Ram sells its cheapest pickup in Mexico and several markets from South America, but the US is not getting it. The model dubbed Ram 700 would not stand a chance in the land where the Ford F-Series models make the rules.
The Ram 700 is the small-sized pickup that would make no sense whatsoever in the United States. The vehicle is based on the Fiat Strada, with which it shares its underpinnings. It is thus powered by a Stellantis-developed Firefly inline-four 1.3-liter petrol engine, which generates 100 horsepower (101 PS) and 99 lb-ft (134 Nm) of torque, which is not much by any standard.
There are minis in the car market that get more than that. For instance, the Fiat 500X small crossover is powered by the same engine. Those aren’t numbers that will win you races, but they will do the job when you need space to carry loads. Ram claims it is a vehicle specifically designed for the industrial and construction sector.
Different from most pickup models out there, the Ram 700 comes with front-wheel drive only and is exclusively equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox. The optional seven-speed transmission of the Fiat Strada is not available.
On the market since 2016 and formerly known as the Ram V700 Express, the model is actually a rebadged Fiat Strada, which is currently for sale in Mexico, Bolivia, Columbia, Brazil, and Peru.
The model is 4,474 millimeters (176 inches) long, 1,732 millimeters (68 inches) wide, and 1,595 millimeters (62.8 inches) tall, sporting a wheelbase of 2,737 millimeters (108 inches) and a load bed of 1,717 millimeters (67.6 inches). The cargo capacity is of 750 kilograms (1,653 pounds).
The XLT is the entry-level version, with the Laramie and Longhorn sitting at the opposite side of the lineup. The latter comes with all the comfort creatures and gadgetry that the Rams sold in the United States get.
But the lineup starts with the Ram 700 Regular Cab, with two seats only, which starts at 308,900 Mexican pesos, which translates into $16,870 at the current exchange rates. Standard equipment includes LED daytime running lights and Bluetooth connectivity.
Photo: Ram
Upper in the range, there is the Crew Cab version, which kicks off at 334,900 pesos ($18,327) but has the same equipment as the entry-level Regular Cab.
The Ram 700 Bighorn comes with a price tag of 364,900 Mexican pesos ($19,967). It features the sportiest look of them all, has body-coloured bumpers, and is only available with a five-seat configuration. There is an optional 7-inch touchscreen on board with Apple CarPlay connectivity.
Meanwhile, the range-topping Laramie, with leather seats and a leather-trimmed gray steering wheel, starts at 414,900 pesos ($22,705).
The model received a new generation, the third, in 2020, and is now waiting for a refresh, which might bring minor design tweaks and more generous standard equipment. The facelift version won't set wheels in America either.
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