2022 Ram ProMaster City Passenger Wagon

The Ram ProMaster City Wagon is the smallest van offered by the company and it needs to pack a lot into its minor-league-sized frame. It manages to include the bare minimum in many aspects but does exceedingly well at being a frugal fuel-sipper. Not only does it save you money on gas, but it also keeps a couple of thousand dollars in your pocket compared to competition like the Ford Transit Connect and the Mercedes-Benz Metris. It does well for its asking price, even if it's a little bare-bones in terms of convenience and tech. The wagon offers an admirable amount of space, but its pragmatic nature results in a functional, yet vapid experience that's further emphasized by its lackluster 2.4-liter engine, providing just enough power to get the job done, but nothing more. Our Ram ProMaster City Wagon review aims to uncover whether these flaws are outweighed by the vehicle's merits.

We wouldn't call this passenger van attractive, but it's not terrible, either. It's as interesting as an affordable passenger van can possibly manage, and halogen headlights flank the Ram grille and ensure that the lunch tin is visible from a distance. Daytime running lights are now standard, as is a body-color front fascia. The rear features 180-degree opening doors and the van sits on a standard set of 16-inch steel wheels. 16-inch alloy wheels are available.

The Ram is significantly shorter in length than the Mercedes-Benz Metris but is closer in size to the long-wheelbase version of the Ford Transit Connect. Total length comes in at 187.1 inches and the wheelbase is 122.4 inches; this lineup doesn't offer any extended wheelbase options. The van stands 74.2 inches tall and an overall body width of 84.6 inches including the mirrors means it's rather slim for the segment. The Ram has a curb weight of 3,683 pounds.

A total of seven exterior paint options are available for the Ram, and two of these are standard. While the other five are nice enough, we don't see the average shopper splashing out the extra $200 for them given that this vehicle is of a utilitarian nature. The two no-cost options include Bright White and Bright Red and our personal favorite would be the last one, but most hauler-focused shoppers will end up choosing Bright White. The five metallic hues include Deep Red, Blue Night, Silver, Quartz Gray, and Black.

The capable 178-horsepower 2.4-liter engine found in the Ram provides enough steady power to haul its occupants around without running out of breath. The ProMaster can't lay claim to real athleticism, which is to be expected from an entry-level van, and it becomes slightly sluggish when passengers bring their luggage along for the ride. Only one drivetrain is available, and both trim levels drive power to the front wheels. A maximum towing capacity of 1,870 pounds is offered by the ProMaster City Wagon, and the wagon manages a payload capacity of 1,710 pounds. You can expect to get to 60 mph in around ten seconds according to independent testing, which is adequate for an affordable carryall. You could fling a small toaster across the kitchen much faster, but it can't carry five human beings the way this big one can, so it's about picking your battles. The turbocharged Mercedes-Benz Metris outshines the Ram in terms of power, but also comes with a debt-inducing price tag. The ProMaster City manages to best the Ford Transit's power offering, even if only by a small margin.

The beast of burden is powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that manages power outputs of 178 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque, Ram also has enough confidence in the engine to call it a "Tigershark", but the engine is as threatening as a ladybug. It falls behind the Mercedes-Benz Metris' 208 hp and 258 lb-ft, but manages to be ahead of the Ford Transit Connect's 162 hp and 144 lb-ft in base form. The Ford does have a 2.5-liter unit available that develops 169 hp and 171 lb-ft, though. A nine-speed automatic transmission is standard for the Ram, though only eight of those gears are truly used thanks to its schmaltzy attitude. Navigating gears smoothly is a challenge for the ZF-sourced transmission, and though it wouldn't be the bane of one's existence, it's subpar at best. Low-end acceleration is good enough for trips around town, and merging on the highway is a relatively easy task. Attempting to overtake another vehicle on the highway with five occupants inside is slightly more difficult at higher speeds, but the van will manage.

Essentially a very large Tupperware container on wheels, pushing the Ram around a corner at an eager speed will result in some wobble, but if you keep to a reasonable pace when tackling the bends, it'll fare just fine. The cornering motto of the Ram ProMaster City wagon is "thou shalt lean, and roll we shall," but other than that, the van isn't all that bad. Putting the maximum number of passengers inside results in a lower center of gravity and mitigates the floaty feeling one experiences when it's a one-man affair. Steering is a mixed bag, and it allows for enough maneuverability for a quick trip around the city, which is what it was made for, to be fair. You're just not likely to know much about what the wheels are doing, thanks to pretty much no resistance and very little response. What it does accomplish, though, is a comfortable ride compared to a select few competitors and less engine noise making it into the cabin than expected.

Choosing your ideal passenger van is all about finding the right balance, and while the ProMaster City Wagon may seem a little on the slow side, it's reserved when it comes to fuel economy. In fact, it delivers EPA estimates of 21/28/24 mpg. These figures are far better than the larger Mercedes-Benz Metris' 18/22/19 mpg, but falls behind the Ford Transit Connect's 24/28/26 mpg. When its 16-gallon fuel tank is at full capacity, the Ram offers just over 380 miles of range.

Discounted practicality is the main focus of the ProMaster City's cabin environment, and it actually does rather well for the segment in terms of its interior. While the features list doesn't read long, the ones that are included are useful and easy to use and locate. The van delivers everything you'd expect from a vehicle in the segment, and space is abundant whether you're the driver or a passenger. Ram took a no-fuss approach to the ProMaster City's infotainment system, though it can be upgraded for a slightly better suite of features. It lacks the likes of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but it does boast Bluetooth at the very least.

A merit for the van would be its comfortable seats, though no hint of luxury is present. This year, Ram has improved matters by equipping height and lumbar adjustment for the driver's seat as standard, which is a welcome change. Heated front seats are optionally available, and the addition of premium vinyl-clad bucket seats can be opted for on too. The Ram's interior seating space falls considerably behind the Metris and slightly behind the Ford Transit. Notably, the Transit offers a seating capacity of up to seven. Ingress and egress into the five-seater Ram are relatively easy feats thanks to wide door openings and the right height. If you want space and luxury, you're better off with a minivan.

As expected, the entire cabin is brought to life via economical cloth and hard plastics, but the Ram is no worse off than most rivals, although products from Mercedes and Ford justify the increase in price with nicer materials in general. While the materials used for the inside may not be luxurious, they are durable and functional, making it easier for the van to do what it was intended for. Yet another reason to be forgiving of the discounted materials would be that they're solid and dependable, so comfort and safety are bolstered. Black is the only color choice available for the interior, and cloth is the only upholstery choice.

Thanks to its maximum capacity of five passengers, the Ram offers a more than manageable amount of space behind the back seats. 74.1 cubic feet of real estate is on offer by the rearmost part of the van, and that's more than enough space to accommodate a large suitcase for every occupant if all five of them were going on a two-week holiday. If you run into a situation where extra space is needed, the rear seats fold down to allow a total cargo capacity of 101.7 cubes which surpasses the Metris. The cargo area's dimensions include a maximum height of 48.7 inches and a maximum width of 57.6 inches. Front occupants enjoy a decent amount of in-cabin storage thanks to a cavernous glovebox and a larger than average tray in the dashboard. Deep door pockets in the front allow for even more space, and an overhead storage compartment accommodates larger items, too.

A rudimentary suite of features accompanies the ProMaster City, which doesn't come as much of a surprise given the main focus of the van is of a utilitarian nature. Keyless entry grants access to the inside of the van, and a multifunction tilt and telescopic steering wheel and a manually-adjustable driver's seat are fitted as well. Manual air conditioning is standard, along with two 12-volt power outlets. The Ram now has manual adjustment of height and lumbar for the driver, as well as cruise control. Heated front seats are optional. Standard safety features are inclusive of a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, brake assist, electronic stability control, hill start assist, and trailer-sway damping.

Only core tech features make their way into the ProMaster City, though slight upgrades can be made if you need a little more from the van. A five-inch touchscreen is standard, and it enables audio through a four-speaker sound system. Bluetooth and a USB input are offered. Opting for the navigation system adds $695 to the final asking price. Ram Telematics can be opted for if you've purchased the van as a fleet vehicle and want real-time data about its location, productivity or fuel consumption. Neither of the trim levels allow for smartphone integration through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

No recalls have affected the 2022 model. The 2021 Ram ProMaster City Wagon suffered three, however. One was for potential internal damage to the ABS module. This could lead to decreased braking performance. The two other recalls were for a turn signal malfunction and a seat belt locking retractor malfunction. Fortunately, reliability otherwise appears to be sound.

Ram offers a basic warranty for three years or 36,000 miles along with a drivetrain warranty that is valid for either five years or 60,000 miles and roadside assistance is valid for the same time period. A corrosion warranty runs for five years regardless of miles covered.

Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA have published safety reviews for the 2022 Ram ProMaster City Wagon.

Unfortunately, the Ram's safety specs are far from generous. Only the most fundamental safety features make it onto the ProMaster City, and these include a rearview camera and a suite of airbags, including dual front airbags and curtain airbags for the first row. Also standard on the van is hill start assist, brake assist, traction control, cruise control, electronic stability control, rear parking sensors, and trailer-sway damping. No modern driver-assist features like blind-spot monitoring or forward collision warning are available, even as options.

At over $4,000 pricier than last year, one of the Ram's main selling points - its low price - is gone. Ram's smallest van offering does extremely well in terms of space and bests its rival from Merc in both seating space and total cargo space. It delivers impressive fuel economy figures that best the Merc (although falls short of the Ford Transit Connect), and though not the most attractive, the interior offers more comfort than a few rivals in the segment. A few of its downfalls would be its clumsy transmission and the engine's penchant for underperforming on the highway. When we consider performance, it's nowhere near as refined as the Ford Transit Connect, even if it's more powerful. Another flaw of the van would be its bare-bones suite of safety features, given that it's targeted at buyers who aim to carry multiple passengers at any given time. Also diminutive is its list of standard features. If you're willing to skimp on tech and safety features in the name of frugality, this is the passenger van for you, but other rivals in the USA offer a lot more.

The price of the Ram ProMaster City Wagon begins at an MSRP of $30,970 this year. That's over $4,000 more than last year, and even though there are now more standard features, the van's value proposition is no longer as attractive as it was. A hefty $1,795 destination and handling fee in the US is applicable to your purchase of a 2022 ProMaster City.

By comparison, the 2022 Ford Transit Connect starts at $31,860 but at least comes with pre-collision assist, automatic emergency braking, side wind stabilization, and dual-zone automatic climate control as standard.

Only one trim makes up the new Ram ProMaster City passenger wagon. One engine comes as standard which is a 2.4-liter four-pot and it drives power to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and no AWD or alternative configurations are available.

Standard exterior features are inclusive of halogen lighting, daytime running lights, and 16-inch steel wheels. Convenience features include keyless entry, a multifunction tilt and telescopic steering wheel, and a manually-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support. Basic air conditioning is standard, and cruise control is newly standard this year. A five-inch touchscreen enables Bluetooth streaming and one USB port is standard. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are absent altogether.

The standard safety features suite makes way for a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, hill start assist, ABS and trailer-sway damping, while the rear park-assist system is optional.

There are a handful of packages for the 2022 Ram ProMaster City Wagon. The most expensive is the Lights and Wheels Group at $765 which combines alloy wheels, front wheel center caps, and front fog lamps. The $445 Heated Seats and Power Mirror Group adds heated front seats along with heated side mirrors with a manual fold-away function. For $755, you can add a rear wiper/washer, a rear window defroster, and deep-tint sunscreen glass.

Standalone options are few but navigation goes for $695 and a full-size spare tire is $305.

With one trim, the range couldn't be any simpler than it is. Because a passenger van is more about interior comfort than looking snazzy, we'd skip the Lights and Wheels Group and tick the box for the heated front seats/heated side mirrors. Silver Metallic paint is subtle enough and not as boring as white, and the navigation upgrade is useful since Apple CarPlay/Android Auto aren't available, but that's as far as we'd go in terms of options. Configured like this, the ProMaster City Passenger Wagon costs $34,105 including destination.

To start with, the Ford has a less powerful engine than the Ram at base level, and given that it's heavier, it stands to reason it'd be noticeably slower. What the Transit does manage to do, though, is offer a much better suite of technology and safety features, so power may not be everything and if you need the extra power, Ford makes a 2.5-liter engine optionally available that improves outputs slightly. The blue oval badge makes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available and offers blind-spot monitoring and lane keep assist to bolster safety features significantly, something the Ram wagon is missing. By comparison, the Ford offers better fuel economy figures and can seat up to seven occupants. Though the Ram may be slightly more affordable, the Ford is worth the extra cost.

Over $15,000 separates the prices of the ProMaster City and the Sprinter, and the only thing these two have in common is that they're both passenger vans. The Sprinter offers more power from its engine and a whole lot more space thanks to its bigger size. The two are worlds apart when we consider the inside, given that the Sprinter offers a far better infotainment system that enables features like smartphone integration and SiriusXM, and while the inside may not be the lushest, it's an improvement by leaps and bounds compared to the ProMaster. The Merc does everything better, and with more comfort and less discount. This is to be expected though, especially when we consider the large price hike over the Ram. If you have some extra money lying around, then go for the Merc, but we're willing to bet you're looking at the Ram due to budget constraints.