2019 Ram Promaster Cargo Van Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　

What's new

Increase in towing and payload capacitiesMild front-end styling updatesPart of the first ProMaster Cargo generation introduced for 2014

　　Few vehicles have changed as dramatically in the last few years as the full-size cargo van. Traditional models based on heavy-duty pickup frames and components have largely given way to lighter, narrower and taller vans that are safer, more efficient and easier to drive.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Ram Promaster Cargo Van 1500 Low Roof 3dr Van w/118" WB (3.6L 6cyl 6A) 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 N/A undefined in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　Not Available  for Promaster Cargo Van 1500 Low Roof

　　Promaster Cargo Van 1500 Low Roof

　　1500 Low Roof 3dr Van w/118" WB (3.6L 6cyl 6A) - $30,195 MSRP1500 Low Roof 3dr Van w/136" WB (3.6L 6cyl 6A) - $32,295 MSRP1500 High Roof 3dr Van (3.6L 6cyl 6A) - $32,895 MSRP2500 Low Roof 3dr Van (3.6L 6cyl 6A) - $33,595 MSRP2500 High Roof 3dr Van w/136" WB (3.6L 6cyl 6A) - $33,895 MSRP2500 High Roof 3dr Van w/159" WB (3.6L 6cyl 6A) (Most Popular) - $35,695 MSRP3500 Low Roof 3dr Van (3.6L 6cyl 6A) - $34,895 MSRP3500 High Roof 3dr Van w/136" WB (3.6L 6cyl 6A) - $35,195 MSRP3500 High Roof 3dr Van w/159" WB (3.6L 6cyl 6A) - $36,895 MSRP3500 High Roof 3dr Ext Van (3.6L 6cyl 6A) - $39,645 MSRP

　　vs

　　$283/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Van

　　Several models, including the Chevrolet Express, the GMC Savana and the Nissan NV, still use a truck frame as a base, while the Ford Transit used carlike unibody construction for reduced weight and improved ride comfort. The 2019 Ram ProMaster Cargo takes it a step further: Not only does it have a unibody, but it's also driven by its front wheels. All rivals are rear-wheel-drive.

　　Front-wheel drive offers benefits such as a lower floor height, which makes cargo loading and entry and exit easier. And extra engine weight over the front wheels can offer better traction on slippery roads. A tight turning circle also helps with low-speed maneuverability. Front-wheel drive, however, limits towing capacity, and while the ProMaster offers increased capacity for 2019 — it can now tow up to 6,800 pounds, 30 percent more than before — it still falls short of the more than 7,000-pound maximums of its Ford, Nissan and Mercedes Sprinter rivals.

　　But the ProMaster remains strong where it counts for cargo vans: Its maximum payload capacity of 4,680 pounds ranks near the top of its field.

　　The Ram ProMaster is a good pick for commercial use if you can overlook its unconventional style (slightly updated for 2019), strange buslike driving position and mediocre towing ability. If you can, the payoff is a cargo van with excellent city mobility and easy cargo loading and unloading.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

　　The 2019 Ram ProMaster Cargo breaks the cargo van mold with unibody construction and front-wheel drive, a layout typically used in cars and crossovers. It can't tow as much as rivals, but a low floor height makes for easy cargo loading while a tight turning radius makes navigating crowded city streets a cinch.

　　

Trim tested

　　zzdcar has limited experience with the Ram ProMaster Cargo. The following is our take on what's significant about it and what you can expect.

　　

Driving

　　The 3.6-liter V6 is refined, with smooth shifts and a notable lack of engine noise. It feels easy to drive this van in crowded urban centers thanks to light steering, a relatively tight turning radius and vast forward visibility.

　　

Comfort

　　The seats are well-bolstered, but the driving position is odd. The steering wheel only telescopes and does so in an up-and-down fashion — it's not dissimilar from a bus and many are bound to find it uncomfortable, especially tall drivers who'll be hunching over the wheel.

　　

Interior

　　There's nothing fancy about the ProMaster. Like all cargo vans, this beast is about function, not form. The ProMaster doesn't offer blind-spot monitoring, so consider the optional tow mirrors and side window glass for extra visibility.

　　

Utility

　　A low liftover height makes it easy to load items or step into the boxy cargo area. Cargo capacity ranges from 259 cubic feet in the short-wheelbase, low-roof 1500 model to 467 cubes in the long-wheelbase, high-roof 3500 with the extended cargo area.

　　

Technology

　　A rearview camera and a 5-inch touchscreen with Ram's intuitive Uconnect interface are standard.

　　

Which Promaster Cargo Van does zzdcar recommend?

　　Standard features remain the same regardless of trim, so the best model for you depends on the length and roof height that you need. Lower-numbered models correspond to a smaller wheelbase and a shorter roof height. For instance, the 1500 is the only one that offers a short wheelbase and low-roof combination, while the 3500 models can only be ordered with a long wheelbase and a high roof.

　　

2019 Ram Promaster Cargo Van models

　　The 2019 Ram ProMaster Cargo is a large van with two seats and a large cargo area designed for storing gear and upfitting. There are no traditional trim levels. Instead, its 1500, 2500 and 3500 levels indicate the size of the vehicle (higher numbers translate to longer available wheelbases and taller roofs) as well as increasing payload ratings.

　　All ProMaster models come with a 3.6-liter V6 gasoline engine (280 horsepower, 260 pound-feet of torque) that drives the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.

　　The 1500 carries a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR, or maximum allowable weight of the vehicle and its contents) of 8,550 pounds, with a payload rating of 3,770 to 3,990 pounds, depending on configuration. A 118-inch wheelbase and a low cargo roof are standard, while a 136-inch wheelbase model is available with either a low or high cargo roof.

　　The 2500's GVWR is listed at 8,900 pounds, with a payload rating of 3,700 to 4,130 pounds. It's available in a high-roof configuration with a 136-inch or 159-inch wheelbase.

　　Lastly, the GVWR for the 3500 is listed at 9,350 pounds, with a payload rating of 4,020 to 4,430 pounds. A high roof is standard, as is a 159-inch wheelbase, and you can even order an extended version with a longer cargo area.

　　Standard features on the Ram ProMaster 1500 include 16-inch steel wheels, split-opening rear doors, manually adjustable mirrors, remote locking and unlocking, a full-size spare tire, a rearview camera, air conditioning, cloth upholstery, a telescoping-only steering wheel, cargo lights, tie-down rings in the cargo area, a 5-inch touchscreen, two USB ports, and a four-speaker audio system with an auxiliary audio jack and a media player interface.

　　The 2500 and 3500 versions come with the same equipment as the 1500, but they feature a heavy-duty suspension to deal with the higher payloads.

　　Optional features include alloy wheels, power-folding and heated mirrors, windows for the sliding rear doors, rear windows, daytime running lights, rear parking sensors, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, vinyl upholstery, heated seats, lumbar adjustment for one or both seats, a double passenger seat, swivel seats, a suspended driver's seat, cargo-area climate control, satellite radio, a navigation system and a tow hitch.

　　A few options are also available through Mopar, including remote engine start, electronic vehicle tracking, carpeted or rubberized floor mats, LED cargo lighting, a spray-in bedliner and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

　　

2019 Promaster Cargo Van Highlights

Trim: 1500 Low Roof1500 High Roof2500 Low Roof2500 High Roof3500 Low Roof3500 High Roof1500 Low Roof

　　

Base MSRP	$30,195
Engine Type	Gas
Seating	2 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	259.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles