2015 Ram ProMaster City Wagon ST Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

The new Ram ProMaster City Wagon satisfies many needs

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY

      • SEE ALSO: Ram Buyers Guide

2015 Ram ProMaster City Wagon

While the new Ram ProMaster City is primarily aimed at the commercial market, it could also fill needs of regular people. Do you need more interior volume than could be had in a compact or mid-size crossover but with a smaller footprint than what not-so-mini vans have become? Do you habitually haul recreational equipment, tools, gardening supplies, bicycles, or even smallish motorcycles and prefer something more secure than an open trailer, or prefer not to deal with a trailer at all? Maybe something to camp in but with more headroom than a camper shell on a pickup, or smaller and more economical vehicle than a contemporary not-so-compact pickup? You have a new choice.

Chrysler was the first American automaker to introduce the large European van to these shores back in the DaimlerChrysler days with the (rebadged) Mercedes-Benz Sprinter in 2001 under the Freightliner badge and from 2003 as a Dodge. With a "build up, not out" design that allowed it to fix maximum interior volume into a minimum footprint, it gained enough of a following to get competitor Ford interested in the market, first with the smaller Transit Connect and more recently with a line of full-size Transit models. Meanwhile, after the divorce from Daimler, Chrysler was left in limbo… until the match with Fiat.

Like most European manufacturers, Fiat had a complete line of light- and medium-duty commercial vans. As a result of the Fiat acquisition, the Dodge nameplate was aimed at cars, with formerly Dodge trucks re-badged as Ram. The first Fiat van to be adapted to the North American marketplace was the Sprinter-sized Ducato, sold as the Ram ProMaster. It could be just the thing to haul a couple of Ducatis in, but there was a need for something smaller. Enter the Fiat Doblo, transformed into the Ram ProMaster City. Transit Connect, we're looking at you…

2015 Ram ProMaster City Wagon

The 2015 Ram ProMaster City comes in two-seat Cargo Van and five-seat Wagon form, the difference being that Van versions have solid panels instead of windows on the side and rear doors, with glass optional. Wagon side sliding doors are glass, with further visibility from glass panels in the rear cargo doors. Inside, the Van has a flat floor behind the front seats, while the Wagon has a split fold-and-flip bench. Thinking about what can fit back there? Cargo floor length for the Van is 87.2 inches (7.25 feet) while the Wagon has 45.6 inches with the rear seats in place or 68.7 with them flipped forward. The cargo version gets a bit more width and height back there due to a lack of passenger equipment.

In either form, power is from the 2.4-liter "Tigershark" four-cylinder engine, with 178 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque driving the front wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission. There are two trim levels for both Van and Wagon, ST and SLT.

Surprisingly, considering that press fleet vehicles are usually in premium trim, my ProMaster City Wagon tester was an ST. Which meant black plastic instead of body bumper caps, manual outside rearview mirrors (adjusted by interior stalks so no difficulty), less seat adjustability, and second-row fold-out instead of power windows. Options including the backup camera package, deep-tinted glass, cruise control, and the Uconnect® audio and connectivity package brought it up to virtual equivalence to an SLT.

It's a commercial vehicle more than a consumer item, so it's a bit noisier inside and less refined than a similarly-sized crossover. This won't be a problem for people who can see its usefulness. Low- and medium-speed response is very good, and it's no different driving than a similarly-sized crossover. I saw a 23-mpg average for the week, with minimal highway distance. If you need maximum and easily-accessible interior volume on a minimal footprint, the Ram ProMaster City is worth a good close look.

APPEARANCE: Form follows function here, but the form has more than a bit of flair. There is that Italian heritage, after all. It's higher than it is wide, if not by much -- 74 inches wide, 72 tall -- with the wheels at the corners and a tall cabin. The front is aerodynamically-rounded and the large windshield quite raked. Luxury chrome? Surely you jest -- the only brightwork is the headlight reflectors and badging. Matte-black textured plastic is used for the door handles and side rub strip on all, and the front and rear bumper fascias of the ST. Those on the SLT are body-colored. Corrugations in the roof and a bit of sculpting on the sides add visual interest, structural integrity, and perhaps a bit of aero efficiency. For optimum space-efficiency, the rear panel is vertical, with side-hinged doors split 60/40. Optional rear defroster elements and wiper are highly-recommended, and there are doorstops at 90 and 180 degrees for easy access.

COMFORT: The biggest difference between the ProMaster City and a pickup or SUV? Step-in height, or lack thereof. From the side, there are cars that are higher. The 21.5-inch load floor height means easy loading and unloading, especially if ramps are involved. Sliding doors on both sides ensure easy and complete access, whether for passengers or cargo.

Up front, even in ST form it's far from Spartan, with remote keykess entry, power windows and door locks, air conditioning, a tilt-and-telescope adjustable steering wheel, and AM/FM radio plus USB and auxiliary jack inputs standard. The ST's mirrors are manually-adjustable, easily done with the small interior joystick controls. They are large-size truck mirrors with lower convex elements for blind-spot visibility. The front seating position is comfortably upright, with good visibility. Interior materials are textured plastics and cloth, nothing fancy but surprisingly stylish. Instrumentation is simple and easily visible. A leather steering wheel rim and phone, audio, and cruise controls on the front of the spokes plus volume and tuning controls on the rear are part of the optional UConnect 5.0 system, along with Bluetooth connectivity. Front seats are basic but good, and the rear sits a bit higher, theater-style. Headroom is not going to be a problem here! Nor is storage for small items -- if there's no console box, look up -- the large space between the top of the windshield and ceiling provides ample space for lightweight items. Bottle and cup holders abound, as do small open storage spaces. The glovebox locks, a good security feature. "Trunk" space? Lots!

SAFETY: Dual front airbags plus one for the driver's knees, front side and side-curtain airbags for all installed rows are standard along with antilock brakes, brake assist, hill-start assist, all-speed traction control, and electronic roll mitigation.

RIDE AND HANDLING: There is less soundproofing than in a crossover or pickup, and the ride is a bit bouncy. No surprise as the ProMaster City Wagon was meant to carry up to 1700 pounds of payload and the fully-independent MacPherson strut / bi-link suspension designed and calibrated with that in mind. With a few hundred pounds in the back, it should be a bit smoother. For this type of vehicle, payload and towing capacity may be more important than passenger comfort. Even empty, it's quite civilized and in no way uncomfortable. Don't expect the cornering abilities of a sports car, but at real-world speeds it has a reasonably small turning circle, for good maneuverability in tight spots. With a 2,000-pound towing ability, if it won't fit in the back you can tow it.

PERFORMANCE: Here, payload and towing can be just as important as acceleration, braking, and cornering. See above. With 178 horsepower (at 6400 rpm) and 174 lb-ft of torque at 3800 rpm and plenty right off idle, the 2.4-liter Tigershark engine works very well for this application, especially as matched with the nine-speed automatic. Which is really the standout part of the drivetrain. Low first and second gear ratios, moderate third and fourth, direct fifth, and overdrive sixth through ninth (a remarkable 0.48:1) mean excellent low- to moderate-speed acceleration, as in city and merging traffic, and economical highway cruising. It works -- with very little highway miles during my week I saw 23 mpg. EPA figures are 21 city, 29 highway, and I'd expect real-world highway mileage to be in the high twenties. There is a manual mode, useful when towing or dealing with long, steep grades.

CONCLUSIONS: The new Ram ProMaster City Wagon will fill many needs.

SPECIFICATIONS

Ram ProMaster City Wagon ST

Base Price $ 24,130

Price As Tested $ 27,590

Engine Type SOHC 16-valve aluminum alloy inline 4-cylinder

Engine Size 2.4 liters / 144 cu. in.

Horsepower 178 @ 6400 rpm

Torque (lb-ft) 174 @ 3800 rpm

Transmission 9-speed automatic

Wheelbase / Length 122.4 in. / 187.5 in.

Curb Weight 3695 lbs.

Pounds Per Horsepower 20.8

Fuel Capacity 16 gal.

Fuel Requirement 87 octane unleaded regular gasoline

Tires Continental ProContact 215/55R16 97H m+s

Brakes, front/rear vented disc / drum, ABS, BA, and ESC standard

Suspension, front/rear independent MacPherson strut / independent bi-link

Drivetrain transverse front engine, front-wheel drive

PERFORMANCE

EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon city / highway / observed 21 / 29 / 23

0 to 60 mph est 9.8 sec

Towing Capacity 2000 lbs.

Payload 1883 lbs Cargo 1700 Passenger

OPTIONS AND CHARGES

Trailer Tow Group by Mopar® -- includes: class III receiver hitch, 4/7-pin wiring harness $ 435

Rear Wiper/Washer/Defroster Group $ 250

Rear Backup Camera Group -- includes: ParkSense® rear park assist system, ParkView™ rear backup camera $ 495

Deep Tint Sunscreen Glass $ 300

Speed Control $ 225

UConnect® 5.0 AM/FM/BT -- includes: 5.0-inch touchscreen display, integrated Bluetooth® voice command, leather-wrapped steering wheel rim, steering wheel audio controls $ 465

Sirius/XM Satellite Radio w/1-year subscription $ 195

16x6.5" black steel wheels with full cover $ 100

Destination Charge $ 995