2021 Ram 2500

Introduced for 2019 alongside the totally redesigned Ram 1500 half-ton pickup, the Ram 2500 is gateway into Ram’s heavy-duty lineup. This three-quarter ton Ram 2500 provides more capability than the 1500, but without moving into the heavier, more expensive and more commercially-driven one-ton Ram 3500. The 2500 battles the Chevrolet Silverado HD, Ford F-250 Super Duty, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and Nissan Titan XD for hauling dominance and in many ways comes out on top.

Unchanged for 2021, the Ram 2500 adds a new available digital rearview mirror, and two new appearance packages. A $995 blackout-trim Night Edition joins the line, as does a 75^th anniversary version of the Power Wagon. This latter special includes a long list of luxury features, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, and premium leather upholstery for an $11,715 upcharge. 

The 2500 starts with a two-door Regular Cab with 8-foot box. There’s no Quad Cab as on the 1500. It’s straight to a Crew Cab, with 6-foot-4 or 8-foot box, or longer Mega Cab, with 6-foot-4 bed. Six trim levels range from the work-grade Tradesman to luxurious Limited. The off-road-ready Power Wagon is Crew Cab only, while the Regular Cab spans only the two lowest trims. Most versions offer two- or four-wheel drive (for an extra $2,900), except for the Power Wagon and all Mega Cab models, which are 4×4 only.

Prices start at $36,715 for Tradesman Regular Cab 4×2, including a $1,695 destination charge, and go to $69,030 for a Limited Mega Cab. That’s fairly comparable to rivals, where the Ford F-250 starts at $35,925, and Chevrolet’s Silverado 2500 begins at $36,995. All HD trucks save for the one-configuration-only Titan XD can soar in price as options are added, and the Ram 2500 is no exception.

The option list is a mile long, including multiple axle ratios, a catalog of cosmetic additions, an automatic rear-leveling air suspension for $1,705, a surround-view camera with tow views for $445, a fifth-wheel/gooseneck prep package for $530 and an array of extra-cost active-safety features. It’s possible to load up a 2500 to over $83,000 if you check every box. 

The standard engine is a 6.4-litre V8 that makes 410 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Optional, and available on everything but the Power Wagon, is a 6.7-litre inline-six Cummins turbodiesel with six-speed automatic, making 370 horsepower and 850 pound-feet of torque. 

The diesel is a hefty $9,400 extra, but these engines are not a bargain anywhere, and average around the $10,000 level from Ford and GM. Before you choose diesel, assess the pros and cons. It will have higher resale value, but oil changes are more expensive, and you have to add diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) for emissions. If DEF runs out, the truck will limp at low speed until it’s refilled.

The Ram’s engines will be enough for most tasks, but big numbers are the bragging rights in this segment. For gasoline, GM’s 6.6-litre V8 has less horsepower but makes 464 pound-feet of torque. Ford’s standard 6.2-litre V8 is also lighter on horsepower than Ram but makes 430 pound-feet of torque, and its optional 7.3-litre V8 makes 430 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque.

Ram is behind both for diesel numbers. GM’s 6.6-litre V8 Duramax diesel makes 445 horsepower and 910 pound-feet of torque, while Ford’s 6.7-litre Power Stroke diesel provides 475 horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet of torque, and both use ten-speed automatic transmissions to Ram’s six-speed. Ram offers a high-output version of its diesel, rated at 1,075 pound-feet of torque, but only in its 3500 trucks.

The EPA doesn’t rate HD trucks for their fuel numbers, but we drove the Mega Cab 4×4 diesel, without loading it, and observed 16.8 mpg. In the absence of the EPA numbers, the crowdsourced data we do have, based on real-world reviews by owners, suggests the Ram a little more frugal than the GM pickups and a little less than the Ford. All are superior to the Titan.

For towing, one of the major purposes of such trucks the Ram ties the Ford F-250 for a maximum rating of 20,000 pounds, when equipped with the diesel. Gas-powered Ram 2500s top out at 17,220 pounds. GM’s trucks top out at 18,500 pounds, also with an optional diesel. 

Towing and payload capacity depend on several factors, including engine, driveline, load and axle ratio, and the highest-rated trucks aren’t always the most popular configurations. In this case, however, the standard bed Ram 2500 crew cab, the most popular setup, is one of the 20,000-pound rated models.

The Ram is a big truck and drives like it, but the ride is relatively smooth for a three-quarter-ton when it isn’t loaded, as these can tend to bounce around on their stiff springs. All 4×4 models will get you off the pavement, but for playing in the dirt, choose the Power Wagon. It includes locking front and rear differentials, disconnecting front axle, and off-road suspension that make it as capable as a Jeep Wrangler, if not as easy to fit onto tight trails.

The Ram’s interior is a class-leader for looks, and like its competitors, can be optioned to serious luxury. Still, its 40.9 inches of front legroom trails Chevrolet’s at 43.9, or Ford’s at 44.5 inches. And while those two offer 43.6 and 43.4 inches respectively for crew-cab rear-seat legroom, Ram has only 40.2 inches for rear-seat riders in its crew, but 43.1 inches in the Mega Cab. But while Ram’s Mega Cab increases rear legroom only slightly over the crew, most of its extra 11.1 inches of overall cab length goes behind the rear seat, where there’s almost 6 cubic feet of storage.

All 2500 trims include a Uconnect-based infotainment system, among the industry’s best for features and ease of use, with screens ranging from 5 to 12 inches. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all but the two base trims.

Depending on the trim, standard or optional features include dual-zone climate control, ventilated seats, power-adjustable pedals, and a huge center console for storage. As in the 1500, Ram has in-cabin storage options down to a science and the 2500 has many clever stowage ideas. This extends to the bed, too, with the storage-optimized RamBox cargo bed a $295 option on Laramie, Power Wagon and Limited Longhorn models.

The Ram 2500 earns four crash-test stars from NHTSA, one less than Ford’s F-250. While Ford provides a few and Nissan many active-safety features as standard equipment, Ram makes all such features optional. On most models, optional items are bundled together in packages ranging from $1,670 to $4,085 depending on the model and include adaptive cruise control with stopping capability, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, forward collision warnings with automatic emergency braking and automatic high beams.

Brand loyalty plays a strong role in most heavy-duty truck purchases, but the Ram 2500 is at or near the top of the class in comfort, capability and style. For value, a well-optioned Laramie will combine all of the basic capabilities of the workhorse Ram 2500s with many of the niceties of the higher-end trims, though off-road fans will want the Power Wagon.