2019 Ram 2500 First Drive

The Ram 2500 is completely redesigned for 2019. It has a fresh new face, a high-tech user interface, and an infusion of the latest advanced driver safety equipment. But deep down, we know that's not what it's all about. All of the luxury trimmings on a heavy-duty rig are rendered useless if the truck can't perform where it counts: towing and hauling. And guess what? The new Ram 2500 shines in those categories, too.

What's New?

As before, the Ram 2500 sits between the full-size Ram 1500 and the dually-only Ram 3500 in regards to capability and price. (We've also driven the redesigned 3500. For the full details on that vehicle, check out our First Drive.) The most obvious change for the 2019 Ram 2500 is its updated appearance that is highlighted by a new grille design, new headlights and taillights, and a flashy new interior.

Under the hood, the Ram features a revised powertrain lineup. The previously standard 5.7-liter V8 engine is no longer available. In its place is the previously optional 6.4-liter V8 that's paired to a new eight-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged 6.7-liter diesel six-cylinder is still optional, and it still comes with a six-speed automatic.

The heavy-duty Ram also gets chassis and suspension updates. Thanks to a frame with more high-strength steel, an aluminum hood, and reductions in powertrain mass, overall weight for the 2500 is down by about 140 pounds. The 2500's suspension bushings are new, as are the engine mounts and exhaust hangers, all of which help reduce noise and vibration in the cabin. Ram says it has also decreased the truck's drag coefficient with the redesign, adding active grille shutters and making the truck more aerodynamically efficient.

How Capable Is It?

While the 3500 is the king when it comes to towing and hauling, the 2500 is no slouch. With the standard V8, the Ram 2500 puts out a healthy 410 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque. Unless you opt for a chassis-cab style, that means you can have a rig with a potential maximum payload rating of 4,050 pounds, depending on configuration. And for towing? The Ram 2500, in the right configuration, can tow as much as 17,580 pounds with the standard V8. Power delivery is strong under full throttle, with lots of low-end grunt and a satisfying growl from under the hood.

Fitted with the optional turbocharged 6.7-liter six-cylinder engine, the Ram 2500 gets even more capable. Reworked from the previous-generation truck, the diesel now produces 370 horsepower and a stout 850 lb-ft of torque. That's an increase of 50 lb-ft over last year's version. With this engine, the Ram 2500 has a max payload capacity of 3,260 pounds and a maximum tow rating of 19,780 pounds. The diesel powertrain makes that classic diesel rumble at idle, but on the highway it settles down nicely, allowing for a relatively quiet ride. Having 850 lb-ft of torque on tap is always positive, whether your rig is empty or towing at full capacity.

How Does it Drive?

The 2500 is big, no doubt, but it doesn't feel unwieldy. The steering is light enough that you can turn quickly and maneuver on the highway without much effort. Helping you navigate tight spaces are a standard rearview camera with a crisp display and an optional 360-degree camera system that gives you a simulated bird's-eye view of the truck. Combine those features with the available front and rear parking sensors and the 2500 becomes a rig that you could easily live with on a daily basis.

The Ram 2500 is also comfortable on the open road even when it is unladen. Ride quality with all heavy-duty trucks is going to be stiff — this is no ultra-luxury sedan — but the Ram is particularly good at isolating you from those stiff-legged qualities. And that's especially true when you put some weight in the bed to settle things down a bit.

The cabin is astonishingly quiet when you're not burying the throttle in the floor or towing a large load up a grade. Ram added active noise cancellation technology to the 2019 truck. This tech, plus the aforementioned changes to the chassis that keep out vibrations, has cut cabin noise in the new heavy-duty truck by 10 decibels, Ram says.

How Luxurious Is It?

The 2019 Ram 2500 comes in six trim levels: Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, the off-road-oriented Power Wagon, Laramie, Longhorn and Limited. Depending on the trim level you select, there are four configurations to choose from: single cab with an 8-foot bed, crew cab with a 6-foot-4-inch bed, crew cab with an 8-foot bed, and mega cab with a 6-foot-4-inch bed. If you go with a crew-cab or a mega-cab configuration, there's more than enough room for tall adults in every seating position. Ram has clearly succeeded in making this as comfortable a rig as possible without compromising capability.

At the base trim levels, the 2500 feels and looks like a basic workhorse, as it should. Buyers who aren't interested in high-tech options can still have a bare-bones pickup — or at least one that plays the part. But move your way up the trim-level ladder and the Ram 2500 becomes truly upscale.

Long gone are the days of bare-bones workhorse trucks — the Ram 2500 is just as customizable as any other ride on the road. On higher trim levels, you get access to all sorts of available leather upholstery options and different wood-trim choices. The seats feel plush and supportive and there are lots of soft-touch points throughout the cabin. Combine all of this with the optional 12-inch Uconnect screen (the same one that debuted in the latest Ram 1500) and you've got a truly impressive cabin.

Other notable options from the Lone Star on up include LED headlights and taillights, a 10-speaker or 17-speaker optional stereo, an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen (or the previously mentioned 12-inch screen), heated front seats, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision mitigation with emergency braking. New for 2019 is a 360-degree surround-view camera that will certainly be appreciated on such a big vehicle if you're ever trying to fit it into a tight spot. Also new is a trailer tire-pressure monitoring system that accommodates up to six pickup tires (in case you go for the 3500 dually) and 12 trailer tires.

Aside from all those optional extras, you can also get the Ram 2500 in Power Wagon trim, which features all sorts of off-roading equipment, such as a disconnecting sway bar, a 12,000-pound-capacity winch, locking front and rear differentials, a 2-inch factory lift and off-road tires. And while most of that equipment was available on last year's Power Wagon too, this one comes with all the benefit of the Ram 2500's new tech and creature comforts.

How Much Does It Cost?

At the base Tradesman trim level, in regular-cab configuration with rear-wheel drive, the Ram 2500 starts at $35,090, including a $1,695 destination fee and a crew-cab model checks in at $38,645, including destination. Most midlevel trims are in the $40,000 to $55,000 range, with the off-road specialist Power Wagon landing at $54,595. A top-trim Limited 2500 in mega-cab configuration (with four-wheel drive, the only option at that trim level) starts at $67,395 and can climb easily, with the optional Cummins turbodiesel engine adding $9,100 to the sticker price.

Should I Buy One?

In a word, yes. If you need a rig that can tow small planets and you want a cabin that embraces you with soft-touch leather, all while offering one of the most user-friendly and high-tech infotainment interfaces on the road today, then the 2019 Ram 2500 should be right at the top of your list. Be sure to check back soon for full details on competitors including the redesigned Ford Super Duty and Chevrolet Silverado HD.

Notably, we picked the 2019 Ram 2500 as one of Edmunds' Best Trucks for Towing and the 2019 Ram 2500 Power Wagon as one of Edmunds' Best Off-Road Trucks for this year.