Ram 1500 Express 2018 review: snapshot

The 1500 Ram 2018 Express unlocks a large lineup of American pickups starting at $79,950.

The Ram 1500 Express can also be fitted with RamBoxes — a pair of insulated, lockable boxes above the wheel arches that provide secure storage — and this model has a list price of $84,450 plus travel expenses.

The Ram 1500 Express can also be ordered with the Black Pack, which includes black exterior trim, blacked-out headlights, black emblems and a sports exhaust system. This version costs $89,450 plus travel expenses, or $93,950 with the RamBox.

Made in the USA and rebuilt in Australia, the Ram 1500 ute is powered by a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 engine with 291 kW (at 5600 rpm) and 556 Nm (at 3950 rpm) of torque. Those are some serious horsepower.

The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all Ram 1500 models have all-wheel drive. The maximum towing capacity is 4.5 tons (with brakes) for the Express and Laramie models when equipped with a 70mm towbar. It has a 6 ft 4 in (1939 mm) "Quad Cab" body.

Fuel consumption for the Express model (with a rear axle ratio of 3.92) is claimed at 12.2 l/100 km. The volume of the fuel tank is 121 liters.

The entry-level Express model comes with a 5.0-inch multimedia screen, cloth seat trim, leather-lined instrument panel, color-coded grille and bumpers, side steps, halogen headlights and fog lights, spray-on lining, 20-inch wheels, and a full kit. for towing with built-in electric brake control.

This specification lacks a rearview camera, automatic emergency braking (AEB), and advanced safety equipment. There is also no ANCAP safety rating.