2018 Ram 1500 pricing and specs

As the North American market begins rollout of the new-generation 2019 Ram 1500, Australian details for the older 2018 Ram 1500 have been announced this week.

UPDATE, 23/8/18: The original version of this article listed a rear-view camera as standard equipment across the range, however this isn't the case. A rear-view camera is included with the Laramie specification only.

The older 1500 will continue to be built alongside the new model as a more affordable entry option for American buyers, but, for the foreseeable future, it will be the only version of the 1500 sold here. Pricing will kick off from $79,950 drive-away, a neat step down from the $139,500 price of the bigger 2500 already available.

Two cab variants will be offered – Express with Quad Cab and Laramie with Crew Cab. They offer 3.3 cubic metres and 3.5 cubic metres of interior space respectively, though the smaller cab gets a longer tray – 6'4" v 5'8".

In its largest form, the 1500's tray measures "more than 1.2 metres wide" between the wheel arches, with the company's RamBoxes also available, offering two 240L lockers on each side of the tub.

Regardless of trim grade, though, all Ram 1500 models are powered by a 5.7-litre 'Hemi' petrol V8, which develops 291kW of power at 5600rpm and 556Nm of torque at 3950rpm.

Drive is sent to a selectable four-wheel drive system via an eight-speed automatic gearbox with low range – though Laramie versions get an electric full-time on-demand transfer case compared to the Express's part-time unit.

To save fuel, there's active grille shutters in the engine bay, which help to better regulate engine temperatures and reduce drag.

Up front the suspension features an upper and lower 'A' arm setup, with coil springs, twin-tube shock absorbers and a stabiliser bar. At the rear there's a five-link system with track bar, coil springs, twin-tube shock absorbers and a solid axle.

There are disc brakes all round, too, measuring 336mm in diameter at the front and 352mm out back, with the front discs featuring two-piston calipers while the rear has single-piston units.

Standard equipment in the 1500 Express (pictured in white) includes a colour-matched front grille and bumpers, black side steps, 20-inch alloy wheels, front fog-lights, a heavy-duty tow bar, spray-in bed liner, rear parking sensors, cloth upholstery, a 5.0-inch Uconnect touchscreen, Bluetooth, six-speaker audio, manual air conditioning, power windows front and rear, along with floor mats.

For a little under $10,000 extra, the 1500 Express can be upgraded with the Black Pack, which "as the name suggests, turns everything to black".

Meanwhile, the 1500 Laramie (from $99,950) gains a host of comfort and luxury features over the entry-level model, including a chrome grille, chrome 20-inch alloy wheels, chrome side steps, chrome bumpers, an electrochromic rear-view mirror, rear-view camera, front parking sensors, automatic wipers, power-adjustable pedals, leather upholstery, an 8.4-inch Uconnect system with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, additional 12V outlets at the rear, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel.

On top of that, the Laramie specification also nabs remote keyless entry, climate control air conditioning, rear air vents, and a remote start function.

All versions of the 1500 measure 5816mm long, and 2018mm wide. The Express stands 1975mm tall, while the Laramie is slightly shorter at 1968mm. There's 219.5mm of ground clearance at the rear axle (232.7mm front), while approach/break over/departure angles are 17.8/20.5/25.4 (24.7 Laramie) degrees respectively.

The 1500 has a maximum braked towing capacity of up to 4500kg – 1000kg more than most mainstream utes – payload of up to 912kg (Express), and a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 3330kg.

Express versions get a 121-litre fuel tank, while Laramie models get a smaller 98L tank. Fuel use is rated at 12.2L/100km on the combined cycle.

Options include metallic/pearl paint ($850) and a 'Trifold' tonneau cover for non-RamBox versions ($1795).

The Ram 1500 range is covered by a three year, 100,000km warranty with three years of roadside assistance.

All prices listed exclude on-road costs unless specified otherwise.

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