Ministry of Interior Affairs: 2021 Ram 1500 Limited Longhorn 10th Anniversary

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These days, Canadians are willing to pay to get the vehicles we want, and what many of us want is a pickup truck.

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We could make this about the debate that’s been raging around whether quite so many of us really need a pickup truck, but we won’t. Instead, we’ll take this opportunity to demonstrate just how wide-ranging the demand has become by highlighting one of the most luxurious new trucks you’ll find anywhere: the 2021 Ram 1500 Limited Longhorn 10th Anniversary Edition. It’s also pushing the pricy end of the spectrum at an as-tested price of $94,600 including a $1,995 destination charge — although even this is not the most expensive way to equip a pickup in today’s market.

If there’s anyone who still needs evidence that trucks are no longer reserved for work, this is it. This thing is opulent to a tee with leather and suede-look upholstery, embroidered door inserts, a delicate filigree detail in the metal around the gauges, and a gorgeous roughly grained open-pore wood dashboard insert emblazoned with a branding-iron style logo. There’s even a barbed wire detail etched into the floor mats and a belt buckle motif integrated into the seatback pockets. Is it clearly pandering to a base? Absolutely. But that target owner will swoon every time he or she sits down in this truck, so its mission is accomplished.

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Ergonomics and usability have both been considered in the front row design. A concise panel integrates the dial-based shifter alongside a series of buttons for switching through four-wheel drive modes. The Technology Group package ($1,595) adds an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and a head-up display, and a pedal adjustment feature helps customize the driver’s seat to accommodate different heights and builds. Six cupholders are accessible to first-row occupants as well as an available wireless charging pad, two USB-A ports and two USB-C ports, a huge centre console with two layers and multiple configurations of storage and a 115-volt plug, a 12-volt outlet, and a massive portrait-oriented 12-inch diagonal screen running Stellantis’s Uconnect 5 infotainment system.

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In this writer’s opinion, this screen and system combination is among the best on the market for usability. The ability to run Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in split-screen with built-in truck functions is a huge bonus, and hard dials and buttons are present for adjusting volume, tuning, interior temperature, and drive functions. Built-in buttons for volume and tuning on the back of the steering wheel are even more convenient. The one frustration is in accessing heated and ventilated front seat functions: a dialog to turn these on pops up on start-up, but if you’re dealing with something else and you miss it then you need to dig two screens deep to activate them through the touchscreen. A hard button for these functions, in my view, is the only thing missing.

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The attention to detail continues into the second row, which has no lack of premium features and finishes, including both heated and optionally ventilated outboard seats (as part of the same $3,595 package that adds a 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, the larger touchscreen, and wireless charging), and an optional massive panoramic sunroof that fills the entire cabin with plenty of natural light. Rear occupants get their own pairs of USB-A and USB-C charging ports and a 400-watt, 115-volt plug. Two cupholders and a small covered storage cubby are included in a drop-down centre armrest built into the back of the middle seat. These are supplemented by two more cup holders on the rear of the forward centre console, and there’s yet another cup holder and multiple pockets integrated into each of the door panels. The rear window is powered and is controlled by a switch positioned on the top centre panel in the first row. Underneath the rear seats, additional storage is provided.

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A truck bed wouldn’t typically be considered part of its interior, but since it’s where all of an owner’s stuff will end up, we’ll include it in this round-up — and in some ways, the bed on this Limited Longhorn is home to its best features. Chief among those is the RamBox, a $1,295 feature that’s worth every penny. It integrates two covered storage bins, one over each of the rear wheel wells, and both of which are lockable and include built-in stoppers so that they can be drained after being filled with, say, ice for a tailgate party. The driver’s side bin also has a 400-watt, 115-volt power point built in. A bed divider is included with this package, which is a very helpful accessory that creates an adjustable gate to prevent objects from sliding all the way toward the cab while the truck is in motion. The only potential downside is that it reduces the bed width to 124 centimetres or 49 inches at its widest point, but that’s still wide enough to accommodate a 4×8’ sheet of plywood, and it’s a small price to pay to gain 243 litres of covered and easy-to-access storage space.

The optional multifunction tailgate (part of the $1,395 10th Anniversary add-on) adds side hinges so that it can be opened as a traditional drop-down or in barn-door style, and a factory-installed bed step ($500 as part of the Bed Utility Group) pulls out from the left rear corner for easier access.

There are plenty of factors to consider when deciding on which truck is right for you. But if interior design and functionality are high on your list, the 2021 Ram 1500 Limited Longhorn 10th Anniversary Edition is easy to name as the most luxurious truck on the market today.