2020 Ram 1500 Classic Review

　　

2020 Ram 1500 Classic Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　You probably know that the 2020 Ram 1500 is a full-size light-duty pickup truck. But what's this 1500 Classic all about? Well, when Ram introduced its fully redesigned 1500 last year it decided to keep building the previous-generation truck at the same time. That means you're going to find the old truck, now called the Classic, alongside the new Ram 1500 on dealer lots.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Ram 1500 Classic Tradesman 2dr Regular Cab LB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) 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

　　$184/mo  for 1500 Classic Tradesman

　　1500 Classic Tradesman

　　Tradesman 2dr Regular Cab LB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $28,200 MSRPTradesman 2dr Regular Cab SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $28,200 MSRPTradesman 4dr Quad Cab SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $32,105 MSRPTradesman 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $32,800 MSRPTradesman 2dr Regular Cab 4WD SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $32,800 MSRPTradesman 4dr Crew Cab 5.6 ft SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $34,775 MSRPTradesman 4dr Crew Cab 6.3 ft SB (5.7L 8cyl 8A) - $35,145 MSRPTradesman 4dr Quad Cab 4WD SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $35,605 MSRPTradesman 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.6 ft SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $38,405 MSRPTradesman 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.3 ft SB (5.7L 8cyl 8A) - $38,980 MSRPExpress 2dr Regular Cab SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $29,700 MSRPExpress 2dr Regular Cab 4WD SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $34,300 MSRPExpress 4dr Quad Cab SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $34,305 MSRPExpress 4dr Crew Cab 5.6 ft SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $36,875 MSRPExpress 4dr Quad Cab 4WD SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $37,805 MSRPExpress 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.6 ft SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $40,505 MSRPSLT Fleet 2dr Regular Cab SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $32,145 MSRPSLT Fleet 2dr Regular Cab LB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $32,445 MSRPSLT Fleet 4dr Quad Cab SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $36,145 MSRPSLT Fleet 2dr Regular Cab 4WD SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $36,645 MSRPSLT Fleet 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $36,945 MSRPSLT Fleet 4dr Crew Cab 5.6 ft SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $38,795 MSRPSLT Fleet 4dr Quad Cab 4WD SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $39,745 MSRPSLT Fleet 4dr Crew Cab 6.3 ft SB (5.7L 8cyl 8A) - $40,545 MSRPSLT Fleet 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.6 ft SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $42,395 MSRPSLT Fleet 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.3 ft SB (5.7L 8cyl 8A) - $44,380 MSRPWarlock 4dr Quad Cab SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $36,145 MSRPWarlock 4dr Crew Cab 5.6 ft SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $38,795 MSRPWarlock 4dr Quad Cab 4WD SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $39,745 MSRPWarlock 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.6 ft SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $42,395 MSRP

　　vs

　　$233/mo

　　Avg. Large Truck

　　Why bother with the 1500 Classic? Well, it's sort of a budget model. It has a lower base price than any version of the new model, but it's also unavailable with many of the new truck's features and equipment. Compared to the latest offerings from Ford and Chevrolet, the Ram 1500 Classic looks and feels dated. That said, if you're in the market for a relatively affordable utility vehicle and don't mind the lack of bells and whistles, the 1500 Classic is definitely worth a look.

　　

Which 1500 Classic does zzdcar recommend?

While you could step up to the Express or Warlock model, we suggest going with the base-level Tradesman. It packs in a ton of utility for the price and is offered in the widest array of cab and bed configurations. You can get it with nearly as many optional features as the other two trims too.

　　

2020 Ram 1500 Classic models

The 2020 Ram 1500 Classic is available in three trim levels: Tradesman, Express and Warlock. There are three cab configurations (regular cab, crew cab and Quad Cab) and three bed lengths (5 feet 7 inches, 6 feet 4 inches, and 8 feet) available, though certain combinations are limited to specific trims.

　　Each 1500 Classic is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 (305 horsepower, 269 lb-ft) paired to an eight-speed automatic. A 5.7-liter V8 (395 hp, 410 lb-ft) is optional on all three trims. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and four-wheel drive is optional.

　　Tradesman

　　The base comes standard with features such as:

　　A 40/20/40-split vinyl bench front seat (cloth is optional) Vinyl floors A Class IV receiver hitch with integrated trailer wiring Power heated mirrors 2 USB portsExpress

　　The midlevel trim adds on:

　　Body-colored exterior trim 17-inch alloy wheels Tinted glass windows Carpeted floorsWarlock

　　Going with this top-grade trim gets you:

　　20-inch black-gloss alloy wheels Black trim with Ram logo grille Rear sliding window Projector headlights with LED foglights A 5-inch touchscreen displayNotable options for the Ram 1500 Classic include:

　　A limited-slip differential to help improve traction Various axle gear ratios Cargo bins in the bed sides (RamBox) An 8.4-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto A tow package with tow mirrors and a trailer brake control

　　

2020 1500 Classic Highlights

Type: Crew CabRegular CabQuad CabQuad Cab

　　Trim: TradesmanExpressWarlockSLT FleetTradesman

　　

Base MSRP	$32,105
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	20 MPG
Cost to Drive	$184/month
Seating	6 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Max Towing Capacity	10,510 lbs.
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles