Review: 2013 Ram 1500 – From Texas with Laramie Longhorn

2013 ram 1500 crew hemi laramie longhorn

2013 saw a major update to Ram’s 1500 truck line.  This 2013 Ram 1500 Crew Cab Laramie Longhorn is the king of the hill.  It has all the bells and whistles for a fun and luxurious ride.  Ram is not holding anything back, but is this Ram well positioned to fight against the best from GM and Ford?

STATS Starting Retail Price As Tested Price HP / Lb-Ft
2013 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn $47,730 $55,890 395 / 407
EPA Rating MPG As Tested MPG
Rating: BUY IT! 15/21 Combined 17 Combined 12.3

First Impression:

Driving or riding in this truck is an occasion.  It has all the features of a luxury sedan or SUV, but wrapped into a pickup truck package.  There is keyless entry, keyless start, heated and cooled seats, heated wooden steering wheel, and a host of high-tech goodies.

2013 ram 1500 laramie longhorn wheel

Design:

Laramie Longhorn is more subtle and classy on the outside with two-tone exterior theme and less chrome than some other trim levels.  Underneath, it’s a tour-de-force of mechanical and electronic technology.   The truck is designed with fuel economy in mind, as much as a nearly three-ton 4×4 luxury truck can be efficient.  The HEMI’s cylinder deactivation, 8-speed automatic, active air suspension at all four corners, active grill shutters, full-length step rails, and more aerodynamic tweaks optimize the efficiency.  I averaged 12.3 MPG after four days and around 150 miles of driving in very heavy traffic around Austin, TX going to and from 2013 Formula 1 USGP.  This is a poor result, but the conditions were the most unfavorable.  Plus, hearing the HEMI at full roar is addicting.

2013 ram 1500 laramie longhorn interior dash

Interior of the Laramie Longhorn has a strong western theme.  It’s a comfortable and nice place to spend time.  This pickup costs over $55,000, but the ambiance justifies the price.  There are a few little nits where some plastics do not feel high quality, but the general feeling is premium.  The high quality leather, the thick wooden steering wheel, and chrome details are the key features that set the mood.

Power:

There is the good-old 5.7-liter HEMI V8 under the hood.  It makes a healthy 395 horsepower @5,600 rpm with 407 lb-ft of twist @3,950 rpm and sounds awfully good coming out straight back via large dual exhausts.  An 8-speed automatic transmission sends the power to the ground and works very well.  Close gear ratios allow for brisk acceleration and the shifts are never harsh or untimely.  This drivetrain feels refined and matches the high-end character of the truck.

2013 ram 1500 laramie longhorn texas austin f1 russian

Handling:

The big news is the adjustable air suspension at all four corners.  There are four selectable heights: from the kneeling mode that make entry/exit easier, to a “normal” mode, and two higher “off-road” settings.  The truck will also automatically select a super-secret “aerodynamic” setting at highway speeds to maximize efficiency.

The ride is one of the smoothest of any pickup.  This Ram also shows confidence in corners, although the sheer height and weight can still be felt as it leans.  The thick steering wheel transmits about the right amount of weight, although road feel is still a little vague.  It’s better than a Toyota or a Nissan, and on par with the Ford and GM.

2013 ram 1500 laramie longhorn seats

Competitors:

Competitors to this Ram include: GMC Sierra Denali, Ford F-150 Limited, Chevrolet Silverado HighCountry, and Toyota Tundra 1794.  This is a tough crowd to hang with, but the Laramie Longhorn does a fine job at staying with or excelling beyond the opponents.  My short test time with the truck does not allow me to address any reliability questions, but I had no reason to doubt the truck.  Ram has put together a fun and very useable package with the Laramie Longhorn.

On the TFLcar scale of:

  • Buy it!
  • Lease it!
  • Rent it!
  • … or Forget it!

I give the 2013 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn CrewCab 4×4 a Buy It!

After driving the latest Ford F-150 EcoBoost Limited, Chevrolet Silverado 6.2L, Toyota Tundra, and Nissan Titan – I would wager this particular Ram is most fun.  This is in large part due to the wonderful HEMI sound, luxurious ambiance, and a host of high-tech features.  This truck put a smile on my face, and it gets the Buy It! rating.