| Pros | Cons | What's New |
|---|---|---|
Multiple trim levels on offer | Low towing capacity | No changes |
Low pricing; undercuts the competition | Low ground clearance | |
Best-in-segment acceleration figures | Dull and dated design | |
Premium cabin materials | Underpowered V6 powertrain |
$40,865
price395 hp @ 5600 rpm
horsepower410 lb.-ft. @ 3950 rpm
torque8-Speed Automatic
transmission5.7L 8cyl 4WD 8A
engine-
basic warrantyThe RAM 1500 has been in the market for a long time. Currently, the RAM 1500 is in its fourth generation and the cheapest truck in the market with prices starting a shade over $33,000 for the Crew Cab. With multiple trim levels, engine options, and bed sizes on offer the RAM 1500 leaves us spoilt for choice and one can opt for a configuration that suits your purpose the best.
If you’re looking for a truck for occupational purposes, then the Tradesman trim should just suffice. However, if you’re buying a truck for personal use and carrying your family along, then maybe you should go for the top-spec Laramie or Longhorn trims.
On the flip side though, the RAM 1500 seems a little too outdated. It hasn’t had a major refresh for years now and the truck’s rivals like the GMC Sierra 1500 and the Ford F-150 just seem to have more onboard to offer. So is the RAM 1500 relevant? Can it be a good buy? Should you be putting on with this old truck? We shall answer all that in this in-depth review of the 2014 RAM 1500 Crew Cab.
The 2014 RAM 1500 Crew Cab is offered in 9 trim levels, 2-bed options, and rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive configurations. The base spec Tradesman trim with a 5.7 ft. box and with rear-wheel drive configuration is priced at around $33,420 and prices climb all the way up to $53,570 for the Longhorn Limited top trim level.
|
Models |
Tradesman |
Express |
SLT |
Big Horn/Lone Star |
Outdoorsman |
Sport |
Laramie |
Longhorn |
Longhorn Limited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP (RWD / 5.7 ft. box) |
$33,420 |
$34,555 |
$36,890 |
$37,695 |
$38,435 |
$41,640 |
$42,175 |
$47,630 |
$50,125 |
|
MSRP (AWD / 5.7 ft.box) |
$36,640 |
$37,775 |
$40,110 |
$40,965 |
$41,705 |
$44,860 |
$45,320 |
$50,775 |
$53,270 |
|
MSRP (RWD / 6.4 ft.box) |
$34,030 |
NA |
$38,840 |
$39,645 |
$40,385 |
$41,490 |
$44,125 |
$47,930 |
$50,425 |
|
MSRP (AWD / 6.4 ft.box) |
$37,250 |
NA |
$42,060 |
$42,865 |
$43,605 |
$45,160 |
$47,270 |
$51,075 |
$53,570 |
|
Key features |
17-inch steel wheels |
Adds/upgrades to the previous trims- |
Adds/upgrades to the previous trims- |
Adds/upgrades to the previous trims- |
Adds/upgrades to the previous trims- |
Adds/upgrades to the previous trims- |
Adds/upgrades to the previous trims- |
Adds/upgrades to the previous trims- |
Adds/upgrades to the previous trims- |
|
Heated, power-adjustable ORVMs |
20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels |
17-inch aluminum wheels |
20-inch chrome-clad aluminum-alloy wheels |
17-inch aluminum wheels |
20-inch polished aluminum wheels |
20-inch chrome-clad aluminum-alloy wheels |
20-inch polished aluminum wheels |
Wheel to wheel side steps |
|
|
Active grille shutters |
Chrome rear step bumper |
Chrome door handles |
UConnect 8.4 infotainment system |
Body-colored door handles |
Chrome heated, auto-dimming, power-folding ORVMs |
Running boards |
Parksense rear parking sensors |
||
|
Manual tailgate |
Chrome grille |
Tailgate power lock. |
8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment display |
Body-colored grille |
10-speaker audio system |
Steering wheel mounted audio controls |
Power adjustable lumbar support |
||
|
4-way manual adjustable front seats |
UConnect 5.0 infotainment system |
LED brake lights |
10-way power-adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats |
SiriusXM real-time traffic display |
|||||
|
Manual air-conditioning |
Integrated voice command with Bluetooth |
8-way power-adjustable driver seat |
Dual-zone automatic climate control with front infrared |
Heated second-row seats |
|||||
|
Urethane gear shift material |
Fabric upholstery |
Heated leather-wrapped steering wheel |
Leather upholstery |
Leather / genuine wood heated steering wheel |
|||||
|
Side impact beams |
5-inch touchscreen infotainment display |
Dual-zone automatic climate control |
Power-adjustable pedals |
Valet function |
|||||
|
6-speaker audio system |
Parkview back-up camera |
Leather-wrapped gear shift lever |
|||||||
|
UConnect 3.0 infotainment |
Which Trim should you buy?
If you’re looking for a truck for occupational purposes, then the Tradesman trim should just suffice. However, if you’re buying a truck for personal use and carrying your family along, then maybe you should go for the top-spec Laramie or Longhorn trims.
As standard, the 2014 RAM 1500 Crew Cab comes equipped with a 3.6 liter naturally aspirated V6 engine. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox and power as standard goes to the rear wheels. The engine churns out about 305 horses and 269 lb-ft of torque which is pretty good for a truck in this segment.
The truck is pretty quick off the straight line. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.4 seconds while it takes about 15.6 seconds to cover the quarter-mile distance. These numbers are decent by pickup truck standards. The truck also has a towing capacity of 4400 lbs. which does seem a tad less when compared to other trucks in the segment. The truck is also offered with a bigger 5.7 liter naturally aspirated V8 unit that churns out a solid 395 horses and 410 lb-ft of torque. This engine too comes mated with a 6-speed auto box and can be availed in both, rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive configuration.
|
Models |
2014 RAM 1500 Crew Cab Tradesman 5.7 ft. box |
2014 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 5-1/2 ft. box |
2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Work Truck short box |
2014 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab short box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP |
$33420 |
$33785 |
$34795 |
$35295 |
|
Engine |
3.6 liter, naturally aspirated, V6 |
3.7 liter, naturally aspirated, V6 |
4.3 liter, naturally aspirated, V6 |
4.3 liter, naturally aspirated, V6 |
|
Drivetrain |
RWD |
RWD |
RWD |
RWD |
|
Transmission |
8-speed automatic |
6-speed automatic |
6-speed automatic |
6-speed automatic |
|
Power (hp @ rpm) |
305 @ 6350 |
302 @ 6500 |
285 @ 5300 |
285 @ 5300 |
|
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm) |
269 @ 4800 |
278 @ 4000 |
305 @ 3900 |
305 @ 3900 |
|
0-60 MPH (seconds) |
7.4 |
7.5 |
7.6 |
7.7 |
|
Quarter mile (seconds) |
15.6 |
15.8 |
15.8 |
15.9 |
|
Top speed (mph) |
128 |
125 |
120 |
120 |
|
Towing Capacity (lbs) |
4400 |
5800 |
6400 |
6400 |
The RAM 1500 Crew Cab has the best power and acceleration numbers in the competition but it has the lowest torque figures. As a result, the truck has the lowest towing capacity in the competition. The GM trucks on the other hand have the lowest power numbers and are slower than the others but then they also have the highest torque figures. Moreover, the GM trucks have the highest towing capacity of 6400 lbs. which is almost 1.5 times that of the RAM 1500.
The RAM 1500 Crew Cab mpg figures are on par with all the other trucks in the competition. The truck in the city travels for about 17 miles on a single gallon of gas while on the highway it can travel up to 25 miles. It has an EPA rating of 20 MPG combined which is quite decent. It also has a sizable fuel tank of 26 gallons and so you don’t need to make frequent stops for refueling.
|
Models |
2014 RAM 1500 Crew Cab Tradesman 5.7 ft. box |
2014 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 5-1/2 ft. box |
2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Work Truck short box |
2014 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab short box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MPG (City) |
17 |
17 |
18 |
18 |
|
MPG (Highway) |
25 |
23 |
24 |
24 |
|
MPG (Combined) |
20 |
19 |
20 |
20 |
|
Fuel Capacity (Gallons) |
26 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
|
Range (City/Highway/Combined in miles) |
442/650/520 |
442/598/494 |
468/624/520 |
468/624/520 |
The Ford F-150 has the least fuel economy figures here but the differences are only by a slight margin. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and the GMC Sierra 1500 share the same powertrain hence their fuel economy ratings are identical too s. The gas tank capacity of all the trucks is identical at 26-gallon but the Silverado and the Sierra offer some commendable driving range figures owing to the higher fuel economy ratings.
Well, in its base spec trim level, the Tradesman, the 2014 RAM 1500 Crew Cab interior is pretty much bare-bones and has shabby cheap plastic all around with a dull grey and black color scheme. However, things improve drastically as you climb higher up the trim levels. The quality of materials is way superior on the Laramie and LongHorn trims and you all the bells and whistles like heated and ventilated, power adjusting front seats, leather upholstery, genuine wood trim on the dash, heated leather steering wheel, and many others. The quality and opulence of the truck’s cabin with the higher trims are as good as some luxury SUVs but with the lower variants, it is just too bad.
You get pretty basic seats with base trim level and they offer sufficient support and cushioning. The amount of room on offer is good and 6 adults can fit in the truck but it will be a bit of a squeeze. With the standard 5.7 feet long bed, the truck has about 50.3 cubic feet of cargo storage volume. With the longer 6.4 feet box, the truck can haul about 57.5 cubic feet of cargo.
|
Models |
2014 RAM 1500 Crew Cab Tradesman 5.7 ft. box |
2014 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 5-1/2 ft. box |
2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Work Truck short box |
2014 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab short box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Seating capacity |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
Front row (Headroom/Shoulder room/ Legroom in inches) |
41/66/41 |
41/65.9/41.4 |
42.8/66.03/45.27 |
42.8/66.03/45.27 |
|
Second row (Headroom/Shoulder room/ Legroom in inches) |
39.9/65.7/40.3 |
40.3/65.5/43.5 |
40.5/65.73/40.93 |
40.5/65.73/40.93 |
|
Cargo bed capacity (cubic feet) |
50.3 |
55.4 |
53.4 |
53.4 |
The GMC Sierra 1500 is marketed as a premium product and thus its cabin has better appeal and feel. The Sierra’s material quality and interior design are simply a notch better than all the others. Moreover, the GM trucks offer more passenger space than all the other trucks. On the flip side, it’s the Ford F-150 that has the highest cargo volume of 55.4 cubic feet on offer while the RAM has the lowest of 50.3 cu.-ft. The RAM 1500 Crew Cab doesn’t get many interior features in the standard, base spec guise.
Some interior features are:
The 2014 RAM 1500 comes with RAM’s UConnect infotainment system. You don’t get many infotainment features with the base spec trim. However, you’re offered features like an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, 10-speaker sound system satellite radio, and navigation with the top-of-the-line trim levels.
Standard infotainment features offered with the truck include:
The 2014 RAM 1500 exterior design isn’t quite handsome, especially when you compare it against the Ford and GMC trucks. The RAM’s design feels outdated and dull. It sure does have a nice tall stance but that just isn’t enough to attract buyers. Other trucks in the market have a brawny and muscular presence with a lot of drama going on with the design but that is simply not quite the case with the RAM and that’s a bit disappointing.
At the front, there’s a huge RAM cross grille finished in chrome with a sculpted bumper and rectangular headlights. There’s nothing particularly disappointing on the sides, just 2 doors, blacked-out mirrors and door handles, and round wheel arches. The truck sits on 17-inch steel wheels and you get alloys and larger wheels as you climb higher up the trims. Overall, the truck's design doesn’t quite appeal to us and quite frankly, it needs to be refreshed and updated ASAP!
|
Models |
2014 RAM 1500 Crew Cab Tradesman 5.7 ft. box |
2014 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 5-1/2 ft. box |
2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Work Truck short box |
2014 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab short box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Curb weight (lbs) |
4924 |
5128 |
4987 |
5031 |
|
Length (inches) |
229 |
231.8 |
230.5 |
230.6 |
|
Width (inches) |
79.4 |
79.2 |
80.0 |
80.0 |
|
Height (inches) |
76.9 |
74.8 |
74.17 |
74.17 |
|
Ground clearance (inches) |
7.6 |
8.3 |
8.73 |
8.73 |
|
Wheelbase (inches) |
140 |
145 |
143.5 |
143.5 |
The Ford F-150 is the longest of the lot measuring 231.8 inches and that’s the reason why it ends up offering the highest cargo volume in the competition. The GM trucks are also longer than the RAM by an inch and hence, the RAM truck is the smallest truck in the competition. Moreover, the RAM truck has a ground clearance of just 7.6 inches while all the other trucks have 8+ inches of ground clearance.
Highlight Exterior Features:
The 2014 RAM 1500 is a pretty tough and safe vehicle. It gets a 4-star safety rating from the NHTSA and gets 3- and 4-stars in almost all their tests. It does well in the IIHS safety tests as well and gets ‘good’ and ‘acceptable’ ratings in all the tests of the agency. These ratings clearly tell that the RAM truck will indeed keep you safe while you’re driving.
Key Safety features:
The 2014 RAM 1500 Crew Cab isn’t a bad truck but then it isn’t just up to the mark as its rivals. All the other trucks in the competition are better than the RAM in terms of performance and capacity and that’s where the RAM lets us down. The 2014 RAM 1500 is a part of the 2009 generation and hasn’t been refreshed since. It needs to be updated soon if it has to stay relevant to the competition. If you’re in the market looking for a crew cab pickup, we will not recommend you this one as the other trucks in the segment are so much better than it.
Car Name | 0-60 MPH | Quarter Mile | Top Speed | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 RAM 1500 Ranked #2 | 7.1 sec | 15.1 sec | 167 mph | |||
2014 Ford F-150 Raptor Ranked #1 | 6.2 sec | - | 169 mph | |||
2014 Nissan Titan Ranked #3 | 7.5 sec | 15.5 sec | 120 mph |
Car Name | MPG City | MPG Highway | MPG Combined | Fuel Tank Capacity | Range (C/H) | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 RAM 1500 Ranked #1 | 17 mpg | 25 mpg | 20 mpg | 26 gal. | - | |||
2014 Nissan Titan Ranked #2 | 13 mpg | 18 mpg | 15 mpg | 28 gal. | 364/504 mi. | |||
2014 Ford F-150 Raptor Ranked #3 | 11 mpg | 16 mpg | 13 mpg | 26 gal. | 286/416 mi. |
Car Name | Length | Width | Height | Ground Clearance | Wheelbase | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 RAM 1500 Ranked #3 | 209 in. | 79.4 in. | 74.6 in. | 8.7 in. | 120 in. | |||
2014 Nissan Titan Ranked #1 | 224.6 in. | 79.5 in. | 74.6 in. | 10.2 in. | 139.8 in. | |||
2014 Ford F-150 Raptor Ranked #2 | 220.6 in. | 86.3 in. | 78.5 in. | 9.5 in. | 133.3 in. |
Car Name | Trunk Capacity | Passenger Volume | Max Trunk Volume | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 RAM 1500 Ranked #3 | 57.5 cu.ft. | 92.1 cu.ft. | 57.5 cu.ft. | |||
2014 Nissan Titan Ranked #1 | 62.4 cu.ft. | 135.6 cu.ft. | 111.3 cu.ft. | |||
2014 Ford F-150 Raptor Ranked #2 | 15.3 cu.ft. | 96 cu.ft. | 55.4 cu.ft. |
Car Name | Cargo Volume | Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area | Max Cargo Volume | Bed Length | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 RAM 1500 Ranked #1 | 13.8 cu.ft. | 57.5 cu.ft. | 57.5 cu.ft. | 76 ft. | |||
2014 Nissan Titan Ranked #2 | 111.3 cu.ft. | 62.4 cu.ft. | 111.3 cu.ft. | 79 ft. | |||
2014 Ford F-150 Raptor Ranked #3 | 83.1 cu.ft. | 15.3 cu.ft. | 55.4 cu.ft. | 67 ft. |
Car Name | Towing Capacity | Gooseneck/5th Wheel Towing Capacity | Payload Capacity | Weight | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 RAM 1500 Ranked #3 | - | - | 1495 lbs. | 4530 lbs. | |||
2014 Nissan Titan Ranked #1 | 7400 lbs. | - | 2153 lbs. | 4847 lbs. | |||
2014 Ford F-150 Raptor Ranked #2 | 6000 lbs. | 6000 lbs. | 980 lbs. | 6004 lbs. |
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User Overall Rating
Posted On: July 23, 2024
Despite the V8 it's very powerful & fuel efficient on the open highway! good for hauling stuff to pulling! Great handling, seating all the best that you could want in a family type truck! And far as the price goes it would be a cheaper option for the best of the best of it's kind!!
