Ram Promaster Window Van 2021 Review

The 2021 Ram ProMaster is a large van that comes in two flavors: Cargo and Window. The ProMaster Cargo Van, as the name suggests, is optimized for hauling cargo and it has far fewer windows. The ProMaster Window Van is aimed a bit more squarely at people who plan to use the van for passenger hauling or, possibly, upfitting to a camper-van setup.

The ProMaster Window, however, has a few issues. For one, it doesn't have passenger seats. Ram instead directs buyers to third-party upfitters that can install seats later. Second is that Ram doesn't offer the ProMaster Window in the same breadth of available configurations as it does the Cargo version. With the ProMaster Window, you have to get it with the long wheelbase and high roof. From there, your only choice is between the standard body length or the extended version. Other downsides include a somewhat rough ride — something of some importance when you're hauling passengers — and there's no available all-wheel drive like you get with some competitors. 

The ProMaster Window could be a good choice if you plan on doing a lot of customization or you don't need much of an interior to get your van life started. But if you want something with a bit more versatility and that's ready-to-go from the factory, we'd steer you toward the Ford Transit, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or the Nissan NV.

Which Promaster Window Van does MatoCar recommend?

With the ProMaster Window Van, there are only two choices: the 2500 with a long wheelbase and high roof and the 3500 with a long wheelbase, high roof and extended body. The extended body is about 14 inches longer, which takes cargo capacity from 420 cubic feet to 463 cubes. That's a significant amount of extra space, but you'll need a slightly larger parking spot.

For both trims, only front seats are provided since Ram expects owners to outfit the van to suit their needs. Power comes from a 3.6-liter V6 engine (280 horsepower, 260 lb-ft of torque) and is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.

2500 Standard features on the 2500 Window van include:

• 16-inch steel wheels
• Split-opening rear cargo doors
• Sliding side doors
• Manually adjustable mirrors
• Remote locking and unlocking
• Cloth upholstery
• Rearview camera
• Air conditioning
• 5-inch touchscreen paired with a four-speaker stereo

Standard safety features include:

• Crosswind assist (helps the driver stay on course in windy conditions)

3500 Aside from the extra space, the 3500 is essentially the same inside and adds a heavy-duty rear stabilizer. It also has a higher GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating).

Extensive options are available on both trims. Highlights include:

• Power-folding, heated mirrors
• Rear parking sensors
• Cruise control
• Heated seats
• A suspended driver's seat
• Driver and passenger swivel-mounted seats
• Cargo-area climate control
• Tow hitch (with available four- and seven-pin wiring connections)

Optional safety features include:

• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)