2014 Ram ProMaster boldly enters the North American market to challenge convention. It’s based on a successful Fiat Ducato and is built on a front wheel drive chassis. Can this new commercial van win market share from the perennial segment leaders?
| STATS | Starting Retail Price | As Tested Price | HP / Lb-Ft |
| 2014 Ram ProMaster 1500 | $30,520 | $34,820 | 280 / 260 |
| EPA Rating MPG | As Tested MPG | ||
| Rating: LEASE IT! | N/A | Combined 17.1 |
First Impression:
Driving the 2014 Ram ProMaster is a unique experience and differs from a pickup truck or an SUV. Climbing the two steps and into the driver’s seats instantly lets you know that this a working machine and it means business. The seating position is high, the steering wheel is more upright and gives a bus-driver experience.
Design:
This test vehicle is a 136 inch wheel base high-roof model. It is the shortest of the high-roof models from Ram. Surprisingly, it fits into a standard parking spot in overall length and width. Power-folding outside mirrors help it fit into tighter spaces. Of course, there is no chance to stuff this 101 inch tall vehicle into a standard residential garage.
Commercial vans offer most features as individual options, so that you can get as bare bones or as fully outfitted van as you want. This Ram 1500 came with no fewer than 16 individually selected options for the final sticker price of $34,820. Most notable options include: rear-view backup camera, rear park assist system, Uconnect 5.0 infotainment system with GPS and satellite radio, cruise control, wood floor, lower side-wall paneling, and heated rear glass. The rear-view backup camera is $230 extra and is essential in everyday use. Everything else is just gravy. The Uconnect screen is not much bigger than an iPhone, so the maps are a little difficult to see and use. However, this working van has most comfort features of a modern Ram pickup truck.
The wood floor and side paneling help reduce interior noise, although the rear doors and some other areas still allow in more road noise and surrounding sounds than a new pickup truck.
Power:
The power comes from Chrysler’s ubiquitous 3.6L Pentastar V6 and here is makes 280 hp @ 6,100 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque @ 4,175 rpm. The test vehicle came with a 6-speed manual transmission and relatively low 3.86 axle ratio. This setup makes the van downright spritely when running empty. The engine revs quickly and gets off the line well. Although, you do need to rev it high to get maximum power. Transmission and axle gearing is setup to aid in slowing and stopping as to not overwork the brakes. This ProMaster 1500 model has a hefty payload capacity of 3,810 lbs and a good maximum towing capacity of 5,100 lbs when properly equipped.
The other option is the torquey 3.0L turbo-diesel I4 engine with a manual 6-speed transmission. The diesel gives up almost 250 lbs of payload capacity, but would be better suited for high elevation and mountainous terrain. The large four-cylinder makes 174 hp @ 3,600 and 295 lb-ft of torque @ 1,400 rpm. These vans are not EPA rated for fuel economy, but the diesel should be more efficient. The Pentastar returned a very respectable 17.1 MPG after a week of mixed city and highway driving with no load.
Handling:
This van puts the power to the front wheels and also has a surprisingly good turning radius of 40.7 feet. This is just a few feet more than a regular passenger car and enough to turn around on a standard residential street in one shot. This is definitely a huge plus for a working van.
The steering feel is light and low effort. Forward visibility is great as the driver sits high and very close to the front axle. The windows are large and sight lines allow for easy maneuvering. You have to get used to limited rearward visibility of a panel van, but humongous exterior mirrors and backup camera make life easier. If you are running light, then you will definitely feel the large surface area in cross winds. The van leans in the wind but still feels controllable and confident.
Competitors:
Competitors to this Ram include: Nissan NV and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Neither Ford nor GM currently offer a high-roof version of their full-size vans. However, the 2015 Ford Transit is coming to the market this summer and will have high-roof and many other configurations. (By the way, Ram ProMaster and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter are not related.)
| Starting Price | Payload (lbs) | Towing (lbs) | hp / lb-ft | |
| Ram ProMaster 1500 | $28,630 | 3,810 | 5,100 | 280 / 260 |
| Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500* | $35,920 | 3,416 | 5,000 | 161 / 265 |
| Nissan NV 1500 | $25,670 | 2,758 | 7,000 | 261 / 281 |
* Mercedes-Benz is not offering a 1500 light-duty version of the Sprinter at this time.
The ProMaster is priced in the middle of the pack. It does not tow as much as the competitors in HD versions. However, it offers the payload capacity, versatility, and interior volume which matches the current segment leader – the Sprinter.
On the TFLcar scale of:
- Buy it!
- Lease it!
- Rent it!
- … or Forget it!
I give the 2014 Ram ProMaster 1500 136” High Roof a Lease It!
The ProMaster is a solid effort and a great competitor in the segment, but I had a couple of small issues with it that prevent me from giving an outright Buy It rating. I found the trip computer switch finicky and the plastic floor underneath the seats is a little thin or soft and does not seem durable. These elements of durability are difficult to judge after a week, but it felt like it could be improved. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a full-size van which is easy to drive and maneuver, then the ProMaster is a very good and cost-effective choice.
Take a look at TFLtruck’s full coverage of the 2014 Ram ProMaster introduction.
Debut:
First Drive:
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know:
Up Close and Personal:
Andre Smirnov is a life-long automotive enthusiast, writer, reporter, and software engineer. He has been a contributor at TFL since 2011. When not working or spending time with the family – you can find him tinkering in the garage or simply ‘going for a drive’.
