With 23,000 miles on the odometer of our long-term 2019 Ram 1500, we remain convinced that this is the ultimate truck for a world where pickups are used as commuters and family haulers.
This Cowboy Cadillac continues to impress us with its lavish interior, polished road manners, and do-it-all abilities. "I feel as if I'm driving my couch to work. It's so big and comfy and offers such a safe feeling on Interstate 94 among all the semis," wrote copy chief Carolyn Pavia-Rauchman in the Ram's logbook.
On a trip from Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Chicago and back, another editor noted that the Ram is nimble for its size, saying that maneuvering the 20-foot-long truck was no more challenging than piloting a three-row crossover. That editor also praised the Ram's lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control for making light work of the four-hour drive to the Windy City.
Unfortunately, the electronic issues that we've previously mentioned haven't abated. As we pass the halfway point in the Ram's stay, it's becoming clear that the glitches with its 12.0-inch Uconnect infotainment touchscreen aren't going away on their own. While the system works far more often than it doesn't, the hiccups come with enough frequency that they're starting to draw the ire of our editors.
In addition to an unresponsive screen, we've experienced several episodes where the Ram's sound system won't play any audio. While the sound eventually comes back, we haven't figured out what triggers the silence or what fixes it. One driver tried changing the audio sources, hitting the mute button, and turning off the system's power. He then turned the truck off, opened the driver's door, waited 10 seconds, and turned it back on. Still no sound. The audio returned only after the Ram was driven 15 miles, at which point the driver flipped through the sources again and landed on AM radio.
"While my friends were impressed by the leather surfaces and apartment-like back seat, they cursed the infotainment system that refused to respond to inputs and even left us to talk about our feelings for several uncomfortable minutes when it wouldn't play sound," said assistant buyer's guide editor Eric Stafford.
If it weren't for that grating annoyance, our Ram 1500's ownership experience would be entirely positive so far. Since the last update, we patched a puncture in a rear tire for $20. We also paid the dealership $62 to replace the worn windshield wipers at 21,804 miles. The Ram's 20,000-mile scheduled service, which consisted of an oil change, a tire rotation, an engine air filter replacement, and various inspections, cost $103. If that flashy vertical touchscreen were as reliable as our truck's eTorqe-assisted Hemi 5.7-liter V-8, it would practically be faultless.
Months in Fleet: 8 months Current Mileage: 23,694 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 15 mpg
Fuel Tank Size: 33.0 gal Observed Fuel Range: 490 miles
Service: $164 Normal Wear: $62 Repair: $20
Damage and Destruction: $50
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