2018 Ram Promaster City Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　

What's new

A 5-inch touchscreen is now standardBluetooth and a rearview camera are also standardPart of the first generation of the ProMaster City introduced in 2015

　　Ram offers the 2018 ProMaster City as both a two-passenger cargo van and a five-passenger variant. Although you can't stand upright inside this van as you can in the full-size ProMaster van (reviewed separately), it's still plenty useful. The interior is spacious, and it beats most competitors when it comes to maximum cargo volume. The ProMaster City's payload rating of 1,886 pounds (or 1,760 pounds for the passenger version) also surpasses most rivals.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2018 Ram Promaster City Tradesman Cargo 4dr Minivan (2.4L 4cyl 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$157/mo  for Promaster City Tradesman Cargo

　　Promaster City Tradesman Cargo

　　Tradesman Cargo 4dr Minivan (2.4L 4cyl 9A) - $23,995 MSRPWagon 4dr Minivan (2.4L 4cyl 9A) (Most Popular) - $25,095 MSRPTradesman SLT Cargo 4dr Minivan (2.4L 4cyl 9A) - $25,645 MSRPWagon SLT 4dr Minivan (2.4L 4cyl 9A) - $26,745 MSRP

　　vs

　　$202/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Minivan

　　All ProMaster City versions come with a 178-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Acceleration and fuel economy are both respectable for the class. On the move, the ProMaster City rides well enough for a commercial van, but its tall, narrow profile means turns should be navigated with some caution. This is one reason we don't consider the ProMaster City Wagon a great alternative to a five-passenger crossover SUV. A noisy cabin and limited safety features are other reasons.

　　For passenger van duty, the similarly priced Ford Transit Connect is a better option. It has lower payload limits, but it comes in two different wheelbase lengths. The passenger version also has additional amenities, including seven-passenger seating and leather upholstery. You might want to check out the Mercedes-Benz Metris, which we like because of its above-average interior space. Overall, though, the ProMaster City is a solid option if you need an affordable and capable cargo van for your business or organization.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

　　The 2018 Ram ProMaster City is a light-duty compact van ideal for commercial use in the city or for businesses that don't require a full-size van. It's small, but it offers room for five passengers or enough space for cargo, plus it has an impressive cargo rating.

　　

Trim tested

　　zzdcar has not yet driven any version of this vehicle, but we have limited experience with a pre-production model. The following is our first take on what's significant about it and what you can expect.

　　

Driving

　　There's a suitable amount of pep driving around town. But once on the highway — especially if fully loaded — the ProMaster City starts to feel slow. The nine-speed automatic's shifting can be a bit clunky at low speeds. When driving around turns, the van leans heavily.

　　

Comfort

　　Vinyl seats can be had in Cargo and Wagon configurations, but the SLT trim gets heated front seats with height adjustment and lumbar support.

　　

Interior

　　It's built for practicality and utility, but the ProMaster City is still roomy and comfortable. Forward visibility is good, and rearward visibility is helped by a rearview camera and optional rear parking sensors.

　　

Utility

　　The Cargo version of the ProMaster City has 131.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats, putting it ahead of the Ford Transit Connect and the Nissan NV200 but behind the larger Mercedes-Benz Metris.

　　

Technology

　　Standard equipment includes Uconnect with a 5-inch screen, Bluetooth and a rearview camera. Rear parking sensors are optional but recommended.

　　

Which Promaster City does zzdcar recommend?

　　Whether you choose the Cargo or the Wagon version will depend on your needs, but getting the SLT trim level is a good idea. It gets you heated seats, cruise control and a slightly upmarket appearance package. That said, both the base and SLT trim levels offer similar equipment, even if some of it is optional.

　　

2018 Ram Promaster City models

　　The 2018 ProMaster City comes as a cargo van, the Tradesman Cargo, and a five-passenger version known as the Wagon. There are also base and SLT trim levels. The main differences between the base and the SLT come in the form of standard equipment, better seats and a less utilitarian appearance. Of course, the Tradesman Cargo Van version seats just two passengers and the Wagon seats five.

　　Both the Tradesman Cargo and Wagon use a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (178 horsepower, 174 pound-feet). The engine is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission and is only available in front-wheel drive.

　　Standard equipment includes 16-inch steel wheels, keyless entry, power front windows, cloth upholstery, air conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a front overhead storage bin, a 60/40-split folding rear seat (Wagon only), Bluetooth, a 5-inch touchscreen, and a four-speaker stereo with a USB port.

　　For the SLT trim levels, all of the above equipment comes standard along with body-colored mirrors and bumpers, power-adjustable heated mirrors, privacy glass, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, driver-seat lumbar adjustment, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, upgraded cloth upholstery and cruise control.

　　Available option packages include the Popular Entertainment group (second-row power windows, a six-speaker stereo, heated front seats), a Cargo Partition package, a Lights and Wheels group (16-inch alloy wheels and foglights), and a tow package with a Class III hitch.

　　Other ProMaster City options include roof rails, a rear window defroster and wiper/washer, remote start, rear parking sensors, a navigation system (in combination with the 5-inch touchscreen), window grates and satellite radio.

　　

2018 Promaster City Highlights

Trim: Tradesman CargoWagonTradesman SLT CargoWagon SLTTradesman Cargo

　　

Base MSRP	$23,995
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$157/month
Seating	2 seats
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles