2016 Ram 1500 SLT Big Horn Package (Eco Diesel) $27,990

Although its last full redesign was in 2009, you wouldn't know it from the way the 2016 Ram 1500 handles itself. From the high-quality cabin materials to the easy-to-use infotainment system and remarkably supple ride, there's plenty here to make up for the relative lack of newness. All the major players in this segment have been thoroughly overhauled over the last few years, but the Ram's refined manners belie its age. It's still a great choice if you're looking for a full-size truck. That smooth ride remains one of the Ram's most distinctive traits, and it comes courtesy of the class-exclusive coil-spring rear suspension, which is better at smoothing out and reducing the harshness of rough road surfaces than the typical leaf-spring setup. The flipside is mildly reduced towing capacity, but if you're running up against this truck's towing limits, you'd probably be better off with a heavy-duty model anyway. The optional air suspension makes the Ram even more comfortable, and it has a self-leveling feature that keeps the truck from drooping when dealing with a heavy trailer or full payload. Revisions to the Ram 1500 are minimal for 2016. The full center console with connectivity and storage for mobile devices, introduced on a limited basis last year, is now the default specification. Several new variants of the Sport offer a choice of bright exterior paint schemes and minor trim tweaks. Also newly available are LED lights in the bed, an especially useful feature with the optional tonneau cover in place. The 2016 Ram 1500 is a full-size pickup available in multiple body styles. The regular cab generally seats three and is available with either a 6-foot-4-inch or 8-foot cargo bed. The extended cab ("Quad Cab") can seat up to six and comes only with the 6-foot-4 bed. The crew cab increases rear-seat legroom and is available with either a 5-foot-7 or 6-foot-4 bed. There are 11 trim levels: Tradesman, Express, HFE, SLT, Big Horn/Lone Star, Outdoorsman, Sport, Rebel, Laramie, Laramie Longhorn and Limited. The workhorse Tradesman comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels, black bumpers/grille/door handles, a seven-pin wiring harness, a Class IV receiver hitch, active grille shutters (with the eight-speed automatic transmission), automatic headlights, a locking tailgate, a spray-in bedliner, vinyl floor covering, air-conditioning, a 40/20/40-split front bench seat, vinyl upholstery, a tilt-only steering wheel, cruise control, a 3.5-inch driver information screen, privacy glass and a six-speaker sound system with a USB port and an auxiliary input jack. Extended and crew cabs also have power windows and locks. The Express is similar to the Tradesman but deletes the receiver hitch and bedliner (both are optional), and it comes standard with 20-inch aluminum wheels, body-color bumpers/grille, foglights, carpeted floors and floor mats. The HFE (high fuel economy) trim level comes only in the regular- or quad-cab body style with the 6-foot-4 cargo bed, rear-wheel drive and the gasoline or diesel V6 engine. It includes black bumpers/grille, automatic engine stop-start (not available on any other trim level), 17-inch aluminum wheels, a tonneau cover and cloth upholstery. The SLT adds chrome exterior trim, heated mirrors, power accessories, remote keyless entry, full center and overhead consoles, dual gloveboxes, a 5-inch touchscreen interface, satellite radio and Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity. Extended and crew cabs add a rear backlight and a power-sliding rear window. The Big Horn (Lone Star for Texan buyers) includes a 115-volt power outlet, upgraded cloth upholstery, a 10-way power driver seat (with power lumbar) and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.