You have certainly heard the old saying: "They don’t make them like they used to." Well, in the case of the Ram 1500 Classic, that’s simply wrong. In fact, Ram is making them just like they used to. The 1500 Classic was conceived as a way for Ram dealers to have a full-size pickup truck to sell as an all-new generation of the Ram pickup was going into production. The idea was to continue to produce the previous generation of the truck while the new one entered the market. And so the 2019 RAM 1500 Classic was born. You can say that the sour situation has turned into lemonade because Ram is still building the 1500 Classic three model years later, and the effort shows no obvious signs of slowing down. The 2018 RAM 1500 was an excellent pickup truck in 2018 when it launched and still is competitive today, particularly at the low-end of the class. No, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the 2022 Ram 1500 or competitive full-size trucks, but as a value play, it impresses. Here is our road test and review of the 2022 Ram 1500 Classic.
Exterior Style
The exterior styling of the Ram 1500 Classic has stood the test of time. And it has done it for a long time. The good news is that the truck always had “good bones.” And in the pickup truck segment, many buyers are happy with a vehicle that has a timeless look. The Ram 1500 Classic is available in Quad Cab and Crew Cab four-door body styles. The Tradesman and Express trims also offer the increasingly rare Regular Cab two-door bodystyle. Depending on the cab type and trim level, buyers can choose from among three cargo box lengths. Both rear drive and four-wheel drive are available across the lineup. The low-cost Tradesman is intended as a work truck. The 1500 Classic Express upgrades the exterior of the truck, and the Ram 1500 Classic Warlock goes sinister with monotone exterior paint and blacked-out trim. Choosing the appropriate options, you can turn the Warlock into an off-road truck complete with four-wheel drive and all-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels.
Powertrains
The Ram 1500 Classic offers a solid pair of time-tested engines. The base powerplant is a 305-horsepower 3.6-liter normally aspirated V6. It delivers 269 lb-ft of torque at 4,175 rpm, and it is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The optional engine is a 395-hp 5.7-liter V8. It offers 410 lb-ft of peak torque at 3,950 rpm, and if you plan to do some serious towing, it is the one to buy. Like the V6, it is fitted with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Rear drive is standard across the lineup, but if you want four-wheel drive, it’s not hard to come by. In fact, the Ram 1500 Classic offers two four-wheel-drive systems, both using electronic shift-on-the-fly part-time transfer cases. While both of these drivetrains are rugged and reliable, they don’t offer the technological advances es of the drivetrains in the newer-generation Ram 1500. The 1500 Classic doesn’t give you as many powertrain choices as the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, or Ford F-150, but the two engines it does offer cover the bulk of the segment demand.
Driving Impressions
The Ram 1500 Classic doesn’t have the ride quality or the nimbleness of the current-generation 2022 Ram 1500. But that’s not surprising because none of the newer-generation competitive trucks do, either. The Ram 1500 Classic rides on a chassis and suspension that has always won high praise for its sophistication. The newest Ram 1500 has optional extras that the Classic doesn’t have, and it will out-handle the older version. New tech helps the newer Ram as well. That said, you will probably be happily surprised by the Ram 1500 Classic’s overall roadability. The view from the driver’s seat is good, and the instruments are easy to grasp at a glance. Passengers will discover the Ram 1500 Classic is a comfortable place to ride. When it comes to advanced driver assistance e features, the Ram 1500 Classic shows its age. But those seeking a bargain truck won’t miss what they never had.
Interior Design
Truck interior design has come a long way since 2018. So it is not surprising the interior of the Ram 1500 Classic isn’t as luxurious or as leading-edge as the 2022 Ram 1500. While remaining bargain-priced is a key tenet of the Ram 1500 Classic, its cabin is a pretty nice place to spend time, especially if you choose a few low-priced options. The 1500 Classic Regular Cab seats three, while the Quad Cab and Crew Cab models offer seating for as many as six. A 40/20/40 front bench seat is standard in all three trims while front bucket seats are optional. Heated seats and heated steering wheel are options, as is a 8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen. Whether you have a large family of a large working crew, all can find comfortable seating in the 1500 Classic. If you want top-of-the-line leather or the newest in driver-assistance features, you’ll need to consider the Ram 1500.
Infotainment &Technology
In the “You Can’t Have Everything” department, the Ram 1500 Classic’s infotainment doesn’t measure up to the newer technology of the 2022 Ram 1500. But that doesn’t mean you’re looking at an AM/FM radio with a tape deck. The standard infotainment system in the 1500 Classic is Unconnect 3 with a 5-inch color touchscreen. It’s a pretty basic unit, but it gets the job done. That said, for about $700, you can get a Unconnect 4C system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, Sirius XM radio, Sirius XM Guardian connected services, and a media hub with 2-USB plus auxiliary port. If you still have CDs — you remember CDs, don’t you? — a single-disk CD player is optionally available. The Warlock trim gives buyers the option purchasing an 8.4-inch touchscreen system that includes navigation. Another option offers nine Alpine speakers including a subwoofer.
Safety & Driver Aids
The 2022 Ram 1500 Classic is expected to be a safe vehicle, but it is 2018 technology. Because of that, it doesn’t have the advanced driver assistance features that are available on the current-generation Ram 1500. The most sophisticated driver-assist system in the Ram 1500 Classic is the rear parking assist combined with the rear-view camera system that is required by federal law. The 1500 Classic’s electronic stability control system is supplemented by trailer sway control and hill-start assist. The Ram 1500 Classic also has the legally required tire pressure monitoring system. These are good pieces of technology, but the vehicle lacks tech like adaptive cruise control and rear cross-traffic alert. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the Ram 1500 Classic a 4-star overall rating in its 5-Star Safety Rating program, its second-highest honor. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the very similar 2018 RAM 1500 Good ratings in three of five Crashworthiness categories. If you seek the latest safety and driver assistance features, you will have to turn to the 2022 Ram 1500 or a competitor.
Fuel Economy
The fuel economy of the Ram 1500 Classic and its competitors varies widely depending upon the engine choice and the configuration. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates a rear-drive 1500 Classic with the 3.6-liter V6 engine at 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway. A rear-drive 1500 Classic with the 5.7-liter V8 engine delivers an estimated 15 mpg city/21 mpg highway. When equipped with 4-wheel-drive, fuel economy with the V6 engine dips to 16 mpg in urban driving and 23 mpg on the highway. Interestingly, EPA reports no drop in fuel economy for the four-wheel-drive Ram 1500 Classic with the 5.7-liter V8 versus the rear-drive version. With various weights and axles ratios available, fuel economy is likely to vary from these numbers. In comparison to the Ram 1500 Classic, the rear-drive Ford F-150 with the base 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 is rated at 20 mpg city/26 mpg highway. With the available V8, the F-150 is rated at 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway. The Chevrolet Silverado with a 5.3-liter V8 and 8-speed automatic is EPA-rated to deliver 16 mpg city/21 mpg highway.
Cargo Capacity & Towing
While the 2022 RAM 1500 Classic doesn’t offer the latest technology or styling, it certainly can be a workhorse. It features excellent payload and towing capacities. Maximum payload is 1,810 pounds when the pickup is equipped with the available 5.7-liter V8 engine. Maximum towing capacity is up to 10,610 pounds with the V8 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission. Trailer tow wiring is integrated in the vehicle, and a Class IV hitch receiver is a low-cost option. The Trailer Tow Group includes the hitch, trailer brake controller, and trailer tow mirrors. On the road, drivers will have added peace of mind because the 1500 Classic’s electronic stability control includes trailer sway control. The RAM 1500 Classic’s towing ability and payload capacity don’t take a backseat to more recent competitors.
Trim Levels
The RAM 1500 Classic is available in three trim levels: Tradesman, Express, and Warlock. All three trim levels are available in Quad Cab and Crew Cab four-door body styles. And the Tradesman and Express offer a Regular Cab two-door bodystyle. Buyers can choose among three cargo box lengths. Rear drive and four-wheel drive are widely available across the lineup. The Tradesman is the base model and it is intended as a work vehicle. The Regular Cab version is priced right around $30,000. It has cruise control, air conditioning, and Uconnect 3 infotainment with a 5-inch display screen. The Express upgrades the appearance of the 1500 Classic with body-color bumpers, a body-color grille surround, and 17-inch alloy wheels. It has a base price of about $32,000. The highly styled Warlock features monotone exterior paint, blacked-out trim, and 20-inch gloss-black wheels. It has a list of around $42,000.
Assessing Value
The 2022 RAM 1500 Classic fills an interesting spot as a bargain-priced alternative to the 2022 Ram 1500 full-size pickup truck. Essentially the previous-generation of the Ram 1500, it gives Ram truck buyers another choice. It’s not just "any old truck." The previous-generation Ram 1500 was highly regarded and much-awarded. It lacks many advanced automatic safety and driver assists and the higher-tech equipment on the current Ram 1500. But there is something to be said for simplicity. If you want a useful ready-to-work full-size pickup at a bargain price, the 2022 RAM 1500 Classic is absolutely worth a long look.
By Jack Nerad
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