Ram’s Most Affordable Full-Size Pickup Is Dead

After an impressive run that began back in 2009, the Ram 1500 Classic will soon be put out to pasture. As confirmed by Automotive News, there will no longer be any place for the entry-level pickup in the Ram lineup in 2025 because there’s something newer to take its place.

The Ram 1500 Classic has been edging closer to its demise for some time, and it was only in January that its continued existence for 2024 was confirmed. Despite its age, the charming bare-bones DS-generation pickup has been an affordable entry point to workhorse ownership, peacefully coexisting alongside the current DT generation, but now it and its V8 engine are gone, leaving no eight-cylinder engines in the 2025 lineup.

Prepare To Pay More

The 2024 Ram 1500 is still listed on the Ram Trucks website and starts at a base price of $38,705 for the Tradesman and $43,635 for the Warlock (both prices excluding a $1,995 destination charge). For 2025, the new Tradesman starts at $40,275, while the Warlock will set you back at least $54,505, but it’s worth noting that there may be region-specific incentives that apply to your local dealer.

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The old 1500 Classic’s 5.7-liter V8 delivers 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, enabling a 1,810-lb payload. For the 2025 model, your only options are a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 delivering 305 hp and 269 lb-ft (with a 1,930-lb payload) or the new Hurricane Standard Output straight-six with 420 hp and 469 lb-ft of torque and up to 1,910 lbs of carrying capacity. While those numbers are impressive, buyers in this segment may be wary of the potential reliability complications surrounding turbocharged engines, especially when the V8 has been soldiering on for so long.

Stellantis Is Leaving Money On The Table

The Ram 1500 Classic was compelling enough on its own, and with midsize pickups – like the Ford Ranger and Chevrolet Colorado – becoming larger and more capable, their pricing is approaching that of full-size trucks, and many buyers found more value in the larger, simpler full-size light-duty pickup. But with the 1500 Classic heading into the sunset next year and no midsize pickup of its own, Ram may find that it loses customers to rivals.

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Ram does have a midsize pickup called the 1200, but this affordable $25,000 truck only finds itself in North America south of the Mexican border. With up to 2,668 lbs of payload capacity, it’s even more capable than the 1500 Classic and comprehensively outperforms the Ranger, which can only manage up to 1,805 lbs. Unfortunately, this pickup is based on the Peugeot Landtrek and has been developed with Chinese automaker Changan, which means it’s unlikely to ever reach US dealers.

Source:
Automotive News