One of the most versatile vehicles on the market today is the cargo van. These vehicles are used in many applications, from airport shuttles to HVAC and residential construction. Their versatility also means drivers of all skill levels can be comfortable behind a cargo van's steering wheel.
Fortunately, OEMs have realized this, and throughout the past few years have brought features into their vans that are quite similar to passenger cars. They’re also designing these vehicles to be even more versatile and meet the needs of fleet owners and owner-operators throughout the work truck and van industry.
The Ram 2025 ProMaster van is a perfect example. With its multiple available configurations and ease of driving, Ram has made the ProMaster a cargo van that shouldn’t be ignored.
See also: A look at the 2025 Ram Heavy Duty and Chassis Cab
ProMaster capability
A 3.6L V6 engine powers the Ram ProMaster lineup, which offers a maximum 276 hp and 250 lb.-ft. of torque. Depending on the model and configuration, the 2025 ProMaster offers a payload capacity of up to 4,820 lb., up to 524 cu. ft. of cargo space, and a maximum towing capacity of 6,910 lb.
The Ram ProMaster is available in three cargo heights: Standard Roof, High Roof, and Super High Roof. It’s also available in four different cargo lengths: 8 feet, 10 feet, 12 feet, and 13 feet.
Ram also boasts that the ProMaster has the lowest load floor height in the segment at 21 inches.
Ram offers its 2025 ProMaster in three trim levels: Tradesman, SLT, and SLT+. While the Tradesman is the brand’s most basic trim, that doesn’t mean it’s skimpy. The ProMaster Tradesman offers the Ram Uconnect 5 technology, complete with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system and 19 different safety and security features—all standard.
The SLT trim adds a bit more “power” to the package, including power-folding and heated mirrors, a four-way adjustable passenger seat, and a few more safety and security features.
The SLT+ is the ProMaster’s premium package. It offers Uconnect 5 with NAV on a 10.1-inch infotainment screen, a six-way adjustable passenger seat, and even more safety and security features.
Passenger vehicle-like technology
The van is available with an analog instrument cluster that includes a 3.5-inch digital display or a fully digital 7-inch display. The fully digital display offers available features such as speed assist and traffic sign recognition. Ram’s speed assist gathers data from cameras or GPS to determine the speed on the road traveled and displays it on the digital cluster. If enabled, the feature can adjust the vehicle’s speed accordingly. Traffic sign recognition detects road signs and displays their information on the digital cluster as well.
The 2025 ProMaster comes standard with multiple safety and security features, including drowsy driving detection, a backup camera, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and forward collision detection with active braking.
Available safety and security features include the aforementioned speed assist and sign detection as well as lane departure warnings and lane-keeping assistance, front and rear park assistance, parallel parking assistance, blind spot monitoring, and a backup alarm.
Additional available features include rain-sensing automatic wipers, a “Cold Weather Group” of features such as heated seats and steering wheel, and a 360-degree camera system.
Driving the 2025 ProMaster
I didn’t have to spend too much time behind the wheel of the 2025 Ram ProMaster to decide that I really enjoyed driving this van. Granted, it’s not the quickest off the line, its bulky and boxy frame didn’t exactly make it the easiest vehicle to drive around town, and, no, it didn’t fit very well in my driveway. But what it lacked according to my nitpicky tastes, it certainly made up for it elsewhere.
I drove the ProMaster with the consideration that primary uses for cargo vans—delivery, HVAC, plumbing, etc.—are often realized in urban and congested areas. I drove it down one-way streets and through alleys. I maneuvered through tight spaces and made tricky left turns. I found that through all of this, the ProMaster handled very well. It felt very much like I was driving a smaller vehicle.
There were even a few instances where I was glad to be driving the ProMaster instead of my personal sedan, especially after a snowfall. The ProMaster’s higher ground clearance and front-wheel drive gave me—someone with little experience driving in the snow—more confidence behind the wheel.
I also appreciated the ProMaster’s tech features. My overall visibility was improved with a rear-view camera monitor displayed in the traditional location as a rear-view mirror. Additional cameras that offered the 360-degree view of the vehicle also helped with parking and maneuvering the vehicle.
It is worth noting, however, that the rear-view mirror camera doesn’t show a complete picture of what’s behind the van. Because the mirror is so high off the ground with the 2025 Ram ProMaster high roof, had I relied solely on the rear-view mirror camera, I would have backed straight into a car. You can see this in the picture below.
With that said, drivers can tilt the camera to face a bit lower on the ground right from the camera monitor, which is also a touchscreen.
Other than that, I appreciated the ProMaster’s remote start (especially during such a cold week in Detroit), its lane-keeping features, and its road sign recognition, all of which reminded me of my personal vehicle.
See also: First look: Ram shows off its new last-mile EV
When I’m driving down the road and see a cargo van driver make a silly driving decision, or I see a cargo van parked questionably, I often have to remind myself that simply driving isn’t these folks’ primary job. Cargo van drivers are often technicians or parcel carriers, whose job is to make a repair, deliver a package at doorsteps, or perform some other helpful action. For this reason, I believe their driving time should be as simple as possible—or as similar as driving their personal vehicle.
I believe that—even as long and as tall as the cargo van was that I drove—the 2025 Ram ProMaster accomplishes just that.
