The Ram 1500 Is the Most Comfortable Truck on the Road, But the Reason Isn’t Obvious
The Ram 1500 has a reputation for being the most comfortable pickup truck on the road. There are a few surface things about the Ram that steer people away from the real reason the Ram 1500 is so smooth and comfortable on the road. While many pickups are stiff, bouncy, and loud, the Ram takes road imperfections and rough highways smoothly and silently. Let’s see how Ram does it.
What is the most comfortable pickup truck?
Most critics and consumers agree – even Edmunds and Consumer Reports agree – that the Ram 1500 is the most comfortable pickup truck on the road. Edmunds cites wind and road noise as being minimal. The sound of the V8 is even described as providing “only a soothing soundtrack unless you decide to open it up.” Critics from here to yon mention how supplely and smoothly the Ram soaks up rough pavement and road imperfections.
Aside from the smoothness and quietness of the Ram’s ride, the interior has also long been one of the cushiest around. Edmunds calls it a “pleasing place to spend time.” Its wide door entries make it easy to get in and out of as well. There is also headroom for miles in any seating position and more legroom than its competitors. To finish the comfort Sunday, Ram uses upmarket interior materials to add some zest with fit and finish.
Why is the Ram so comfortable?
While many people tend to focus on the interior design as the source of the Ram’s comfortable ride, the true reason for the Ram being the most comfortable pickup truck on the market lies buried underneath the shiny bells and whistles.
According to Edmunds, “Ram’s decade-old decision to walk away from leaf springs and switch to a coil-spring rear suspension continues to pay dividends.” This is the key. While many other Ram’s contemporaries are still leaning on the tough laurels of the rear leaf spring, Ram has proper coil spring suspension all around as standard. As an optional extra, Ram customers can also opt for the air ride suspension for added adjustability. This may seem like a small and nuanced feature, but we assure you it isn’t.
Suspension controls everything from the way your vehicle handles, corners, brakes, accelerates, and of course, how comfortable it is. Typically, the sportier the vehicle, the harder the suspension. This allows less wasted movement in all things from braking to cornering.
While stiff suspension is often better for performance, it is not better for our spines. The Softer suspension might make corners feels a little slushy, and brake and accelerating can come with a bit more mushiness, but it is far more civilized for day-to-day driving. For pickup trucks, stiffer suspension is typically less about cornering and more about hauling and towing. Ram seems to have struck just the right balance here.
Are there downsides to the Ram 1500?
The Ram 1500 is the most comfortable truck on the market, yet it does come at a cost. The cost for all this comfort is a bit of a performance sacrifice. Edmunds mentions that the Ram 1500 falls behind a bit on towing technology. There is also a strange lack of driver-assist features compared to its competition. Lastly, the Ram is behind in the powertrain department due to having no full hybrid powertrain option with the ability to export power.
The cool thing about the Ram is that it willingly sacrifices a bit of truckness to still offer people a brawny full-size pickup but with the comfort of a modern SUV or even crossover.
