2021 Ram 2500

The entry-level Ram 2500 is the Tradesman. It has 17-inch steel wheels, a black mesh grille, and black bumpers. The Big Horn adds a chrome grille surround, 18-inch wheels, and chrome bumpers, while the Power Wagon has a black off-road grille, tow hooks, a black bumper, and a winch. Get more luxury features with the Laramie, which has 18-inch alloy wheels and chrome exterior trim elements, or choose the Longhorn for LED projector headlights, chrome side steps, and a spray-in bed liner. The Limited has even more upscale features, including 20-inch wheels, power-deploying running boards, and chrome tow hooks.

The standard engine for the Ram 2500 is a 6.4-liter V-8 that puts out 410 horsepower and gets 429 pound-feet of torque, but bumping up to the available 6.7-liter turbodiesel V-8 will get you 370 horsepower and 850 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive comes standard for all models except the Power Wagon, which has four-wheel drive, and this is optional for the rest of the trims.

This heady-duty Ram can work harder than a regular full-size truck. When equipped, rear-wheel-drive models with the diesel engine can tow up to 19,680 pounds, and gas-powered versions can tow up to 17,350 pounds. If you're looking to maximize hauling power, the gas engine combined with rear-wheel drive can carry up to 4,380 pounds.

The Ram 2500 has room for up to six, and everyone has a comfortable seat. Vinyl or cloth upholstery comes in the Tradesman, with leather seat trim in the Laramie, which also has heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. The Longhorn comes with leather upholstery, and it adds heated second-row seats, along with a rear floor storage bin. If you bump up to the Limited, it upgrades the interior trim elements.

Tech features in this pickup truck start with a 5-inch touch screen, a 12-volt power outlet, two USB ports, and Bluetooth if you have the Tradesman, with an 8.4-inch touch screen added in the Laramie and above. These also get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a nine-speaker stereo system, and 115-volt outlets in the front and back. A Wi-Fi hot spot comes in the Longhorn, and this trim and higher also have navigation. A 12-inch touch screen comes in the Limited, and you'll also get a wireless charging pad with this model.

Standard safety features for the 2500 include a rearview camera, trailer sway control, and hill start assist. The optional Safety Group adds adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and a digital rearview camera. The safety package also includes forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, automatic high beam headlights, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.