WASHINGTON — The Ram Promaster City Wagon gives up a bit of cargo space for added passenger space.
Last week, we looked at the all-cargo version of the Ram Promaster City, which left me surprised by the amount of cargo space that came in a smaller package. It was easy to drive and maneuver in tighter spaces. It even fit in the garage at work, so it’s not too tall either. Now, we look at the wagon version, which goes from a two-seater to seating five, with a bench seat behind the front seats.
Since this van has sliding side doors, it’s easy to use the rear bench seat, and there is plenty of space to get in and out when loading cargo. You also won’t need much space to open the side doors, and you won’t bump the car parked beside you. There is even a latch system so child seats can be fitted easily — that makes it a slightly less refined family hauler than the normal minivan, but it easily doubles as a work van during the week. I did notice this was a bit quieter on the road than the all-cargo version, but it’s still not the quietest ride.
The rest of the interior is a bit nicer than the all-cargo version, with carpeting on the floor throughout. The materials look and feel more durable than your normal minivan, so don’t look for leathers and fancy wood trim. There is plastic and durable cloth and fabric on the seats, which are somewhat comfortable, but maybe not the most supportive for the lower back.
The climate controls are easy to use, with simple, straightforward rotary knobs. There is a USB port within easy reach for device charging or connection in the easy-to-use Uconnect system. Connecting your phone to the Bluetooth is simple and fast. The screen is only about five inches, but a rearview camera is a worthy $495 option and includes a rear parking assist beeper that sounds when you’re close to an object.
The price for my half-cargo and half-passenger Promaster City Wagon was nearly $29,000, but my van came with NAV (which works well), heated front seats and second-row power windows. The second-row bench seat folds up and forward, and you can also add roof rails and crossbars for more storage. From a hauling perspective, the carpet on the floor tends to allow cargo to slide around: Be careful when loading things that can spill. It can tow a 2,000-pound trailer when equipped with the trailer tow group.
It might not be the cheapest van when loaded with all the options, but it did pretty well in terms of fuel economy. I averaged 25.4 mpg and it was mostly city or short trips this time around. I can’t say this is the most fun-driving vehicle on the road, but after two weeks it grew on me a bit and would be a fine work van. The power was enough to get out of the way, and it does a good job of fitting in smaller spots and maneuvering on smaller streets — probably thanks to its roots in Europe, where space on the road is at a premium.
The Ram Promaster City Wagon is a utility player in the smaller cargo van class. With added seating capacity, you can use it for more than just a cargo van. And there’s a 5-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, so this city van is ready to work and drive to earn its keep.
