New truck buyers often turn to expert reviews for insight when deciding which truck to buy. Automotive critics provide a resource for specifications, model comparisons, hands-on driving characteristics, and craftsmanship descriptions. But sometimes, it’s difficult for a critic to consider every buyer’s needs. For example, the 2023 Ram 1500 Classic is the perfect work truck for some and an “overpriced antique” for others. 

Is the 2023 Ram 1500 Classic ‘an overpriced antique’?

The Edmunds review points out that the 2023 Ram 1500 Classic belongs to the fourth generation of Ram trucks introduced for the 2009 model year. While its 14 years won’t officially qualify the 2023 Ram 1500 as an antique, it is pretty. Compared to the fifth-generation non-Classic Ram 1500, the evolution in driver-assist safety features is readily evident. 

While the 1500 Classic is cheaper than the fifth-gen Ram 1500 in every configuration, their reviewer will get no argument that newer Tradesman models are worth the extra cost. However, describing the 2023 Ram 1500 Classic as “an overpriced antique” seems slightly harsh. 

Who should buy a 2023 Ram 1500 Classic?

The fifth-gen Ram 1500 is indeed a nice truck. However, the 2023 Ram 1500 Classic delivers where the newer model falls short. Ram 1500 truck shoppers who desire a single cab pickup with an eight-foot truck bed will only find it with the Ram 1500 Classic. 

The Classic Tradesman and Warlock trims provide Crew and Quad Cab model options. In most cases, those extended cab options pair with either 67-inch or 76-inch bed lengths but without the long bed option. 

However, those Ram 1500 truck shoppers that want a Crew or Quad cab configuration with shorter beds and modern tech should consider the fifth-gen Ram. The newer model’s prices range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars more than a similar style Classic model when compared using Ram’s online truck build tool.

Why does Ram still offer the outdated 1500 Classic?

According to Motor1, Ram continued the Classic line of Ram 1500 trucks to retain buyers unwilling or unable to pay the higher price for the fifth-generation Ram. While that might have been the case when the new model debuted in 2019, the Ram 1500 Classic found its niche and remained profitable. 

As discussed above, the Classic 1500 carries a lower price tag. In some configurations, the difference is a few thousand bucks. The lower price makes it attractive to buyers willing to forego some of the bells and whistles in the newer version. The combination of profitability and consumer demand represents the goal of an automaker. 

While the 2023 Ram 1500 Classic isn’t the best choice for everyone, it’s still an excellent option for anyone who wants a simpler truck at a lower price. And if you need the Ram Classic exclusive single cab, long-bed configuration, it’s your only Ram 1500 option. Don’t think of the Classic as an “overpriced antique,” but more as the Wise Elder of the Ram truck lineup.