2023 RAM Promaster 2500

The 2023 RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van is a trim level of the RAM Promaster Cargo Van series. The Promaster Cargo Van is available in three different trims or you can say body styles known as Promaster 1500, Promaster 2500, and Promaster 3500. The RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van sits in the middle of the lineup. But even for the RAM Promaster 2500, you get multiple configuration options. You can choose from two different wheelbase lengths and there are also options in terms of roof height that open room for more cargo volume. The Promaster 2500 Cargo Van comes with a decent list of standard features and it is one of the few cargo vans to get some standard driver assistance features.

Packages 

Lane Management Group

• Lane departure mitigation
• Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning 

Safety Group

• Foglights
• Heated, power-folding side mirrors
• Digital rearview mirror
• Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning
• Parking sensors

Advanced Safety Group

• Safety Group contents
• Lane departure mitigation
• Surround-view camera system

Convenience Group

• Foglights
• Ambient LED interior lighting
• Overhead storage shelf
• Underseat storage
• Cargo net

Driver Convenience Group

• Foglights
• Heated and power-folding side mirrors
• Remote engine start
• Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning
• Surround-view camera system

Premium Convenience Group

• Automatic high-beam headlights
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Upgraded instrumentation
• 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Navigation system with voice control
• Satellite Radio
• Wireless charging pad

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The 2023 RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van is a utility vehicle designed for practicality. You can select the body configuration depending on your requirements and how much room you need in the cargo compartment. The longer wheelbase version and high roof variant may be the way to go if you need the maximum cargo area. There are multiple packages available that can add to the cost of the vehicle. You can pick from the packages based on your budget and personal preference.

You do not buy a cargo van for its performance or to participate in a drag race. The RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine that is mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. One downside is that you get it only in FWD drivetrain and there is no AWD drivetrain even as an option. The engine produces 276 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque. Considering the purpose of the vehicle, the RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van seems decently powerful and you do not feel a lack of power at any point. Although it does not matter much to the buyers, the RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van takes 8.2 seconds to reach from 0 to 60 mph. The acceleration figure is respectable for its class and the top speed is limited to 100 miles per hour.

The Cargo Vans are meant for practicality and buyers do not usually compare the acceleration figures while buying cargo vans. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo Van comes with the smallest engine displacement in the competition and it gets its power from a 2-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine. All the other rivals use a V6 powertrain. But when you look at the acceleration figures, the RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van and the Sprinter Cargo Van take 8.2 seconds to reach from 0 to 60 mph which makes them the quickest vans in the competition. The Ford Transit Cargo Van takes 8.5 seconds to complete the 0 to 60 mph run. The Chevy Express 2500 Cargo Van becomes the slowest with a hardly noticeable difference in the 0 to 60 mph run. 

2023 RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van Ride and Handling

Handling is another area that matters the least to the buyers. Usually, you drive cargo vans in a more comfortable driving manner as you have to ensure that the cargo inside the van remains safe. You will have to keep that in mind when you are behind the wheel of the RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van too. The first thing that makes driving the Van a bit difficult is the ergonomic issues that make it hard to find a comfortable driving position. 

The steering wheel feels quite light considering the size of the van but does not expect it to offer much of a feel and feedback. It feels quite easy to drive considering its size but you will have to keep the length of the vehicle in mind. The longer wheelbase variant can make it feel even more cumbersome to maneuver around the town. The ride quality of the RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van feels unrefined. You can feel the road undulations filtering through the cabin which affects the comfort of the driver.

2023 RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van Braking Performance

The 2023 RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van comes with a decent braking system for its segment. It comes with 11.8 inches of brake rotors in the front wheels and the size of the brake rotors remains the same for the rear wheels too. But you will have to keep in mind that it comes with a base curb weight of over 4500 pounds. That is the weight of the van without any cargo or person in the cabin. When you fill the van with cargo, it becomes even heavier. It gets disc brakes on all four wheels to ensure good stopping power for the van. However, there is no data on the official braking distance of the RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van.

You can not ignore the importance of a braking system in any vehicle including cargo vans. But in the case of utility vehicles like the cargo van, you do not expect sporty braking performance. The Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van comes with the largest brake rotors in the competition for both front and rear wheels. But it is also the heaviest van in the competition. The size of the brake rotors is not available for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo Van. The official braking distance is not available for any of the vans in the competition. 

The fuel economy of a cargo van depends on various factors and a key factor is the weight of the van after loading the cargo in it. EPA does not give ratings to cargo vans and the same applies to the RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van. However, you can get a basic idea of the fuel economy figures based on the estimated numbers. The RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van manages to return an economy of 12 mpg in the city, 15 mpg on the highway, and 14 mpg of combined fuel economy. It comes with a fuel tank capacity of 24 gallons which is again decent for the class. You can expect a maximum driving range of 360 miles on a full tank of gasoline on the highway. 

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo Van gets advantage of its smaller engine. The Sprinter Cargo Van returns the best fuel economy in the competition. It comes with the smallest fuel tank capacity in the segment but you get a decent maximum driving range of 418 miles on a full tank. The Ford Transit Cargo Van comes next in terms of fuel economy figures. Thanks to its bigger fuel tank capacity, it also gets the best driving range compared to its rivals. The fuel economy figures are not available for the Chevy Express 2500 Cargo Van but it gets the largest fuel tank capacity in the competition. The RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van is going to disappoint you in the fuel economy department with the lowest economy in the competition.

When you are out in the market to buy a cargo van, you can not judge its interior based on the same criteria that you use for a passenger car. The RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van does decently well in terms of interior for a cargo van. It comes with a seating capacity of 1 which is just for the driver. It opens more room for the cargo area. Usually, you do not get multiple creature comforts and technology inside a cargo van. It is not much different in the Promaster 2500 Cargo Van either. But it gets a decent list of standard features for its segment. You can configure your Promaster 2500 Cargo Van depending on the cargo Volume you need. You can choose from the wheelbase length and roof height which increases or decreases the cargo area. But the cargo area is quite impressive even as standard.

The passenger space is not what gives you an ideal cargo van. It depends on how much usable cargo area it offers as that affects the main purpose of the van. The Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van in its standard setting gets the least cargo area in the competition. But you can customize it to open room for more cargo area. And that applies to most of the other vans in the competition too. The Ford Transit Cargo Van comes next with just a slightly more cargo area than the Express 2500 Cargo Van. The RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van offers a significantly larger cargo capacity than the Ford and Chevy. But it is the Sprinter cargo van that takes the lead with the largest cargo area in the competition.

Standout interior features:

• 4-way adjustable driver seat
• Manual telescoping steering column
• Manual air conditioning
• Front cloth headliner
• Push button start
• Remote keyless entry

2023 RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van Infotainment

You do not get many advanced infotainment systems in the cargo van segment. There are very few cargo vans that offer a modern infotainment system with all the features. However, the RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van offers a decent infotainment system for its class. It comes standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment screen but you also have the option to upgrade it to a much larger 10.1-inch infotainment screen. The user interface is very user-friendly and it offers all the infotainment features. It also comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as standard. You can connect to the internet using a 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot. As standard, it comes with a 4-speaker audio system. 

Standout infotainment features:

• 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Uconnect infotainment interface
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot connectivity
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Alexa voice assistant 
• 4-speaker audio system

The 2023 RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van brings some changes in the exterior styling of the van. You will not have to drive a van that looks boring and a decade old from the outside anymore. The biggest change is in the front fascia of the van where it gets a revised front bumper this time. It also gets more powerful headlights that can be useful while driving at night. The Promaster 2500 Cargo Van has not got a redesign for a long time but this update makes it a bit more modern in terms of looks. However, there is not much excitement at the side as it comes with the same 16-inch steel wheels. The side and rear of the Promaster 2500 Cargo Van look quite plain. It is not a bad thing though as adding too much will only make it worse. 

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo Van is the longest cargo van in the competition and it also comes with the longest wheelbase compared to its rivals. You should keep in mind that all the cars are in their base configuration here and you can get the long wheelbase version or higher roof version of other vans too. The Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van is the second-longest cargo van in the competition. But it is the RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van that gets the longest wheelbase. However, it gets the shortest overall length. The Ford Transit Cargo Van is longer than the RAM Promaster Cargo Van. 

Standout exterior features:

• 16-inch steel wheels
• Black front and rear bumper
• Grey fender flares
• Manual-folding exterior mirrors
• Black grille
• Aero-composite halogen headlamps

The cargo vans do not come in the passenger car segment and that keeps it out of the safety ratings of the standard cars. That is the reason why you can not expect the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to test these cargo vans for their safety ratings. The same applies to the RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van. However, it comes with a decent list of standard safety features when you compare it against other vans in the competition. It also gets a good list of standard driver assistance features. If you want to make your Promaster 2500 Cargo Van even safer, you can also get the optional packages that add a host of driver assistance features. 

Safety features include:

• Traction control
• Electronic stability control
• Front collision mitigation
• Tire-specific low tire pressure warning
• Dual-stage driver seat-mounted side airbags
• Back-Up Camera

2023 RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van vs. 2023 Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van

The Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van has very few advantages when you compare it to the RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van. The first advantage of the Chevy Express 2500 Cargo Van is its better towing capacity compared to the RAM Promaster 2500. On the other hand, it feels more outdated compared to the RAM Promaster 2500 which feels more modern in comparison. The RAM Promaster also comes with more standard and optional features and is available in multiple configurations. However, the Chevy Express 2500 Cargo Van comes at a significantly lower price. If you want a more modern and feature-rich cargo van, the RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van comes out as a winner here. 

2023 RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van vs. 2023 Ford Transit Cargo Van

The Ford Transit Cargo Van comes as a perfect alternative to the RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van. It gets the same power figure as the RAM Promaster as standard but also gives you the option to choose a more capable powertrain. You can pair it with the optional AWD drivetrain which makes it a better choice if you take your vehicle to the more rough terrain. The Ford Transit Cargo Van is also available in an electric avatar if you want an urban solution. For those who want a van to make it their home, you get the Transit Trail model. The Ford Transit Cargo Van comes out as a more compelling choice between the two. However, the lower cargo loading and unloading height might be more appealing to some buyers. 

2023 RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van vs. 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo Van

Those who know about the cargo van segment would know that the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo Van is the benchmark in its segment. It offers great practicality and comfort for a cargo van. You also get many standard features in the Sprinter Cargo Van. However, you have to pay a significantly higher price over the RAM Promaster to get all that. The RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van can also do most of your job with ease if you do not need the optional AWD that is available with the Merc but RAM lacks it. But if you do not have any budget issues and you want the absolute best, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo Van remains unbeatable. 

The 2023 RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van does most of the things right that you expect while buying a cargo van. You can choose from the multiple configurations available with the cargo van to increase the cargo area. The longer wheelbase version with the higher roof can open a huge cargo area which makes it easier for you to carry an impressive amount of cargo in one go. You also get quite an impressive cargo area which gives you the option to load heavier objects in the cargo compartment. You get a traditional V6 gasoline engine which is quite decent for the segment in terms of performance. However, it is only suitable for urban driving conditions or in areas with good roads as it is only available with an FWD drivetrain. You can consider other options if you live in a remote area or you want an AWD drivetrain for any reason. Otherwise, the 2023 RAM Promaster 2500 Cargo Van looks like an interesting option for its segment.