RAM 1500 Express Crew Cab 2020 Review

The fourth-generation RAM 1500 Express Crew Cab has already been superseded in its home market. But for selected markets, including Australia, the American-built utility is one of the newest – and one of the cheapest – in the current RAM 1500 line-up.

Offered solely with a 291kW/556Nm 5.7-litre V8 HEMI multipoint-injected petrol engine and Torque-flite eight-speed automatic pairing, the dual-range four-wheel drive 1500 Express Crew Cab provides 830kg of payload and a braked towing capacity of 4500kg.

The tub measures 1712 x 1295mm which means it’s more than large enough to take a standard Australian pallet (1165 x 1165mm) between its wheel arches.

Equipment for this mid-grade model is minimal, but includes most of the basics. Air-conditioning, cruise control and Bluetooth connectivity are offered, as is cloth upholstery, a six-speaker sound system, a plastic tub liner, 20-inch alloy wheels and four-wheel disc brakes.

The headline act for the RAM 1500 Express Crew Cab is its price. At $89,950 (plus on-road costs) it’s the second-cheapest 1500 variant currently offered in Australia, sitting above the smaller 1500 Quad Cab.

Its list price includes the aforementioned equipment items, and a three-year/100,000km warranty and roadside assistance package. Service intervals are set at 12 months or 20,000km (whichever comes first).

Optional extras are few. Metallic paint is available for $950 and a tonneau cover will set you back $1795. RAM’s Black Pack retails for $5000 while a sports exhaust system is $3267. RAM boxes – which make use of the otherwise wasted space between the tub and rear guards – are also offered (and fitted to our test example). The test vehicle was also fitted with a tow kit.

The spacious five-seat cabin is home to Chrysler/Jeep/RAM’s 8.4-inch UCONNECT touchscreen infotainment interface with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Proprietary satellite navigation, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors are also included.

The RAM 1500 Express Crew Cab is a built-for-purpose dual-cab ute. It’s a sizeable vehicle, too, meaning it’s not going to suit many typical Ford Ranger or Toyota HiLux buyers, simply because of its size.

Compared to the HiLux the 1500 Express Crew Cab is 487mm longer (5817mm), 162mm wider (2017mm) and 175mm taller (1990mm). Most of the additional length comes from the RAM’s 3571mm wheelbase which at 486mm longer than the HiLux’s gives the 1500 Express Crew Cab a considerable turning circle of 13.9m (1.1m wider than the Toyota dual-cab).

In truth, the 1500 Express Crew Cab is a little harder to position in its lane (at first) and it can be a bugger to park. But the trade-off as we’ve already mentioned is a considerably larger cabin, its generous oddment storage compartments, the bigger tray bed, and the additional 1300kg of braked towing ability over dual-cab utes like the Toyota HiLux (which is rated at 3200kg for the turbo-diesel automatic).

The RAM 1500 Express’ engine pulls cleanly from idle. Torque is readily available and with an intelligent eight-speed automatic making best use of the HEMI’s power, there’s little need to ‘floor’ the 1500 Express to get results. But sometimes it’s worth it, just to hear that V8 sing.

It accelerates effortlessly to and beyond the speed limit, and is able to hold and even ‘gear down’ of its own accord as required in corners. In spite of its size, the 1500 Express handles the bends quite well. The steering is positive, and well assisted. Brake feel and modulation is likewise excellent; something not always common to vehicles of this size.

It’s also impressive that the RAM 1500 Express rides comfortably and quietly. The separation of body and chassis benefit the rubber-mounted cabin in eliminating most of the driveline, road and tyre noise from the interior. It’s a surprising point that is only really noted when jumping in and out of monocoque-bodied (and smaller) SUVs. In a word, the NVH properties of the 1500 Express are excellent.

The RAM’s left- to right-hand drive engineering conversion is very professionally done. In fact, there are only a few hints as to the RAM’s left-hand drive origins – and thankfully none you feel while driving.

The location of the foot-operated park brake hard against the footwell’s outboard kick panel is both illogical and grating. You need to brake with your left foot while using the edge of your right foot to activate the park brake before selecting Park; and again when releasing the park brake before selecting Reverse or Drive. It also came apart while the vehicle was on test…

There are other left-hand drive ‘tells’ as well. The rotary gearshift dial sits within the opposing indent to its obvious outline, and it’s the driver, and not the passenger, that scores a vanity mirror on their sunvisor. It’s not an issue in the greater scheme of things, and most people probably won’t notice. But they’re obvious to the keen observer all the same.

The 1500 Express Crew Cab joined the RAM portfolio in February 2020. It offers a larger cab than the entry-grade 1500 Quad Cab ($79,950), and adopts some of the technology features of the high-grade 1500 Laramie ($99,950).

All three variants are available as standard with the aforementioned 5.7-litre HEMI V8 engine, while the top-spec Laramie is offered optionally with the 3.0-litre EcoDiesel V6.

RAM offers its 1500, 2500 and 3500 models locally. All are imported from the United States and converted to right-hand drive by the Walkinshaw Group for American Special Vehicles (which is owned by FCA’s New Zealand distributor Ateco Group).

It’s pretty obvious the 1500 Express Crew Cab is a workhorse variant selling in an arena packed with show ponies. For this money there are plenty of popular dual-cab utes available with more mod-cons, plusher interiors, and better payload capacities. But few can match the RAM for cabin space and towing capacity, which really has its benefits.

Buyers keen on towing horse floats, trailer boats and dual-axle caravans will appreciate the RAM 1500 Express Crew Cab for its larger, more stable footprint and hefty braked towing value of 4500kg. It’s a more comfortable and confident vehicle on longer highway trips and proved worthwhile in Laramie format when matched to a 3000kg Jayco Silverline caravan during a recent carsales tow test.

As a large dual-cab utility with close to one-tonne payload and a generous braked towing capacity the RAM 1500 Express Crew Cab is a clear rival to the Chevrolet Silverado 1500  and Ford F-150.

For agricultural, trade and recreational buyers the RAM 1500 Express Crew Cab is also a worthy contender to a wide variety of one-tonne dual-cab utes including the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, and the obvious mother-of-all workhorse utes, the Toyota 70-series LandCruiser.

It’s a pity the RAM 1500 ‘Classic’ (as it’s known in other markets) is the only model offered Down Under. It’s been on sale since 2009, and in some respects is beginning to show its age.

The new, fifth-generation 1500 (and 2500 and 3500 models) released stateside in 2019 is a real looker, and an altogether more modern vehicle. It’s available in seven trim grades, with a choice of three body styles, RAM’s trick new multifunction tailgate, and with Pentastar V6 petrol, HEMI V8 ETORQUE mild-hybrid or EcoDiesel V6 engines.

Alas, we’ll have to wait…

In the meantime the RAM 1500 Express Crew Cap plugs a gap. It gives Aussie buyers their first taste of a full-size American pick-up, and confident V8 power. It’s a vehicle that delivers a no-fuss compromise to the lesser-equipped 70-series LandCruiser, or to less-capable but stronger-selling dual-cab utes.

A conundrum? Perhaps... But for those who value space, strength and solidity over a large T-shaped badge – or a bunch of creature comforts you’ll likely never use – the 1500 Express Crew Cab makes a lot of sense.

How much does the 2020 RAM 1500 Express Crew Cab cost?
Price: $89,950 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 5.7-litre eight-cylinder petrol
Output: 291kW/556Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 12.2L/100km (ADR Combined); 13.0L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 283g/km (estimated)
Safety Rating: Not Assessed

What we liked:
>> Towing capacity
>> Engine performance
>> Spacious cabin and tray bed

Not so much:
>> LHD telltales
>> Lower payload capacity
>> Already superseded overseas