The 2022 Ram 1500 is a favorite pickup truck and it’s consistently ranked at or near the top of Best Of lists. Still, it’s not perfect – what vehicle is? – and it’s not for everyone. Here are three reasons why the 2022 Ram 1500 is the best pickup truck of the year – and three reasons why you might want to skip it.

The 2022 Ram 1500 is the best pickup truck at an affordable price

The 2022 Ram 1500 price starts at $36,675. That’s for the base model, the Ram Tradesman. There are other trim levels available too. The 2022 Ram 1500 TRX costs $74,085.

 There’s a 3.6-liter V6 engine that makes 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque with an eTorque hybrid system. There’s also a 5.7-liter V8 that puts out 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque that you can get with or without the hybrid eTorque. Then there’s a 3.0 turbocharged diesel V6 that can do 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Finally, the 2022 Ram 1500 TRX offers a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 capable of 702 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. Properly equipped, the Ram 1500 can tow up to 12,000 pounds. 

There are plenty of trim levels to customize your Ram truck

The 2022 Ram 1500 has several trim levels to allow you to customize it exactly how you want it. These include the Tradesman HFE, Big Horn, Rebel, Laramie, Longhorn, Limited, and TRX. Edmunds says that while the Big Horn doesn’t offer a whole lot more than the Tradesman, the best reason to upgrading to it is that you can then choose from better entertainment and safety packages.

The Ram 1500 is loaded with features

The 2022 Ram 1500 has 18-inch wheels, remote entry and remote start, and an air filtration system. It also comes with a six-speaker sound system. The 2022 Ram 1500 TRX comes with flared fenders, amber LED lights, and an upgraded engine cooling system. The Ram TRX also has a lifted suspension system, performance exhaust, and upgraded brakes. In addition, it comes with electronic locking rear differential and skid plates.

The Ram 1500 has been recalled

The 2022 Ram 1500 is such a good truck that you’re probably thinking nothing could possibly go wrong. Yet there are some drawbacks, and its recent recall is one of them. The Ram was recalled for an “Inoperable Defrosting/Defogging System/FMVSS 103.” Basically, that means that the defrost and defogging function can not work properly, which can result in drivers not being able to see out of the windshield. 

It’s not exactly fuel-efficient

Drive a lot? You’ll want to know that the Ram 1500 isn’t exactly fuel-efficient. The Ram gets an overall 17 mpg, with 11 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. It has a 26-gallon tank and can go 416 miles on a full tank. 

It can be expensive to maintain

Ram trucks are expensive to maintain. The Ram 1500 will cost you $17,677 for the first ten years of ownership. That number is $7,612 worse than the average cost for other popular pickup trucks. In addition, there’s a 54.8% chance that you’ll need to do a major repair to your Ram 1500. This is 33% worse than other pickup trucks in the Ram 1500’s class.

Overall, the 2022 Ram 1500 is a great pickup truck. It’s sturdy, easy to customize, and starts at an affordable price for its class. Of course, you’ll have to weigh its positives against its negatives to see if the Ram truck is the right one for you.