The standard format for a minivan has been etched in stone for so long, it’s easy to forget that minivans haven’t always been five-plus-metres-long boxes with 3.5-ish-litre V-6s and slushboxes under the hood.
The original minivan created by Chrysler in the early 1980s was more than half a metre shorter than today’s version and the standard powertrain was a modest four-cylinder bolted to a five-speed manual transmission.
So, has Fiat Chrysler Automobiles reincarnated the original minivan with this passenger-wagon version of its new compact cargo van? Well, that would be a stretch. Sure, the 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine fits the pattern, and nobody is going to quibble that there’s no manual transmission. But, as with its Chevrolet, Ford and Nissan rivals, the Ram is not much smaller than a conventional minivan – at 4.76 metres, it splits the difference between an original 1984 Dodge Caravan and its 2015 descendant.
Also, the Promaster City doesn’t offer third-row seating. If you really want a 9/10ths scale three-row people-mover with four-cylinder fuel economy, a better option is the Ford Transit Connect wagon, which also has third-row side windows and a fully trimmed rear cabin.
The Ram Promaster City wagon constitutes a distinct combination of generous five-passenger capability with a cube-like cargo hold that can be extended in stages by folding-and-tumbling the 60/40-split second-row bench. Its primary role is as a work van for businesses to carry light-duty equipment plus a work crew. It matches the Ford’s class-best 907-kilogram tow rating and has a higher payload than the pure-cargo-van Chevy/Nissan clones (although the Ford wagon has marginally higher payload and max cargo volume).
Starting at $28,495, the Promaster City is not cheap. The Grand Caravan minivan starts at $19,895 with incentives on higher-trim models. Compared with the minivan, the Promaster City wagon’s advantages are a wide three-person rear seat, higher ceiling and an almost 80-kilogram higher payload, with 14-per-cent lower fuel consumption. Maybe that fits your needs. Otherwise, buy a Grand Caravan SXT, fold the third-row seats and toss a rubber mat on top.
You’ll like this vehicle if ... You appreciate its spunky driving personality and its unique combination of passenger and cargo room meets your particular needs.
TECH SPECS
- Base price: $28,495; as tested: $34,390
- Engine: 2.4-litre DOHC, 16V L4
- Transmission/drive: Nine-speed automatic/front-wheel drive
- Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 11.2 city/8.1 highway
- Alternatives: Ford Transit Connect Wagon, Dodge Grand Caravan
RATINGS
- Looks: The Fiat-based design adheres to a long European tradition of odd-looking utility vehicles.
- Interior: Seat-height adjustment and tilt/telescopic steering aren’t enough to avoid a typical Italian-car driving position that favours long arms and/or short legs. The curvaceously sculpted dashboard design doesn’t compromise switchgear ergonomics, but the deeply recessed speedometer is hard to read on a bright day; centre-console storage is minimal; there’s only one front cupholder; and the HVAC knobs are stiff and imprecise.
- Technology: Bluetooth is standard and various option packages let you add items such as a back-up camera, satellite radio and a (small-screen) navigation system.
- Performance: For a small four-cylinder utility vehicle the engine is unexpectedly refined through the gears and relaxed on the highway.
- Cargo: The Promaster’s unique selling proposition here is its combo of second-row seating and a low, flat and wide floor. With no space stolen by folded third-row seating, there is substantially more space behind the second-row bench than in the Ford Transit Connect wagon – though still less than a Dodge Grand Caravan – and the flat floor carries through when you fold-and-tumble the seat forward to extend cargo space.
The Verdict
7.5
As a working van or wagon, the City has lots to offer – including an unexpectedly pleasant driving experience – but the price limits its appeal as a small-footprint alternative to conventional minivans.
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