6 Things We Like About the 2019 Ram 1500's Interior
Can a pickup truck be perfect? I spent a week in a top-of-the-line redesigned 2019 Ram 1500 Limited, and I'm almost convinced perfect is possible. It's not just the powertrain setup that smoothly delivers the 5.7-liter V-8's grunt when you need it, its classy lockable RamBox or stunning interior. It's the sum of all those things that help the Ram 1500 reach near perfection.
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By now you've heard about the level of luxury the new Ram 1500 offers. For the most part, the top trim levels of pickup trucks exude top-drawer craftsmanship, luxury and comfort. Once again, Ram's 2019 1500 Limited hits that bar and raises it. My crew-cab 4×4 with a base price of $57,890 including destination fee commanded $68,785 with all its add-ons. A big number, yes, but many of the nearly $11,000 in options, especially on the inside, are worth the price of admission.
Here, then, are my top six favorite interior features of the 2019 Ram 1500 Limited.
1. Materials, Fit and Finish
The materials, quality and construction of the Ram 1500 Limited crew cab are nicer than the apartment I currently rent. A big brute of a pickup truck with a lavish cabin is a welcome retreat, and I'd even go as far to put it on-par with the interiors found Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar or Audi vehicles. Everywhere you look, a mix of warm materials embraces you as you drive in comfort thanks to the standard four-corner air suspension. Pinstripe-like stitching accents the heated leather-and-woodgrain steering wheel, the table-sized center armrest, the door panels and even the leather grab handles. The dashboard boasts panels of darkened wood, dull brushed and shiny soft metal strips, soft swaths of stitched leather and Piano Black accents. Even the volume knob has an upscale, weighted feel to it and the robust door handles could stand up to a hefty barn door. Once the sun goes down, tiny LEDs light the door panels, creating an illusion of being in a cocktail bar or jazz club.
2. Harman Kardon Sound System
The Limited comes standard with a nine-speaker stereo system complete with a subwoofer. But trust me, you'll want to upgrade to the 19-speaker Harman Kardon Premium Sound System; it's worth every cent of the $2,695 Level 1 Equipment Group that includes it. Fine-tuning it via the giant user-friendly Uconnect touchscreen allows for an impressive on-the-road soundtrack. I also liked the ornate, etched-metal speakers with their extra dash of elegance. The equipment group also includes several safety features: adaptive cruise control with stop and go, surround-view cameras, full-speed collision warning, brake assist and parking assist.
3. 12-inch Uconnect Display
As automakers move toward implementing iPad-like entertainment displays, Ram does an excellent job of blending Fiat Chrysler Automobile's 12-inch Uconnect multimedia system into the center dashboard. It's a bit excessive, but this standard-on-the-Limited screen is pretty cool. FCA's Uconnect touchscreen system continues to earn praise for its easy-to-use, responsive interface. I appreciate that audio and climate can still be adjusted via traditional, physical buttons and knobs that cleanly dot the perimeter of the screen. The 12-inch Uconnect display provides a clear picture for the surround-view cameras to deliver a sizable 360-degree view from above. That certainly helped pilot the hefty pickup in tight parking lots.
4. Panoramic Sunroof
While Wisconsin's winter temperatures off Lake Michigan weren't ideal for full open-roof driving, the massive panorama sunroof ($1,295) makes it feel like you're outside and makes the interior feel more spacious even when it's closed. Opening the wide glass roof above the front two seats is about as close to a proper convertible driving experience you'll get in a vehicle that can tow more than 10,000 pounds. The maximum towing capacity — if that's what's most important to you — is 12,750 pounds for a quad cab 4×2 equipped with the 6-foot, 4-inch bed, 3.92:1 gears and the eTorque Hemi V-8.
5. Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist With Stop
When they were first offered, semi-autonomous parking systems that help you parallel (or perpendicular) park were pricey options found on premium luxury cars. But as the technology has become more affordable, it's made its way to pickup trucks, mid-size sedans and crossovers. While it may seem gimmicky to some, I found the system in the Ram 1500 Limited to be incredibly helpful when operating the truck in urban areas with street parking. The system is part of the aforementioned $2,695 Level 1 Equipment Group. To engage the system, simply tap the button at the top of the Uconnect screen, slowly drive past a row of parked cars and let the Ram's surround-view cameras and sensors measure the distance between cars. Once it has all the required data points, an alert chimes indicating the spot is large enough. After that it's just a matter of following instructions on the Uconnect screen, shifting into Reverse, slowly lifting your foot off the brake pedal and letting the Ram's steering wheel spin itself as the truck is backed precisely into a spot. You're then instructed to shift to Drive, let the wheel spin itself around some more, allowing the truck to creep forward and park. Parallel parking a large truck can be a daunting task for some, especially on a curved street. During the week I used this system, it never once failed, making me truly appreciative.
6. Storage, Storage and More Storage
There's quite a network of storage caves inside the Ram 1500 Limited; each day I drove it I discovered a new cubby, well or slot. Relocating the gear shifter left of the center control panel and switching to a rotary dial frees up tremendous amounts of space. The center dashboard now provides a sliding upper lid for a compartment that has spots for sunglasses, pens or a wallet. Lifting the clamshell lid of the center console reveals a box big enough for a laptop, hat and gloves, clipboard and other larger items. A small, brushed-metal button in front of the passenger seat opens a small glove box stamped with "Limited" script. Along with generous-sized openings in the door panels there are two small hidden, fairly deep storage wells under the rear floormats for stowing tools or a pair of jumper cables. Lift the rear split bench and there's a surprising amount of room below the seat bottoms for backpacks, camera bags or a small duffle bag. If you're transporting large items, folding the rear bench against the back cabin wall allows the foldable cargo divider underneath to flip out and down, creating even more flat cargo space.
What are your favorite interior features in the 2019 Ram 1500 Limited? What do you wish engineers at Ram would do differently? Let us know in the comment section below.
Cars.com photos by Robby DeGraff
