The Ram 1500 Limited trim is the most luxurious in the lineup
It features a 5.7-litre HEMI with eTorque good for 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque
Pricing starts at over $76,000 in Canada, $59,000 in the US

A 2019 study conducted by Strategic Vision concluded that over 90% of pickup owners use their truck daily. A second study found that 65 % of truck owners weren’t towing over 5,000 pounds regularly and, even more surprising, 16% didn’t plan on towing at all with their truck. This 16% represents a LOT of people given that pickups are the best-selling segment in North America year in and year out.

So, what does this all mean? Well, it means that people buy trucks for a variety of reasons, not just as work tools. Automakers know this better than anyone, and that’s why every pickup lineup has a ton of versions including very expensive, rather luxurious trims. Enter the 2020 Ram 1500 Limited.

Luxury Interior and Features

The Limited is the top-of-the-line Ram 1500. It’s the Denali of Ram trucks, if you will. It has the most features and gadgets, and it starts at $76,645 in Canada (roughly $59,000 in the US). That’s a lot of coin for a pickup, and most people are surprised when they learn how much trucks can actually cost. Our tester was priced just over $85,265 which is roughly double the price of a base 1500 Tradesman. What do you get for your money?

Well, everything really.

Our tester had the Level 1 package which includes a 19-speaker Harmon/Kardon sound system, ventilated front AND rear seats (kind of like a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, when you think about it), adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, parallel parking assistance, lane departure warning and prevention, and active braking with collision detection.

Even without this package, the Ram 1500 Limited delivers on features with blind spot monitoring, automated tailgate, leather seats, 20-inch aluminum wheels, Active-Level Four-Corner Air Suspension, and the highlight of the interior, a 12-inch centre touchscreen with Uconnect 4C NAV multimedia.

We have to talk about this screen right off the bat. You won’t find anything like it in a GMC Sierra or Chevrolet Silverado. It’s stunning and functional, and kind of feels like a smaller version of Tesla’s infotainment screen. The new Ford F-150 unveiled last June, however, also has a large screen in the centre and even has an available digital instrument cluster. Still, the Ram’s 12-inch screen is still our favorite. Maybe that will change after we drive the new F-150 next month.

It’s hard to find fault with the quality of the materials and overall craftsmanship found inside the Ram 1500 Limited. The seats are supremely comfortable as well, something that 90-percent group of daily users will love.

Once you head out on the road, you notice that the Limited feels… different. That may have to do with the extra soundproofing courtesy of acoustic windows, or the aforementioned comfortable seats. The Limited is meant to be luxurious and it feels luxurious on the road. Looking over the vented hood, you feel in charge in traffic. The infotainment system is easy to use and quite honestly, FCA should give other automakers a class in designing multimedia technology.

The other reason the Limited feels different is the air suspension. Unlike lesser versions of any truck, the 1500 Limited doesn’t fall victim to potholes or undulations in the road. It sort of glides along. This is strikingly different from, say, a GMC Sierra Denali that although looks more luxurious doesn’t drive more luxurious. Same goes for the previous-generation Ford F-150 Limited. It looked the part but didn’t drive the part.

The 2020 Ram 1500 Limited is the only high-end truck that notably drives different from its more affordable brothers.

HEMI Power

Of course, the 2020 Ram 1500 Limited is powered by the 5.7-litre HEMI V8 that delivers 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque, but this particular trim gets eTorque technology standard. The 48-volt eTorque system essentially plays the role of the alternator, although it has the ability to recoup some of the energy generated when braking or when slowing down. This energy can then be sent back to the engine in order to develop more power, specifically an extra 130 pound-feet of torque. That explains why the HEMI with etorque can tow 12,750 pounds versus 11,610 pounds for the “regular” V8 HEMI.

You don’t feel it operating, however. The engine feels just like a good ol’ HEMI which means power is always available and the refinement of the engine is second to none.

Final Thoughts

In the odd world of luxury pickups, the Ram 1500 Limited does everything it has to do to stand out. Some might want a more distinctive look and I would agree the high-end Ram doesn’t have the presence of a Denali or F-150 Limited, in part because of those 20-inch wheels that don’t fill out their allotted space correctly, but that’s really the only issue with the 1500 Limited. Compared to its direct rivals, it is more comfortable, more refined, and the interior is more luxurious.