Used 2016 RAM 1500 for SaleNationwide

Compare 2016 RAM 1500 Trims

The 2016 RAM 1500 offers a range of trims from budget-friendly options to fully loaded models, all featuring a robust V6 engine.

• Starting at $12,130
• Best MPG/MPGe: 17 city / 25 hwy
• Most Popular: Big Horn RWD

Trim Overview

Prices updated weekly from CarGurus listings.

Quick Compare Table

Listing prices sourced from CarGurus — updated weekly. OEM specs from manufacturer data.

Missing data displayed as "—".

Trim Deep Dives

Tradesman RWD — "Who It's For"

The Tradesman RWD is the pick for shoppers who want a reliable truck without paying for extra features. It's the most budget-friendly option in the lineup.

• Avg. market price: $12,130 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 17 city / 25 hwy
• Inventory: 855 listings
• View Tradesman RWD listings

Express RWD — "Who It's For"

The Express RWD is the pick for shoppers who want a solid truck with essential features without breaking the bank. It offers a good balance of price and functionality.

• Avg. market price: $17,145 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 17 city / 25 hwy
• Inventory: 351 listings
• View Express RWD listings

SLT RWD — "Who It's For"

The SLT RWD is the pick for shoppers who want a comfortable truck with added features without going for the top trim. It provides a nice blend of luxury and utility.

• Avg. market price: $18,138 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 17 city / 25 hwy
• Inventory: 374 listings
• View SLT RWD listings

Big Horn RWD — "Who It's For"

The Big Horn RWD is the pick for shoppers who want a well-equipped truck with modern features. It's the most popular trim, offering a great mix of comfort and capability.

• Avg. market price: $18,138 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 17 city / 25 hwy
• Inventory: 1,861 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Big Horn RWD listings

Lone Star RWD — "Who It's For"

The Lone Star RWD is the pick for shoppers who want a stylish truck with similar features to the Big Horn. It offers a unique flair while maintaining functionality.

• Avg. market price: $18,138 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 17 city / 25 hwy
• Inventory: 351 listings
• View Lone Star RWD listings

Sport RWD — "Who It's For"

The Sport RWD is the pick for shoppers who want a fully loaded truck with premium features. It's ideal for those who prioritize performance and luxury.

• Avg. market price: $26,491 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 15 city / 22 hwy
• Inventory: 91 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View Sport RWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — Big Horn RWD

With 1,861 active listings, the Big Horn RWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse Big Horn RWD listings

Best Budget Option — Tradesman RWD

At $12,130 avg market price — below the lineup median of $18,138 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse Tradesman RWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — Tradesman RWD

The Tradesman RWD offers the best fuel economy in the lineup with 17 city / 25 hwy MPG/MPGe.

Browse Tradesman RWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 22, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2016 RAM 1500 cost?

Prices have softened 7.17% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 5,768 listings available, which suggests you have a healthy amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2016 RAM 1500 a good car?

Yes — the 2016 RAM 1500 earns a 4.9/5 user rating and an 8.3/10 expert rating. The model scores 9/10 across Form and function, Technology, and Safety.

Owners consistently praise its stylish design, spacious interior, and strong feature content, while many also like its performance and power, especially with the diesel option. The overview frames it as a truck that blends luxury with truck capability, so it makes sense if you want something that feels upscale without giving up pickup usefulness. With 30.6% of listings marked as good or great deals, there’s also a decent amount of market value to consider.

Is the 2016 RAM 1500 reliable?

Owners rate it 4.9/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

User feedback points to a dependable-feeling truck with strong satisfaction around its stylish design, roomy cabin, and practical usefulness for both work and family needs. The expert review also emphasizes the Ram’s smooth, car-like driving character and its strong diesel and gas powertrain choices, which supports the sense that it’s built to be a truck you can count on over time. The main used-buyer risk is that some examples may have been worked hard or skipped key equipment, so condition and maintenance history matter.

What should I look for when buying a used 2016 RAM 1500?

At 65.3% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the truck has towing, hauling, or city-parking wear. Focus on body condition, interior wear, and whether the equipment you want is actually present on the specific truck you’re considering. If you’re shopping a higher-trim example, make sure the luxury and convenience features still work as intended.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The lineup ranges from the Tradesman to the Limited, with the Limited adding navigation, heated/cooled seats, a heated steering wheel, full leather seating, leather door inserts, and a center-console lid. The lower trims are much more work-focused, so feature gaps are significant if you want a more upscale cabin.
• Powertrain: The lineup includes a base gas 3.6-liter V6, an EcoDiesel V6, and a 5.7-liter Hemi V8. The EcoDiesel stands out for its strong torque and fuel economy, while the gas V6 is the more straightforward entry option.
• Safety package: ParkSense front and rear parking sensors and a backup camera are highlighted, along with a full complement of front and side-impact airbags. Lower trims do not get the same level of parking assistance.
• Infotainment: The Limited includes navigation, satellite radio, an Alpine stereo with 9 speakers including a subwoofer, and a large digital screen in the center of the instrument panel. Bluetooth hands-free connectivity is standard on all trims.
• Fuel efficiency: The EcoDiesel V6 returns 20 mpg city/28 highway in rear-wheel-drive form and 19/27 in 4-wheel-drive form. The base gas 3.6-liter V6 returns 18 mpg city/25 highway, and the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 is rated at 15 mpg city/22 highway.

Which 2016 RAM 1500 trim should I buy?

The 2016 RAM 1500 is offered in 4 trim levels: Tradesman, Express, Sport, Laramie.

Here's the short version:

• Tradesman: This is the value-focused starting point, and it already includes Bluetooth hands-free connectivity. It makes sense if you want the lowest-cost path into the Ram 1500 lineup and don’t need luxury features.
• Express: This trim adds a standard V8, a Class 4 trailer hitch, and a Uconnect 5-inch touchscreen. It’s a smart step up if you want more capability and a better feature set without jumping too far up the price ladder.
• Sport: This trim brings body-color bumpers, HID projector headlamps, a standard air suspension, and the larger 8.4-inch touchscreen system. It’s the best-value choice if you want a more polished feel and more of the upscale hardware that defines this truck.
• Laramie: This trim adds heated leather seats, 20-inch wheels, and the ParkSense system with backup camera. It suits you if comfort and convenience matter more than keeping the budget tight.

The safety package note is that ParkSense and the backup camera are highlighted on higher trims, so check carefully if those features matter to you.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2016 RAM 1500?

This is a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 30.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 5,768 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 7.17% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 65.3% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $17,414, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2016 RAM 1500's resale value?

The current average of $17,414 sits slightly below last year's $18,758.

That decline suggests the truck has softened in the used market, which can help you as a buyer but may limit upside if you’re thinking about future resale. If you buy at the right price and keep the truck in strong condition, you can reduce the impact of that depreciation. Higher-trim, well-equipped examples may hold appeal better with shoppers who want the Ram’s luxury-truck personality.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.9/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2016 RAM 1500 safe?

The 2016 RAM 1500 earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

It comes with a full complement of front and side-impact airbags, plus a standard backup camera and ParkSense front and rear parking sensors on the test model. Those parking aids are especially useful given the truck’s size and visibility challenges. The safety content also notes that this vehicle did not feature lane-departure warning or blind-spot monitoring, so you should not assume those systems are present on every truck.

Should I buy a 2016 RAM 1500 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2016 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2016 if:

• 30.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 65.3% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 7.17% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.9/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2016 stands out for its luxury-truck positioning, especially in Limited trim, with EcoDiesel and air suspension available.

Consider the 2015 if:

• At $15,768, the 2015 costs less than the current year's $17,414 average.
• It stands out for interior comfort and a broad cabin range.

The bottom line: If you want the stronger mix of luxury image, feature content, and current-market availability, the 2016 is the better target. If your priority is spending less up front, the 2015 is the more budget-friendly path and still brings many of the Ram 1500’s core strengths.

How does the 2016 RAM 1500 compare to the 2016 Ford F-150?

Our experts score the 2016 RAM 1500 8.3/10 and the 2016 Ford F-150 8.5/10. The Ford edges ahead on expert score, but the Ram offers a lower average used price and a stronger good-and-great deal share. The Ram also has a more luxury-forward personality, while the Ford brings slightly better fuel economy in city driving and a bit more inventory.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.