for smartphones.

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The $995 multi-function tailgate isn’t new for 2020—it was added late in the ’19 model year—but this was our first up-close look at it. Split 60/40, both portions can open independently, or when latched at the center drop as a conventional one-piece tailgate. The side-hinged doors allow for easier at-the-bumper loading or retrieval of items in the bed, and can allow access even with certain types of trailers hitched to the truck. A Bed Utility Group option includes an adjustable cargo fence that can keep small loads at the back of the bed, and an available tri-fold tonneau cover will keep items out of sight and out of the elements.

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While the Night Edition and the multi-function tailgate impact the Ram’s user experience to some degree, they don’t change the driving character of this CG “Best Buy” pick in the large-pickup segment. Even with the big rims, ride quality remained up to the high, comfortable standard that is one of the Ram 1500’s hallmarks. The optional Hemi with eTorque continues to be strong and responsive—if fairly thirsty. The 48-volt motor/generator adds nothing to the V8’s 395 horsepower, but it ups torque production by 130 lb-ft—to 540. Shifting from engine shutoff to restart, it gives the wheels just a bit of a turn until the engine is fully up to the task of acceleration. The eTorque system also runs accessories during engine shut-off at stops, smooths out shifts from the 8-speed automatic transmission, and recharges the 48-volt battery. It can’t seem to do much for fuel economy, however. The EPA estimates a 4-wheel-drive 1500 with an eTorque Hemi should get 17 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway, and 19 combined—all a little better than a V8 without eTorque—but for the second straight year CG’s observed mileage in mixed-speed commuting was only 14 and change. Note that the test truck was equipped with a more-aggressive optional 3.92:1 axle ratio.

The 4-door crew cab is as roomy in either row as anyone could need—rear legroom is an abundant 45.2 inches—and the standard leather seats are comfortable throughout, even in the middle of the rear row. Doors open wide for easy entry and exit—a process made all the more hospitable in 4-wheel-drive models with the aid of steps or running boards. There’s lots of glass area for good driver sightlines. Useful storage facilities abound, all the more so via the optional console with a configurable armrest/storage system, and the fold-up rear seat cushion that exposes a flat floor for ample in-cab load space.

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A ’20 Laramie crew cab with 4-wheel drive and the “short” 5.7-foot cargo bed starts at $48,435 with delivery, but that’s a far cry from the $68,615 asked for CG’s extensively optioned eTorque V8. Aside from some discretionary niceties like a dual-pane sunroof, the multi-function tailgate, and upgrade to a tablet-like 12-inch Uconnect infotainment screen with navigation (an 8.4-inch touchscreen sans nav is standard), it took a couple costly option groups to get au courant tech features like adaptive cruise control, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts, and more. Whatever you might wind up paying for a 2020 Ram 1500, the chances are good that you will end up with a strong, comfortable-riding, and versatile big pickup.

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2020 Ram 1500 Laramie

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