Chrysler group has been in the panel and passenger van business for a very long time, and I’ve had personal experience with

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

Dodge Tradesman, Sportsman and even Fargo variants going right back to my childhood, having sat on my dad’s shop’s old work van’s engine cover when my big brother was occupying the only true passenger seat, the clamped-down insulated metal hood under me doubling as a third-seat/centre console way before seatbelt laws changed the way we now drive and ride. How I’d love to get my hands on a pristine mid-’60s Dodge or Fargo Van to customize, but that’s a distant dream for another time.

Instead, the new ProMaster line of compact and full-size vans is hear and now, not to mention a dream come true for Chrysler group’s North American operations, which prior to being taken over by Fiat and together with that Italian automaker

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globally renamed Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), had been financially pillaged and left for dead by Daimler (Mercedes-Benz), while more specifically regarding its commercial van division, stripped of its once popular Sprinter model when the same German automaker decided its vaunted three-pointed star wouldn’t be tarnished if it sold Mercedes-Benz versions on this side of the Atlantic. Now this problem is a distant memory, as a variety of full-size ProMaster models fill that gap and the new ProMaster City opens up sales opportunities even further by targeting smaller compact van buyers.

Ram dubs this five-seat model a Wagon, but make no mistake about it, this is a compact passenger van that would work as well for a family as it would for business applications. If I were an Uber driver, for instance, the ProMaster City Wagon

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would be high on my list, as its rear seats are comfortable and accommodating, while they fold-and-tumble forward easily for max stowage, whereas my top-line SLT variant would be a nice way to pamper passengers.

I suppose “pamper” might be going a bit far, but for those needing an airport shuttle capable of comfortably hauling their four family members as well as a trip’s worth of luggage, the ProMaster City Wagon is ideal.

From the outside it looks ready for business, with a tall utilitarian profile and unique anti-style design. It’s a serviceable vehicle that isn’t trying to woo you with good looks, but rather portrays a highbrowed albeit pragmatic personality that’s ready and willing to haul all your small- to medium-sized loads.

My

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top-line tester was fitted with optional fog lamps, turn signals integrated into its body-colour side mirror housings, and speaking of body-colour, a nice plum coat of Deep Red metallic paint, while it also gets a good looking set of alloy wheels on 215/55R16 all-season tires and a nice satin-silver grille, but really it’s like dressing up footballer Wayne Rooney in a suit, you still end up with a tough looking albeit still awkward little brawler that always seems ready to mix it up on the pitch.

As refined as Ram tries to make it look on the outside, don’t even try to find any soft-touch surfaces inside, because luxury isn’t what this commercial-grade utility van is all about. Then again it drives so well, and as tested comes equipped with five truly comfortable seats, so therefore just like I mentioned a moment ago, you might want to consider one for your family.

To

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this end my SLT tester was quite well equipped with a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, a nice albeit smallish infotainment display featuring a backup camera, superbly accurate TomTom navigation, a decent audio system including satellite radio plus aux and USB ports, Bluetooth hands-free phone with streaming audio, comfortable premium cloth seats with single-temperature seat heaters that get quite warm, and even a switchblade-like remote key fob. All of the HVAC buttons are rubberized for easy grip, and you’ll be surprised at how well all of the switchgear fits together, from those on the steering wheel spokes to the rows of buttons and knobs on the centre stack.

SLT features that are upgraded from base Wagon ST trim include body-colour front and rear fascias, heatable powered mirrors

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with body-colour caps, sunscreen glass, the leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel I mentioned a moment ago, cruise control, premium cloth upholstery, a height-adjustable driver’s seat with manual lumbar support and an armrest, a Uconnect 5.0 multimedia centre, and the Bluetooth features just noted, while additional features include power door locks with remote entry, powered one-touch up/down front windows, tilt and telescopic steering, a trip computer, air conditioning, USB and aux inputs, two 12-volt power outlets, carpeting, an overhead storage bin, rear compartment assist handles, map, courtesy and cargo lamps, left and right sliding doors with vented tinted glass, tinted rear glass, an engine block heater, a 160-amp alternator, a 700-amp maintenance-free battery, a 61-litre fuel tank, and more.

Standard safety equipment includes tire pressure monitoring, ABS-enhanced four-wheel

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discs with brake assist, brake lock differential, hill start assist, all-speed traction control, electronic stability control, trailer sway control and electronic roll mitigation, whereas a total of seven airbags include the usual two up front, two front side-thorax bags, and curtain-type airbags front to back, plus a driver’s knee blocker.

Pricing starts at $24,495 plus freight and dealer fees for the base Cargo Van ST and $25,495 for that model in SLT trim, whereas a Wagon ST can be had for $25,495 before increasing to $26,495 for the Wagon SLT. Extras my tester enjoyed included a rear window wiper with washer for $225, the aforementioned fog lamps and aluminum rims for $600, the heatable front seats, six-speaker audio and powered second-row windows for $650, the rear camera and parking sonar for $700, the TomTom navigation upgrade for $1,200 and satellite radio for $325,

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while that Deep Red metallic paint added $195 to the bill, bringing the as-tested price up to $34,390 before freight, fees and taxes, and a considerable $4,000 consumer cash discount currently available for 2015 models.

As for the City Wagon SLT’s on-road performance, it’s surprisingly quick off the line and provides good passing power on the highway thanks to its standard 2.4-litre Tigershark MultiAir four-cylinder engine. I produces a best-in-class 178 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque, while its state-of-the-art nine-speed automatic transmission provides brilliantly quick and smooth shifts, not to mention impressive efficiency that helps the City achieve segment-best highway fuel economy of 8.1 L/100km, while it’s not too shabby in the city either with a claimed rating of 11.2 L/100km.

Like

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the powertrain, the City Wagon SLT’s ride is smooth and comfortable while it’s more than adequately capable through the curves or while stretching its legs on the freeway. Where I truly appreciated it, however, was during slow maneuvers through confined parking spots and back alleys, where its relatively tight turning circle and great visibility allowed for confidence while backing up.

All this is good, but without testing its capability for hauling life’s collectibles I wouldn’t be left with much really useful to talk about. After all, this is a utility vehicle, and to that end I loaded it up with a bunch of storage locker gear, not to mention a few items of furniture that my partner and I had been waiting for just such a vehicle to pick up. We found it to be the perfect compact companion for such heavy duties, its 180-degree-opening rear-hinged Dutch oven-style back doors

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allowing for ultra-wide easy load access, and when those previously noted 60/40-split rear seats are flipped upright the ProMaster Wagon can manage up to 2,880 litres (101.7 cubic feet) of what-have-you in behind. Ram’s specs also denote 771 kilos (1,700 lbs) of payload as well, while its tall 1,199-mm (47.2-inch) door height, considerable 1,229-mm (48.4-inch) width between the wheel wells, 1,191-mm (46.9-inch) width between its side panels, and 1,746 mm (68.7 inches) of maximum load floor length make it ideal for long, large loads. Obviously the cargo version lets you manage even greater capacity, but that will be another review for another time, and while I didn’t use this Wagon version for towing, Ram claims an “unsurpassed” max trailering capacity of 907 kilos (2,000 lbs).

So,

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you now have another choice in the compact cargo and commercial passenger van market, and after spending a very productive yet thoroughly comfortable and enjoyable week with this ProMaster City Wagon SLT, I must recommend you try it before buying something else. I feel confident it will positively surprise you like it did me, and wouldn’t doubt if you ended up happily zipping away with one at the end of your test drive.

Ram is certainly back in the commercial van business in a big and small way, proving yet again that its new relationship with Fiat is a boon for the domestic brand.
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