RAM 1500 2021 review: Warlock

The $104,550 (before on-road costs) Warlock is based on the RAM 1500 Crew Cab, which means a bigger cab in exchange for a shorter tub out back. Included for this hefty outlay are 20-inch wheels, a six-speaker stereo, dual-zone climate control, tub liner, reversing camera, remote central locking, cruise control, electric front seats, sat nav, partial leather trim (but a plastic steering wheel!), heated door mirrors, halogen headlights (I mean... ), electric front seats and a full-size spare slung under the tray.

It's worth pointing out you can get a petrol base model RAM 1500 for just under $80,000, before on-road costs.

The big multimedia screen nicely frames the giant vented bonnet. (image: Peter Anderson)

An 8.0-inch screen swims in the acreage that is the dashboard, and is powered by FCA's 'UConnect', which is the little software engine that isn't very good.

Look, it does the job, but feels very old and crusty, and at least you can tell your friends they inflict the same system on Maserati and Fiat 500 owners. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is along for the ride via the USB port at the base of the dash.

The Warlock comes with halogen headlights. (image: Peter Anderson)

If you're not a big fan of chrome, the traditional RAM shiny schnoz is only found on the trop-spec 1500 Laramie these days. The Warlock's black pack is a welcome addition, I reckon, softening both the headlight shape and the grille’s imposing vibe, even beyond the body colour treatment of the base Express trim level.

Also added are matte-black rock sliders with grippy steps (most welcome they are, too) and less than subtle WARLOCK decals. Because of its size even the massive, black 20-inch rims struggle to fill the gaping arches.

The hideous blinged-up chrome grille of the standard RAM is replaced with a tough-looking unpainted plastic version. (image: Peter Anderson)

To put how high this car is into context, it was parked behind a brand spanking new Kia Sorento GT-Line one afternoon. As I returned from a walk with the animal we own (that apparently passes for a dog), I noticed that the prow of the vented bonnet was almost as high as the trailing edge of the Korean car's rear wing.

That car is not small or particularly low. You eyeball bus drivers in the RAM. I could stand in the tub (with its folding tonneau cover open, naturally) and clear the gutters on my house. Maybe a massive car like this is more useful than I first thought.

The cabin is quite plasticky, with a predictably butch design. It's a long way across, with a massive tub under the armrest. There's not much else to say about it, apart from the fact it's very big and not very interesting. But boy, is it easy to clean.

I could stand in the tub (with its folding tonneau cover open, naturally) and clear the gutters on my house. (image: Peter Anderson)

You want cupholders? You get them. Four in the obvious places, with four more spread across the two rear doors and even cup placement spots on the fold down rear tailgate.

The rear seats are a genuine three across proposition with legroom to burn. Under the rear seats is a handy storage box, too.

The rear seats are a genuine three across proposition with legroom to burn. (image: Peter Anderson)

The huge tub is supplemented by the 'RAMbox' "cargo management system." Like the Battlestar Galactica, these open up like wings to receive cargo which RAM Australia suggests might be ice and a few frosty ones of your favourite soft beverage. Or even the largest Starbucks cup (see what I did there? Yes, I have been rewatching the 21st Century reboot of BSG, why do you ask?).

Together they add 210 litres, which rivals the space of a small hatchback. That's on top of the 1712mm (5'7") bed length with straight sides that are 1295mm apart for easy load carrying.

A clever movable partition that, unusually, doesn't require several university degrees to operate, is included with the Warlock.

The total length of the RAM Warlock is a massive 5.85m, which I think is the longest thing I've ever driven. So, yes, it's a nightmare to park with its 2097mm width, too. Total tray volume is 1400 litres and the turning circle is 12.1 metres.

Towing capacity is rated at up to 4500kg (not a typo). The kerb weight of 2630kg, along with an 820kg payload and maxed-out towing yields a gross combination mass of 7237kg. The GVM is a not inconsiderable 3450kg.

Under the bonnet, which is more of a roof structure suitable for a large concert venue, beats the classic Hemi V8. All 5.7-litres of it. In this version it spins up 291kW and 556Nm of torque. Power goes to all four wheels, of course.

It does have low-range and a centre-locking diff and is no doubt quite impressive off-road, as long as there are six-lane off-road highways, I guess.

An eight-speed automatic transmission gets the power to the wheels and, curiously, has a Jaguar-style rotary selector.

Under the bonnet, which is more of a roof structure suitable for a large concert venue, beats the classic Hemi V8. All 5.7-litres of it. (image: Peter Anderson)

Returning to the Battlestar Galactica concept, this thing knows how to burn fuel. The official combined cycle figure is a relatively modest 12.2L/100km but my testing resulted in a surprising 19.7L/100km on the trip computer.

In fairness, my test route totalled around 400km and comprised a 90km return trip along Sydney's M4 motorway, with the rest made up of numerous short, traffic-heavy trips spread across the Sydney and Blue Mountains ends of the trip.

Will you ever see 12.2L/100km in a Hemi V8-powered RAM? Unless you're on a steady run down the Hume, probably not. This highlights the fundamental flaw in the standard lab test used to calculate all official combined figures, and my rule of thumb is to expect a 30 per cent increase over the official figure versus real world combined use, so 19.7 isn’t a massive deviation.

With a 98-litre tank you'll still (almost) cover 500km at that rate. One imagines hooking up a 4.5-tonne load, or taking advantage of the 820kg payload, could be cause for celebration in Saudi Arabia.

Not a lot to say on the safety front. You get six airbags, ABS, stability and traction controls, rear parking sensors, trailer sway control and, uh, that's it.

No AEB, blind spot monitoring or anything much to help you manage the risk of driving such a large thing.

It comes with a full-size alloy spare. (image: Peter Anderson)

As with the safety gear, the ownership proposition is on the old-school side, but that's to be expected in a machine its importers probably didn't expect to sell at the rate of hundreds per month.

You get a three-year/100,000km warranty and roadside assist for the duration.

And that's it. However, given this car is a factory-sanctioned (locally) right-hand drive converted machine, unlike some of its privately-imported and converted rivals, it actually has a warranty. So you can't complain too much.

You can't get away from the size, heft, thirst and cost of a RAM Warlock. (image: Peter Anderson)

One thing I have noticed about RAM and F-Series drivers is that they are generally quite courteous. Yes, there's the usual rogue moron element, but you get that in Mitsubishi Mirage owners, too. It didn't take long for me to work out why.

The sheer size of this thing means you need everyone's co-operation. One false move and you'll be extracting hatchbacks from the rock sliders and SUVs from its gaping maw.

Driving like a lunatic is self-defeating and any accident would get you charged with unauthorised use of a weapon of mass destruction. I was worried its 2600kg kerb weight and full tank of 98 litres would crack my driveway.

Because of its size even the massive, black 20-inch rims struggle to fill the gaping arches. (image: Peter Anderson)

The wing mirrors are so big that, with only a little fettling, a pair of MX-5 doors would serve perfectly well as caps on the back. Which also means you've got amazing vision all around, with plenty of glass.

Being so high up you can have casual conversations with Hino drivers and bus drivers but that commanding position also affords a virtually unmatched view down the road.

Steering is predictably slow and the plastic steering wheel is a bit nasty in the hands. The big wide seats are surprisingly supportive, though, and the big multimedia screen nicely frames the giant vented bonnet.

The cabin is quite plasticky, with a predictably butch design. (image: Peter Anderson)

It's tricky to park without front cameras or parking sensors, so all of these things really need sorting.

In true American style, there's little road feel and the brake pedal feels over-assisted, so there have been no ill-effects during the steering wheel relocation.

The throttle is pretty handy, though, with good response at low revs as you might expect from a naturally aspirated Hemi V8. It does get the rig moving cleanly and smoothly, and if you could hear it over the induction roar, that would be grand.

The big wide seats are surprisingly supportive. (image: Peter Anderson)

The eight-speed transmission is well tuned to the weight and power delivery, which is a nice treat, too. And on the motorway, it's super-quiet apart from the mirrors rustling away in the airflow.

And at all times, the ride is very composed on those big baggy tyres, the obvious trade-off being a pretty lazy approach to cornering and roundabouts.