2020 RAM 1000 Reviews

Ram has begun lifting the lid on the incoming Dakota mid-size ute, with the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger rival expected to offer ICE and electrified powertrains, and it could arrive in right-hand drive from the factory for Australia.Ram boss Mike Koval showed an all-electric concept to the brand’s US dealers in March, which drove suspicions that the long-awaited ute would be an EV only offering.But Mr Koval told Australian media that wouldn’t be the case, with an electric-only powertrain limiting the truck’s popularity in global markets. Instead, the model would be offered with a choice of engine or motor, with ICE and EV both on the table.When asked if, given ICE remains a core part of Ram’s strategy, the new ute would keep a foot in both powertrain camps, Mr Koval replied: “Yes, because I don't want to limit my opportunities.”“I would be doing the team a disservice if I didn’t (offer ICE). I want to be able to sell it in every market around the world."The Dakota - although that name is yet to be confirmed - would form a key plank in Ram’s new global strategy, in which the brand will dedicate more engineering space to markets outside America.And that could include producing the Dakota in left- and right-hand drive from the factory, foregoing the need for the successful remanufacturing process that currently takes place through Ram Trucks Australia and Walkinshaw in Melbourne.When asked if the Dakota would be offered in left- and right-hand drive from the factory, Mr Koval replied: “It would always be the idea”.“When I got to the brand in 2016, I would say 96 percent of the engineering focus was on North America. That’s changing. Every new vehicle, starting with the (Ram 1500 REV), and everything beyond it, I will make it international in scope. Or I’ll try to.”So, onto the name. While Dakota is reportedly firming, Mr Koval says no decision has been made on what the truck would be called. "Obviously the Dakota name carries a lot of heritage. It's very special to us. I'll say if and when, we'll see. At the moment it's not, because it's just in concept phase. But we'll see," Mr Koval says."I will say this - we've been talkling about it forever. This is the Ram leadership team that is going to execute. We will be the team that delivers it."

The Ram 1500 REV has been confirmed for Australia, with the all-electric pick-up truck to arrive in our market soon after the model's US launch in late 2024.

American manufacturers know how important the large pick-up segment is, but, increasingly, medium-sized pick-ups like the Ford Ranger and Chevrolet Colorado are growing in popularity.

The Ram 1500 range looks slightly different for 2023 than it did last year, with a slimmer line-up creating a new entry-level, as well as a slight price increase at the top end of the family.

Here's our guide for the Ram 1500.

Ram Trucks are imported as left-hand drive vehicles to Australia by Ateco (the same import group behind Renault and LDV) under the auspices of American Special Vehicles and are then converted to right-hand drive in Melbourne. The Ram Trucks brand does not currently offer a capped-price service program for any of its models, although indicative pricing can be found through the ‘book a service’ section of its website.Ram’s range of utes, which currently includes five variants of the 1500, or either a 2500 or 3500 Laramie Crew Cab, are all covered by a three-year/100,000km warranty in Australia, behind the more commonly accepted five-year and unlimited kilometre warranty offered by most manufacturers in the industry. On the upswing, the entire warranty period includes 24/7 roadside assistance.While there is no capped-price service program on any of the brand’s models, indicative pricing, which will vary by location, can be seen through the brand’s book-a-service feature.Servicing is not cheap. Using a Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab equipped with a 5.7-litre V8 engine based in Sydney as an example, service pricing ranges (at the time of publishing) from $508.97 to $1251.96 in the first five years per 12 monthly, 12,000km visit intervals. The most expensive service in the calculator is a whopping $4101.38 due at 10 years or 120,000km. The calculator reaches to 14 years or 168,000km.In summary: With a short limited warranty and no capped price service program, Ram owners are left without a clear picture of the total cost of ownership. The current indicative service pricing suggests it will be high. 4/10*Based on indicative pricing from the calculator for a vehicle located in Sydney and not including the six month/6,000km 'severe duty' service for vehicles which are frequently towing, used off-road, or for fleet duties.If you want to find out more about a specific manufacturer's capped price servicing, please see below:

Walkinshaw produced around three times as many vehicles in 2022 than HSV did in its biggest year with Holden, with the Victorian engineering outfit helping drive a manufacturing boom in Australia.

With Ford Australia confirming pricing for the F-150, it’s now made a place amongst rivals like the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado, but a key player from the big American pick-up truck game is yet to arrive.

Ram has officially confirmed the electric version of its hero truck, with the Ram 1500 REV finally confirmed for production.

Ram's long-awaited mid-size ute could be mere weeks away from its concept unveiling, with international reports pointing to a dealer showcase in March that will reveal much more detail about the brand's Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max rival.It's