2020 RAM Promaster

The RAM ProMaster comes in 1500, 2500 and 3500 variants which in turn are available as either high or low roof options. As you move from 1500 to 3500 vans, the respective payload capacity also increases.

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You should choose the payload capacity based on your usage and choose the 2500 or 3500 if you're planning on carrying heavy cargo. The high roof is highly recommended as you'd be able to stand up straight in the cargo bay and thus aid the van's accessibility.

Rated to tow up to 6,800 pounds. Ram says the V-6 can travel 10,000 miles between oil changes, which is important to fleet buyers. - Car Connection

Engine and Transmission

With a 3.6L V6 engine powering the hauler, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the Ram ProMaster is a very effective and efficient fleet vehicle. It maintains the perfect balance between thrifty and power delivery. on highways, the van may seem restrictive as you push the throttle, but in the city, the V6 gives plenty of torque to pull away from intersections and stop lights.

The GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express vans are essentially rebadged twins from General Motors, have the same engine and powertrain. The Ford Transit van isn't far behind with just 1 horsepower less than the GMC and Chevy. The Nissan NV comes with a 261 hp V6, while the Mercedes Sprinter lags behind with 2.0L inline-4 engine making merely 188 hp.

Acceleration

There practically isn't any test conducted to measure the van's acceleration figures yet; who in their right mind would? The RAM's 3.6L engine is potent enough to haul the fully laden van to 60 from a stop light, but not powerful enough for you to consider taking it to a drag strip - well, you wouldn't if you're sane.

Ride and Handling

The Ram ProMaster's agility can be equated to that of a boat. Parking and maneuvering tight spaces, may not be the easiest task at hand. The boat-like handling roots from the outdated 2-stage multi-leaf spring mounted at the back. Take a corner at a higher speed and you'd feel van wanting to tip over, due to the body roll.

The antiquated van is not meant to speed around corners, but neither is it made to be comfortable. The suspension deserves better damping, and every undulation in the road is carried through to the cabin. The competition, such as the Ford Transit has a more modern approach to driving dynamics.

Braking

Weighing over 5000 pounds, stopping this mammoth van is not an easy task once the speed builds up. With 11.8 inch discs up front and 11 inches at the back, the brakes work well enough to stop the van even when it's loaded up, and you won't face issues like brake fade after continuous usage.

The smooth and linear brake pedal works great in conjunction with the in-built trailer braking to keep the hauler in control even on inclines. The Nissan NV van has the largest brakes in the segment which aid its stopping power even while carrying heavy loads.

An impressively low cargo floor makes loading large, heavy items easy. - Car Connection

Seating and Comfort

The utility-focussed van has basic and functional cabin starting with plastic interiors to cloth upholstery, and no sign of premium materials. The high seating position means great visibility through the huge front windshield as well as easier parking and maneuvering. However, a few issues like a low roofline and lack of a door behind the driver plague the practicality aspect of the van.

In contrast, the new Sprinter has much better headroom and legroom compared to the Chevy Express, with an ergonomically better designed interior. Even the Ford has added a plethora of features to make the Transit relevant for 2020.

Infotainment

The ProMaster minivan, surprisingly, has a quite a responsive and crisp 5.0-inch touchscreen, in the SLT trim, available with Uconnect and integrated voice command, although navigation system is an optional extra. The 4-speaker setup is mediocre at best.

Cargo volume

The RAM ProMaster surpasses any of the other vans my a mile when it comes to cargo capacity, At 353 cu.ft, the capacity is almost a 100 cubic feet more than the competitors like the Ford, Nissan and the GMC. The closest next is the Sprinter from Mercedes with is just a few 30 cu.ft smaller than the RAM.

Function inhibits form in the ProMaster and the low, awkward nose offers a good view out front. Ram says the flat face is cheap to fix and we believe them. - Edmunds

Design and Dimensions

The Ram ProMaster van is nowhere near as aggressively styled as its pickup truck brethren. With the generic Ram style front grille either with black plastic bumper or in body paint, the Ram ProMaster looks functional and utilitarian much like the GMC Savana. However, the wedge shaped boxy van is best designed for optimizing the internal storage space.

Although the NV is the longest van in the segment it doesn't translate over to a larger cargo bay, and it is also the heaviest van among the competition. Also, the low roof height is the real issue. It makes the van difficult to stand up straight in, for taller users.

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) And Roll Stability Control...
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Curtain 1st Row Airbags
• Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -inc: Height...
• ParkView Back-Up Camera

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) And Roll Stability Control...
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Curtain 1st Row Airbags
• Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -inc: Height...
• ParkView Back-Up Camera

RAM ProMaster vs Mercedes Sprinter

Sprinter was revived from the dead with a new face, power, and interior. The van manages to ferry cargo in style, it's literally the Mercedes Benz of cargo vans. Its price is a little bit higher than the ProMaster but that's justified. Mercedes delivers you a fine boxy van, they infused their luxury accent to a bit and also keep the utilitarian factor alive. Sprinter has everything to become the next big thing and it will be if Ford didn't do anything. The only place where Sprinter fails to perform is power, else it's a fine option. Sprinter was revived from the dead with a new face, power, and interior. The van manages to ferry cargo in style, it's literally the Mercedes Benz of cargo vans. Its price is a little bit higher than the Transit but that's justified. Mercedes delivers you a fine boxy van, they infused their luxury accent to a bit and also keep the utilitarian factor alive. Sprinter has everything to become the next big thing and it will be if Ford didn't do anything. The only place where Sprinter fails to perform is power, else it's a fine option.

RAM ProMaster vs Nissan NV2500

Nissan NV is a strong offering in the boxy van category but its not enough to beat RAM. RAM's reliability is one thing plus the ProMaster's package as a whole is too savvy to miss. Nissan tries to match the ProMster and puts up a good fight though not enough to overcome RAM. Power on the Nissan is lower than the ProMaster and so is the cargo volume. What the NV offers is low price and that is the only thing which makes a difference. People who run on a budget will like the Nissan NV more, the latter will go for the ProMaster.

The RAM ProMaster is a very capable and effective hauler in the van segment, with best in class stats ranging from turning radius to load floor height. Even the cargo capacity is more than any other competitor. However, compared to the Sprinter the interiors are archaic and need an update. As a fleet vehicle, this won't matter to the majority of buyers but still a contributing factor for a few.