2015 Dodge Ram ProMaster City – Test Drive, Review, Ratings, Specs

A Comfortable Office on Four Wheels

Being in the trades business ain’t easy. The job is physically tough, and the marathon commute from site to site is added strain mentally, physically, and economically. On that note, autonomous job labor isn’t quite here (yet). But in the meantime, the Dodge ProMaster City can certainly mitigate the latter statement with tested reliability, fuel efficiency, cost-effective and an overall easy car to drive.

It’s a fully functional car as well. In addition to its best-in-class cargo capacity of 131.7 cu.-ft, the Dodge Ram ProMaster is generally well designed car with an optional 60/40 split 3-passenger second-row seats, well insulated front cabin space area, and a complete ensuite infotainment system accessible via its 5.4″ center console touch screen.

In terms of looks, it’s obviously not going to be the prettiest of the bunch. Though favoring function over form, the Dodge ProMaster City’s exterior design is still modern enough to blend in well with the city crowd. Albeit a van-shaped square look, its sedan-like front fascia, and 16″ wheels help.

Exterior can be configured either in the TRADESMEN Cargo Van with a cargo capacity of 131.7″ x 48.4″ and minimized side walls and minimized rear door inserts, or the WAGON edition that comes with a three-passenger 60/40 second row seat and fully layered accoustic headliner and floor carpeting for passenger comfort.

Keeping it Simple

Powertrain in the Dodge ProMaster City is kept minimal with a basic 2.4L TigerShark I-4 engine producing 178 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. In efforts to maximize fuel efficiency, the Dodge ProMaster City is the first to introduce the 948TE 9-speed automatic transmission leveraging through a wide gear ratio spread of 3.73:1. The end result is a well respected fuel economy of 25 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.

The ProMaster City wasn’t just tested on paper either. Part of the testing process included a 3/36 reliability test that accumulates over 36,000 miles of real-world drive testing in the course of 3 months.

Drive comfort has also been part of the ProMaster City’s design criteria for the all new 2015 model. Departing from the archaic leaf-spring suspension design found in standard Class 1 van category, the ProMaster City comes with rear MacPherson strut suspensions with coil-sprung bi-link rear suspension system that helps improve payload capacity and drive handling and comfort.

On the Road

By no means fun (as anyone would expect), but the Dodge ProMaster City is an easy and forgiving car to drive. Its massive front windshield and semi-upright driving position promotes excellent driving visibility. And thanks to the added carpeting and insulation in the WAGON edition, road and engine noise is minimized to help provide a more comfortable driving experience both in the city and on the highway.

Suspension setup is well tailored for its application. Road bumps and general city driving is pleasant and comfortable. The miniature 16″ wheels also helps with acceleration with the limited horsepower of the 2.4L 4 cylinder engine.

All in all, it’s a great car – that is if I was in the trades business. In particular with the Wagon edition served to haul both cargo and passengers, the interior is well thought out to offer a good balance of rugged clothe materials and comfortable to the touch (at least somewhat). It’s smooth, quiet, and functional. Final price point of our tested ProMaster City Wagon SLT model $36,185. It may seem a bit steep at first, but considering a well balanced dual-purpose vehicle that lives up to its words, it’s hard to argue why the ProMaster City wagon wouldn’t fit the bill for those that need a form of transportation on and off the clock.

Specifications

• Vehicle : 2015 Dodge ProMaster City
• Model : Wagon SLT
• Price as Tested : $36,185
• Vehicle Type : 6 Door Cargo Wagon
• Seating Capacity : 2+3+2
• Powertrain Configuration : FWD
• Engine : TigerShark 2.4L I-4
• Transmission : 9 Speed Automatic
• Fuel Economy: 25/35 MPG city/highway

 

Pros

• Well designed dual-purpose vehicle
• Wagon edition provides good comfort for a passenger vehicle
• Quiet interior and rugged design
• Great fuel economy

Cons

• non-existent driving excitement
•  front driver seats can be made more comfortable while retaining durability.