2023 RAM Promaster 3500

Being the top version of the RAM Promaster series, the RAM 3500 possesses two different options to choose from. The basic is a low and a high roof with 136 inches of wheelbase. A high roof with 136'' WB and 159'' WB costs more. Both of these contain the same features.

Ahead of the features promised in the new RAM Promaster 3500, it comes also equipped with various additional features and accessories options to add on –

Safety and security options 

• ParkSense rear park safety system
• Spare tire delete (fleet)
• Blindspot cross-path detection
• Security alarm
• Full-speed forward collision warning plus
• Mopar DOT-certified safety kit

Interior Options

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated passenger seat
• RAM telematics
• Heated driver seat
• Instrument panel bright bezels
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• Driver swivel seat
• Cargo partition
• 6-way driver adjustable lumber seat
• Speed control
• 2 additional key fobs
• Passenger double seat

Exterior Options

• Passenger sliding doors with glass windows
• Rear window defroster
• Mopar PPF
• Front and rear mud flaps
• Daytime running headlamps
• Wide power heated mirrors
• Rear hinged door with fixed glass
• Mopar rear bumper step extension 
• Mopar master shield undercoating
• Mopar right sliding doorsteps
• Power folding heated mirrors

We Recommend 

CARHP guides shoppers to take the Promaster 3500 with added options. These options cost a bit more but surely make the van look more compelling. Moreover, the available safety features and accessories help increase protection. Well, even the low roof option is worth the money. 

Release Date 

The RAM Promaster 3500's new generation has been released and is available for sale in your nearest showroom.

All the Promaster models carry a 3.5L V6 engine under their hood– that generates 276 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. They tie a knot with a 9-speed automatic transmission and are only front-wheel-driven (FWD) vans. The Promaster when induced with an older 6-speed transmission completed the 0-60 mph in 8.1 seconds,-- quite quick, still a bit slower than key competitors. 

The all-new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 is the most expensive cargo van in the comparison, whereas the GMC Savana is the most affordable one. With the lowest price tag, the Savana cargo van has bought the biggest engine that delivers the highest power and amount of torque at the least rpm. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter brings the dullest engine output and performance. The Transit has the highest top speed. The Savana is the fastest one. Except for the new Promaster 3500, all the vans are rear-wheel-driver (RWD).

2023 RAM Promaster 3500 Ride and Handling 

The ride quality of the new 3500 Promaster is poor and it feels unfurnished. Though driving a big vehicle, it is not crazily horrible to maneuver. Ahead of a rough driving experience, it does not differentiate between the 1500 Promaster. The steering feels vague sometimes but is directive in nature. The road visibility is great, as it feels like you are driving while sitting on the hood, and it helps in easy turns.

When we give a mild acceleration– it is not fast, as it is not made for that purpose. The V6 engine is not there to run a 0-60 but to handle the cargo capacity. It has a turning diameter of 40.7 ft– which is quite good despite having such a big size. It uses strut suspension in the front that helps stabilize your vehicle's movements, enhancing control when you turn, brake, accelerate or encounter uneven road surfaces. The leaf suspension on the rear wheels is installed to help support the entire weight of your car or truck. As the vehicle speeds up or slows down, leaf springs help regulate the wheelbase lengths and maintain the tire's grip on the road

2023 RAM Promaster 3500 Braking System

Ahead of the anti-lock braking system on all four wheels, it is bought with various safety features. The Forward Collision Warning (FCW) on the Promaster 3500 provides the driver with audible and visual warnings through the instrument cluster. A brake jerk warning is experienced if a possible collision is detected. These warnings are intended to give drivers enough time to react and hopefully prevent a collision. The emergency braking assist system detects –when the driver is attempting to execute an emergency stop, and if the brake pedal is not fully applied, the system overrides and fully applies the brakes until the anti-lock braking system (ABS) takes over and prevents the wheels from locking.

The all-new GMC Savana is the heaviest cargo van among its competitors. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is the vehicle with the lowest curb weight. The RAM Promaster 3500 has the shortest brake calipers in three– the GMC Savana has the largest. Being the lightest vehicle on our list, an educated assumption says that the Sprinter will have the lowest braking distance. 

Full-size vans like the Promaster 3500 are exempted from fuel economy standards. This van evolved with a 9-speed automatic transmission is not tested, but its older version with six-speed transmissions resulted in a fuel economy of 14 mpg. It has a gas tank size of 24 gallons – shorter than the Mercedes-Benz sprinter.

All these vehicles are exempted from the fuel economy ratings, but out of those large cargo vans, the all-new GMC Savana 3500 has the biggest fuel tank. The RAM Promaster 3500 has a higher fuel capacity than the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. On the highways, the Ford Transit has better fuel economy than the Sprinter 3500. It also has a larger fuel tank than the Promaster 3500. The Sprinter carries the lowest fuel capacity with it. 

The interior approach and design of the new RAM Promaster 3500 are not good, to be honest. Key rivals like Mercedes-Benz encompass more refinement in their full-size cargo vans. The overall aesthetics are handy and easy to use– when we talk about the latest generation. The steering wheel appeal is a great leap from its various previous generations– it delivers more controls embedded in it which are surrounded with chrome. It is now wrapped in a soft-touch material. The front two doors are large enough to get easily in and out of the bulky van. Even with the doors, the materials used in the cabin are the hard-touch plastic. The door panels get power window controls. The dashboard looks dusty, but at the same time, it is quite busy. It contains various big-size controls – RAM understands that a driver is a working person and it is designed keeping their approachability in mind. The AC vents are powerful and cool down the cabin rapidly. The 7-inch infotainment touchscreen display. The front two seats are heated as standard and use cloth upholstery.

The seats are comfortable with an option to add an extra row to accommodate 3 more people. Seats take time to heat up but are supportive to go on a long drive to transport stuff. Engine noise is understood to be a cargo van, but the road noise easily sneaks into the cabin, which creates disturbance sometimes. It just doesn't keep the din of traffic out of the cabin as effectively as some rivals. Visibility is great out of the vehicle.

Keeping the RAM Promaster 3500 aside, the remaining vans offer a more comfortable interior. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter follows the longest bed on our list. The GMC Savana and the Ford Transit have beds of almost the same length. The Ford Transit offers a more roomy cabin for the passengers. The Sprinter has the highest cargo capacity. The RAM Promaster 3500 is the widest cargo van in comparison.

Highlights of the interior features of Promaster 3500 include–

• 4-way driver adjustable seat
• Manually adjustable tilt and telescopic steering column
• Driver seat armrest
• Front cup holder
• Black-grey seat
• Outside temp gauge
• 2 LCD monitors in the front
• Power door locks with auto-lock feature
• Power first row windows
• Fully digital instrument cluster
• Smart device integration
• Cargo space lights
• Fade-to-off interior lighting
• Front map lights
• One 12V DC power outlet
• Front-only rubber/vinyl floor covering

How intuitive is the 2023 RAM Promaster 3500 Infotainment System?

The infotainment system on the Promaster 3500 is devised with a standard 7-inch infotainment touchscreen. It supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wirelessly. There is an option to upgrade to a 10-inch display. Both touch screens use the latest Uconnect5 Software, which delegates over-the-air updates and serves as a subscription-based WiFi hotspot. The 4-speaker audio system is okay– what else would someone look into? The infotainment system allows connecting two devices simultaneously through Bluetooth. It has an integration of Amazon Alexa voice assistance.

Highlights of the infotainment features of Promaster 3500 –

• Radio data system
• Speed compensated volume control
• Steering wheel control
• Amazon Alexa voice recognition
• Uconnect external memory control
• 4 speakers
• Streaming audio
• Integrated roof antenna
• 1 LCD monitor in the front.
• USB connection

The exterior design of the Promaster 3500 is simple and seems shorter than the Ford Transit, and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cargo van. For this year's generation, the RAM has redesigned the front end of the vehicle. The refreshed front fascia serves a more serious look than previous year’s generations. It possesses a more business-like appearance. The newly designed front bumper has added more chrome elements than just sticking around the plastic one. Like any other cargo van, the hood is concise to deliver good visibility to the driver. One of the big functional updates in addition to the appearance – is the refreshed headlamps which are 50% brighter than last year's gen. The side profile is minimal, as where the standard 16-inch wheels are engaged with tire dimensions of LT225/75R16. Side doors are well-integrated with the body line that is merely noticed.

The rear portion mainly consists of roll-up rear doors with extra pay. The RAM Promaster contains two wheelbase– where the standard is 136 inches, and the additional is 159 inches.

The GMC Savana 3500 is the heaviest cargo van. It also possesses the highest maximum towing capacity– almost double of the Ford Transit T-350. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 is the lightest vehicle but proposes the longest wheelbase as standard. The Promaster 3500 is the vehicle with the lowest length. The Transit T-350 has the lowest maximum towing capacity, it also has the shortest wheelbase. The Savana has the highest ground clearance. but it is the tiniest vehicle in comparison.

Highlights of the exterior features of the 2023 Promaster 3500 include –

• 16-inch wheels 
• Center wheel cap
• Tire mobility kit
• Clearcoat paint
• Revised front bumper
• Black rear step bumper
• Grey bodyside moldings and Fender flares
• Black side window trim
• Black door handles
• Light tinted glass
• Variable intermittent wipers
• Fully galvanized steel panels
• Refreshed headlamps with 50% more brightness
• Taillight with rear power door locks
• Sliding rear passenger side doors
• Cab clearance light

This crew cab has not any safety ratings from the NHTSA but is composed of several driver-assistive features. The Crossline wind Electronic Stability Control (ESC) helps prevent loss of control in curves and emergency steering maneuvers by stabilizing the car when it begins to veer off the intended path. It works automatically to help the driver maintain control of the car during hard steering maneuvers.

Along with that, these features also enhance the safety of the driver and the passengers–

• Roll Stability Control (RSC)
• ABS and driveline traction control
• Side impact beams 
• Dual-stage driver seat-mounted side airbags
• Forward-collision mitigation plus
• Driver monitoring alert
• Dual stage driver front airbags
• Tire-specific low tire pressure warning
• Curtain first-row airbags
• Parkview backup camera
• Outboard front lap and shoulder safety belts

2023 RAM Promaster 3500 vs. 2023 Ford Transit T-350

The Ford Transit T-350 is around $3000 less costly, but offers more top speed and completes a 0-60mph faster. The 2023 Promaster has a larger wheelbase and is equipped with way more cargo capacity. The 2023 T-350 is heavier, while the Promaster 3500 is on the lighter side and has more – maximum capacity. The Ford Transit T-350 is longer and wider.

2023 RAM Promaster 3500 vs. 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 

The RAM Promaster 3500 costs less but offers a way better V6 engine that delegates more power and better acceleration. The ride quality of the new Sprinter 3500 is more polished, and its interior feels more premium than that of the Promaster 3500. The RAM has a bigger fuel tank, while the 2023 Sprinter has a longer wheelbase, more cargo capacity, and towing capacity.

2023 RAM Promaster 3500 vs. 2023 GMC Savana 3500

The 2023 Savana 3500 is less costly but is equipped with a larger V6 engine that delivers more horsepower and torque figures at the least rpm. The 2023 Promaster is lighter. The Savana 3500 has a huge maximum towing capacity, but its interior looks dated. The 2023 RAM has a longer wheelbase.

The Promaster 3500 is a great option in its segment. Offers a V6 engine, ride quality is a bit rough, but can be maneuvered with ease. The wheelbase is one of the segment-leading. Cargo carrying capacity is better than various rivals, but shoppers can look at other options if they want more towing capacity. The key rivals like the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and the GMC Savana can also be considered in place of the RAM Promaster 3500.