The 2021 Ram 1500 proves a modern full-size pickup truck can be whatever a truck shopper might wants it to be, from a basic value-conscious work machine to a rock-crawling adventure mobile. The Ram 1500 Tradesman and Big Horn trims are solid picks thanks to their value, towing and hauling capacities, and comfortable cabins. An available mild-hybrid Hemi V8 and turbodiesel V6 give the latest Ram some MPG bragging rights, too.
Meanwhile, the Ram Rebel adds all-terrain attitude and go-anywhere hardware that’s perfect for scrabbling over boulders or powering through muddy trails. Speaking of power, the newly introduced Ram 1500 TRX is motivated by the same supercharged Hemi V8 found in the Challenger SRT Hellcat muscle car. If a 702-horsepower engine is overkill for your daily truck needs, consider the Ram 1500 Limited. It delivers plenty of performance, a supple air suspension, and an interior that shames many luxury-branded cars and SUVs (much less other trucks).
We’re going to look at four of the 2021 Ram 1500’s primary trim levels to cover the widest range of features, engines, cabin and cargo bed sizes, and the luxury touches available on this popular full-size pickup.
2021 Ram 1500 Tradesman (starting price $32,595)
True to its name, the Ram 1500 Tradesman is geared toward people who want a reasonably priced vehicle that’s going to be put to work. Keep in mind, if you want a Ram with the Regular Cab and only two doors, you’ll have to migrate to the 1500 Classic lineup. The Classic model is based on the previous-generation Ram truck. The 1500 Classic starts around $29,000 and is the only version that combines the 3-passenger Regular Cab with an 8-foot cargo bed.
When it comes to the current-gen Ram 1500, the Tradesman is available with a choice of Quad Cab or Crew Cab, and cargo beds that stretch 5 feet 7 inches or 6 feet 4 inches. For more usable rear legroom, go with the Crew Cab.
The base engine is a 305-hp 3.6-liter V6 coupled to an 8-speed automatic and your choice of rear- or 4-wheel drive. This engine is perfectly fine for most truck shoppers thanks to its max available towing capacity of 7,730 pounds. It also returns decent mileage for a large truck. The V6 in rear-wheel-drive format returns an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in city driving and 25 mpg on the highway.
Adding 4-wheel drive seems a no-brainer decision, but it adds more than $3,000 to the price. Also available is a choice of two 5.7-liter V8 engines or a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6. While the power and torque of the optional engines are tempting, the standard V6 and 8-speed automatic are refined and powerful enough for most tasks.
To add some pricing perspective, we’re going to use a formula in which a Ram buyer opts for 3% financing for a period of 60 months, with $0 down at signing. Rounding the base price up to an even $34,000 — factoring in destination charges — would equal a payment of $583 per month. See 2021 Ram 1500 Tradesman for sale near you
2021 Ram 1500 Tradesman includes:
- Cloth or synthetic leather seating surfaces. While upmarket Ram 1500s deliver stunning interior trim, the entry-level version is comfortable and has a smartly designed cabin. It’s not fancy, but it works well.
- Standard 3.6-liter V6, or optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8s with 395-horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. One of the two is fitted with the eTorque mild-hybrid system to save gas and deliver extra torque when needed. This is also a feature of the base V6.
- A 3.0-liter turbodiesel is available and delivers the best mileage of the Ram range.
- Standard 5-in touchscreen for the UConnect infotainment system. This is a user-friendly system, though the base screen is tiny. For around $800 extra, it’s worth upgrading to the 8-in screen, which comes as part of the available Electronics Group package. This includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, and subscription-based satellite radio.
2021 Ram 1500 Big Horn (starting price $37,140)
One step up from the Tradesman trim, the Big Horn represents the bread and butter of the Ram 1500 lineup. With more standard and available features, but minus any nose-bleed price tag, the Ram 1500 Big Horn plays right in the juicy middle of the full-size truck market. Available engines include the 3.6-liter V6, or a choice of two 5.7-liter Hemi V8s, including the motor fitted with the eTorque system. This isn’t around simply to save fuel; when needed, a stomp of the gas pedal adds an additional 130 pounds-feet of torque.
Big Horn shoppers can also choose a turbodiesel V6 that offers 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Great for towing, it’s also the most fuel efficient of the Ram range, too. The EPA-estimated 22/32 mpg in city and highway driving is impressive, especially considering the turbodiesel nearly matches the towing capacity of the larger (and thirstier) Hemi V8s.
From the outside, the Big Horn has some exterior chrome trim and fog lights to make it look less utilitarian. The interior has upgraded cloth seats, a split-folding rear seat, and a much wider range of upgrades.
Using the same pricing structure — 60-month purchase option with $0 down at signing and 3% APR — a Big Horn starting at $38,000 would be around $70 more per month than a Tradesman. Keep in mind, these payments are simply for reference and stick closely to the base price of each trim. See 2021 Ram 1500 Big Horn for sale near you
2021 Ram 1500 Big Horn includes:
- A choice of four available engines, including a standard 3.6-liter V6, two 5.7-liter V8s, including an eTorque mild-hybrid model, or turbodiesel 3.0-liter V6.
- If long-distance driving is part of your normal truck routine, an available 33-gallon fuel tank will add lots more driving range to your Ram truck.
- Adding 4-wheel drive to the Big Horn costs a substantial $3,500. That’s a hefty fee, though most truck buyers will want the extra grip and all-weather traction.
- The optional Big Horn Level 1 Equipment Group combines many features into one package. This includes items like a power driver’s seat, power-folding side mirrors, power sliding rear window, 8.4-in infotainment screen, power-adjustable pedals, and Class IV receiver hitch, to name a few. For about $1,300, this option package is money well spent.
- For fancier add-on features, the Level 2 Equipment Group includes heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and front and rear parking sensors.
2021 Ram 1500 Rebel (starting price $45,770)
As the wild child of the Ram 1500 lineup, the Rebel lives up to its name by offering a look-at-me exterior that’s backed up by all-terrain hardware. Sandwiched between the Big Horn and Rebel is the Laramie trim, which adds more luxury touches and allows a Ram buyer to add safety features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
The Rebel, on the other hand, is aimed at Ram buyers who want to take their truck onto rough and rugged terrain. That’s why standard features include tow hooks, underbody skid plates, a 2-in lift kit, locking differential, and that extroverted exterior with chunky all-terrain tires. Offered with the full range of four available engines, the Rebel can be loaded with extras like wireless device charging, automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive cruise control, and Harman Kardon audio system.
So, while it’s bred for off-road antics, a fully-loaded Rebel is hardly what you’d call a rough-and-tumble pickup.
Factoring in the Rebel’s base price into our hypothetical 60-month purchase option, this Ram truck would carry a monthly cost of approximately $790. See 2021 Ram 1500 Rebel for sale near you
2021 Ram 1500 Rebel includes:
- The Rebel is the off-road-oriented version of the Ram lineup. While it comes with the same choices of cabin and cargo bed size, the standard fitment of a heavy-duty suspension, underbody skid plates, and other all-terrain features make it clear where this truck’s priorities lay.
- For the 2021 model year, the Rebel is available with the Safety and Convenience option package. This includes active safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and more.
2021 Ram 1500 Limited (starting price $56,600)
Sitting near the top of the Ram 1500 range, the Limited comes with almost everything that can be added onto a full-size truck. Inside, the cabin materials include real wood trim and metal pieces that aren’t simply colored plastic. The design knocks the proverbial socks off anyone who thinks pickups are nothing more than basic tools with few if any creature comforts.
Available only in Crew Cab format, the Ram 1500 Limited has three available engines — the two Hemi V8s or turbo-diesel V6 — and a choice of the 5-foot-7-inch or 6-foot-4-inch cargo bed. An air suspension is standard and does an excellent job absorbing bumps and rough pavement. Leather seating is standard and the center of the dashboard is dominated by a 12-in touchscreen with clear menus and easy controls. If you’re of the opinion that bigger is better when it comes to infotainment screens, you’ll love the one in the Ram 1500 Limited.
Everything from power-operated running boards to wireless device charging and blind-spot monitoring are included in the roughly $56,000 starting price. You don’t have to stop there, however, because the Limited has available ventilated rear seats, trailer brake controller, 20- or 22-in alloy wheels, and the RamBox cargo management system. This last item turns the rear fenders into lockable and drainable storage spaces.
While the Ram 1500 Limited is an extremely well-equipped truck, it’s no longer the top dog of the Ram range. That honor, at least if price and horsepower are the deciding factors, goes to the new Ram TRX.
Starting at more than $70,000, the main party trick of the TRX is the 702-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8 under the bulding hood. Available only in Crew Cab format and with the shortest cargo bed, the TRX takes full-size truck performance to the next level. Punch the gas pedal and hold on tight — the TRX only needs about 4 seconds to accelerate from zero to 60 mph. As you guessed, 4-wheel drive is standard to keep this monster truck under control.
Sticking with the Limited as our point of reference, that 3% finance rate and 60-month purchase plan with $0 down at signing equals out to a payment of $978 per month. See 2021 Ram 1500 Limited for sale near you
2021 Ram 1500 Limited includes:
- Standard air suspension. This gives the Ram 1500 Limited superb ride quality and helps melt miles away during long road trips. It also has automatic load leveling to assist with heavy-duty towing.
- The standard 12-in touchscreen is one of the easiest and most user-friendly systems offered in a truck. To save some money, know that this screen can be added onto the slightly less expensive Limited Longhorn trim, too.
- The available Level 1 Equipment Group costs $2,995 and brings features like adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality (great if your truck driving routinely gets snarled by traffic), a surround-view camera, ventilated rear seats, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.
