RAM 1500

The RAM 1500 Limited is fitted with a comprehensive range of active safety features.

Standard equipment includes a radar/camera autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, an active lane support system, blind spot monitoring, reverse AEB, adaptive cruise control, and speed assistance.

The AEB system fitted to Limited variants is capable of detecting other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. A driver monitoring system is also fitted, along with visual & audible seatbelt reminders for front row seats. Second row seating positions are, however, not equipped with seat belt reminders and this limited its score.

Performance testing of the crash avoidance features fitted to the RAM 1500 Limited revealed positive results. In car-to-car AEB scenarios, the RAM avoided collisions across a wide range of speeds, including low, mid and high-speed tests, as well as complex intersection scenarios where most of its tested competitors proved less capable.

In AEB car-to-pedestrian testing, full points were scored for test scenarios where the adult pedestrian was walking in front of, and in the same direction as the RAM. In turning scenarios, where the RAM 1500 Limited was entering a road with a pedestrian stepping out from the kerb and crossing in front, all impacts were avoided. Some limitations were observed in child pedestrian tests, particularly at night, but overall results were stronger than other models tested.

AEB car-to-cyclist performance was good. The RAM 1500 detected cyclists travelling in the same direction and crossing its path, intervening to avoid impacts in most scenarios.

Car-to-motorcyclist tests showed moderate results. The RAM 1500 was able to avoid or mitigate impacts with stationary and braking motorcyclists in rear-end scenarios, yet poorer performance was seen when turning in front of or changing lanes into the path of an oncoming motorcyclist.

The RAM 1500 is the only model tested to be fitted with pedestrian-detecting AEB Backover – a feature not yet widely available in many passenger cars. While performance was Weak, this is a positive feature inclusion with the potential to offer protection in high-risk driveways and carparks.

Lane keep assist (LKA) provided timely intervention, steering the RAM back into its lane when drifting towards a solid or dashed line marking. The RAM 1500 was the only model of those tested to score in the emergency lane keep (ELK) test scenario involving the road edge with no line marking.

The RAM’s speed assistance system worked effectively, though the system lacks more advanced camera or map-based speed sign recognition functionality seen in many passenger cars and smaller utes.

The RAM’s indirect driver monitoring system (DMS) offers basic functionality but does not extend to advanced attention or fatigue detection.

The RAM 1500 Limited achieved an overall GOLD safety grading. It stands ahead of the Toyota Landcruiser 79 Series, Toyota Tundra and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, offering broader fitment and stronger performance results across most test scenarios.