Trucks are dominating American roads, and there are many makes and models of trucks to choose from. That said, MotorTrend declared that the Ram 1500 was the best truck of the year. Here’s why the Ram 1500 won that coveted award.

Great at its job

There are many reasons to buy a truck over an SUV or a minivan. Whether it’s just commuting from A to B or it’s towing and hauling a heavy load, Americans want a truck that can do what they want it to do. According to MotorTrend, the Ram 1500 can do all that, and then some. 

The 2019 Ram 1500 can handle a payload of up over 2,300 lb. It also has a towing capacity of about 12,750 lb. MotorTrend says that this is one of the highest towing capacities in its class, and it’s only second to the Ford F-150.

However, towing isn’t just about how much a truck can tow, it’s also about how it feels to tow it. And according to MotorTrend, this is where the Ram 1500 really shines. The Ram 1500’s rearview cameras and blind-spot sensors will allow you to safely tow a load to its destination. MotorTrend also says that the Ram 1500 feels better towing the same-sized load than the other trucks do.

Plus, for drivers looking to get a truck for commuting, the Ram 1500 is decent at it too. MotorTrend says that the Ram 1500’s 5.7-liter V8 is the most fuel-efficient V8 in its class. It gets a combined 19 MPG while delivering 395-hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. For drivers not interested in a V8, then Ram offers a 3.6-liter V6 that gets a combined 22 MPG. This V6 will deliver 305-hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. 

A new safe and beautiful design 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety put the Ram 1500 through a series of crash tests, and the results were remarkable. The Ram 1500’s new and improved high-strength chassis allows it to be one of the safest trucks on the market. The Ram 1500 got the best grade possible in every crash test, according to MotorTrend. The only area where it wasn’t great was its headlights.

Furthermore, as MotorTrend mentioned, the Ram 1500 comes with a lot of standard as well as optional safety features. Many of those safety features are smart safety features, too. These features, along with the powerful redesign, allows the Ram 1500 to be a very safe truck for drivers and for their families.

On top of that, the redesign has also beautified both the interior and the exterior of the Ram 1500. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, like MotorTrend said, but MotorTrend really loved the looks of the Ram 1500. It’s not just MotorTrend, either. The CEO of General Motors thinks that the Ram 1500’s interior is so great that GM’s own trucks just can’t compete with the Ram 1500.

Well priced

How well a truck performs is great and all, but none of that matters if regular Americans can’t get their hands on it. MotorTrend agrees, and for the prices that Ram is asking for, the Ram 1500 is a steal, especially compared to its competitors. 

Starting at about $33,000 and with trims costing up to $68,000, the Ram 1500 is either cheaper than its competitors or about the same in cost. But, that price tag pays for all the great things that MotorTrend’s said about the Ram 1500, as well as all the other things that weren’t mentioned. The premium options that are available for the Ram 1500 are also fairly priced.

For these reasons and more, MotorTrend gave the 2019 Ram 1500 its coveted Truck of the Year award.