Used 2022 Ram ProMaster Cargo Van

The full-size van market is more competitive than ever. One of the best value choices in big vans is the Ram ProMaster. This large Ram is available as a cargo van, window van, crew van, chassis cab, or cutaway, and it’s one of the most affordable options in its class. If you need a no-nonsense van for hauling a lot of cargo or a lot of people, the ProMaster is a good deal.

One unique thing about the ProMaster is its front-wheel-drive (FWD) configuration. This not only helps with all-weather traction, but it eliminates the driveshaft and rear differential found in most vans this size. That translates to a low, flat load floor and a more space-efficient cargo area. It would be nice if all-wheel drive (AWD) were an option, but FWD will work just fine for most folks who need a full-size van.

The chief rivals of the Ram ProMaster are the Ford Transit and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. The Transit and the Sprinter offer more premium and high-tech options, more engine choices, and AWD, but they’re also more expensive than the ProMaster. Other budget-oriented choices in this field are General Motors’ two old-school workhorses, the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana.

The Ram ProMaster is a big van but doesn’t feel all that cumbersome from behind the wheel. The ride comfort and maneuverability are much better than the more old-fashioned, truck-based, body-on-frame work vans of the past.

The ProMaster is a work van that’s comfortable on the highway and more agile around city streets than you might expect. It’s stable and easy to drive, partially thanks to standard cross-wind assist.

The standard V6 engine delivers more-than-adequate power with 280 horsepower. It’s not exactly a speed demon, but it has enough grunt to get the job done. It’s linked to a new 9-speed automatic transmission that delivers smooth, precise shifts without much fuss.

The standard front-wheel-drive layout makes the ProMaster a little different from everything else in this segment. AWD would be nice, but FWD makes this a good van if you need traction in a snowy climate where RWD would be a challenge in winter.

Practicality is the name of the game inside the Ram ProMaster. The sheer volume of this van is impressive, partially because of the front-wheel-drive configuration. In a rear-wheel-drive van, a driveshaft and a rear differential take up some cargo space. With none of that hardware in the way, the cargo hold of the ProMaster is very space-efficient, and it’s easy to load and unload thanks to a low load floor.

Like any work van, the customizability is almost limitless. Whether you need a passenger van with lots of seats, a plumbing package, an HVAC package, or just about anything else you can think of, the ProMaster has you covered. Talk to your local dealer about the specific needs of your business, and they’ll help you order the perfect van.

The seats up front are supportive and comfortable, but we wouldn’t call them luxurious. The quality of the interior materials is about what you’d expect for a work van on the low end of the price range. If you want a work van that flirts with luxury, take a look at the upper trims of the Ford Transit and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

One thing that’s a little odd about the ProMaster is that the window van configuration does not add more seats as standard equipment. If you want the ProMaster as a passenger van, you have to get the extra seats as an upfit. If you’re looking for a passenger van with many seats, the Transit might be a better fit.

The new crew van option does come standard with three passenger seats in the second row plus a partition separating the cabin from the cargo area. There’s an open area under the back seats, so you can still haul long items up to about 13 feet long.

There are five basic configurations of the ProMaster: cargo van, window van, crew van, chassis cab, and cutaway. The cargo van and window van are pretty self-explanatory. The chassis cab model has the front cab and a ladder frame behind it, making it highly customizable. The cutaway model is the same idea, but the back of the cab is open, making it suitable for an upfit that you can walk into from the driver’s seat.

The cargo van is available in three wheelbases, four cargo lengths, and two roof heights. The window van is only available in the longest wheelbase with the tall roof, and you choose a 12- or 13-foot cargo length. You can get the crew van with 6, 7, or 9 feet of cargo space behind the back seats. The chassis cab and cutaway are both available in two wheelbases and three cargo lengths.

The styling of the front snout of the ProMaster is a bit controversial, but you aren’t buying a work van to win beauty contests.

FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE
The class-exclusive front-wheel-drive setup gives this van good all-weather traction and a huge cargo area with a low, flat load floor.

REAR CAMERA MIRROR
This is the only van in its class with an available digital rearview mirror display, which is highly useful in a big van.

Since this is a work truck, standard creature comforts are pretty sparse. Standard features include air conditioning, push-button start, a backup camera, power windows, a phone shelf, electronic traction and stability control, cross-wind assist, trailer sway control, and hill start assist.

The new standard Uconnect 5 infotainment system has a 7-inch system with dual-phone Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa.

The 2022 ProMaster introduces many new available options. One of our favorites is the Uconnect 5C NAV infotainment system with a 10-inch screen and navigation. There’s also a newly available digital gauge cluster with a 7-inch display.

Available safety and driver assistance tech features include a rear camera mirror, traffic sign recognition, drowsy driver detection, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, a surround-view camera, rain-sensing wipers, and parking sensors.

A wide variety of upfitting options make the ProMaster highly customizable, especially the cutaway and chassis cab models. Talk to your local dealer about the specific needs of your business, and they’ll help you order the perfect van.

Under the hood of every 2022 Ram ProMaster lies a 3.6-liter V6 linked to a new 9-speed automatic transmission. This V6 delivers best-in-class horsepower for a base engine, beating out the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit, and Chevrolet Express.

The ProMaster is the only van in its class with front-wheel drive. That makes it good in snowy climates and gives it a vast, space-efficient cargo area with a low, flat load floor. We wish AWD were optional, but FWD will work for most drivers.

The ProMaster can tow up to 6,910 pounds, and it has a best-in-class maximum payload rating of 4,680 pounds.

Most vans in this class have more variety under the hood. For example, the Ford Transit has an available turbocharged V6, the Sprinter has multiple diesel options, and the Chevy Express and GMC Savana have an optional V8.

3.6-liter V6
280 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
260 lb-ft of torque @ 4,175 rpm
EPA estimated fuel economy: N/A