by Cheryl Eldridge
Do you like to drive big wheels?  Last week’s tester blew me away. What a surprise. I was somewhat amazed with last week’s delivery. It looks like a Hummer, but is definitely part of the Ram Family. The men who brought me the Cargo Van were very nice.
Now if you have teenagers and have to take them to school, they appear to be somewhat embarrassed when dropped off in such a muscle machine. My son, who is seven, thought that the van was so cool. Didn’t have any complaints about being seen in it like my teenagers. I agreed with my son and thought that is was kind of sexy in its own way.
The 2014 Ram ProMaster is a new cargo van that comes to Ram showrooms by way of Fiat.
European cargo and passenger van manufacturers have long known that it’s more space-efficient to go up than it is to go out. These European vans may look odd compared to traditional American vans, but there’s no ignoring their advantages, namely a lot more interior volume for a given footprint and the luxury of a high ceiling that allows even taller adults to walk around inside without stooping. For much of the 2000s, the Dodge brand had just such a van in the Mercedes-built Sprinter. Now, because of Fiat’s ownership of Chrysler, we’re getting a second go-around with the 2014 Ram ProMaster.
The 2014 Ram ProMaster is based on the Fiat Ducato, a workhorse that has been popular in Europe for decades. It measures up to 20 inches taller than a traditional domestic van and uses a space-efficient front-wheel-drive layout and partial unibody construction (as opposed to full body-on-frame). This translates to massive interior volume, a tight turning circle and a lowest-in-class step-in height. This cavernous space makes it easier for upfitters (companies that modify cargo vans for plumbers and electricians) to put in all their handy features while still allowing plenty of room for folks to move around. The tall architecture and resulting seating position also provides a commanding view of the road, and the ProMaster’s snub-nose design also means easier maneuverability in tight quarters.
Another European trait is available – diesel power, as the optional 3.0-liter diesel four-cylinder promises notably better fuel economy than a gas-chugging V8 while still providing nearly 300 pound-feet of torque to handle heavy loads. The standard 3.6-liter V6 is no slouch, though, and its strong 280 horsepower promises quicker acceleration than the diesel. Maximum hauling and towing capacities are more than competitive, as the ProMaster is able to haul payloads of up to 4,417 pounds, while towing capacity tops out at 5,100 pounds.
As far as its most direct competition, the 2014 Ram ProMaster faces the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Nissan NV.  Both also offer available tall-roof architectures. The Benz is considerably more expensive, however, and offers only diesel power, while the Nissan is more competitively priced and offers a choice of two gas engines, including a V8. All are very capable workhorses, and we’d suggest cross-shopping them to determine which one best suits your specific needs.
The 2014 Ram ProMaster comes in three main trim levels: 1500, 2500 and 3500. The 1500 is available with a low or high roof option, while the 2500 and 3500 are only available with the high roof. My tester, the 1500 is offered in 118- and 136-inch wheelbases while the 2500 offers a choice of 136- and 159-inch wheelbases. The 3500 is only offered with the 159-inch wheelbase, with a longer-body configuration for extra cargo space available as well.
Standard features for all include 16-inch steel wheels, a passenger-side sliding side door, air-conditioning, cloth bucket seats, power front windows, power locks, keyless entry, a telescoping (but not tilt-adjustable) steering wheel and a four-speaker sound system with USB and auxiliary audio jack.
Available options include alloy wheels, foglights, a driver-side sliding door, windows for the side and rear doors, power folding/heated sideview mirrors, an alarm system, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, a cargo partition (with or without a sliding window), navigation, heated seats, swivel seats, a suspension driver seat, adjustable lumbar support, a double passenger seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, upgraded audio with Bluetooth and steering-wheel-mounted controls, satellite radio, cruise control and interior wall paneling.
There are also a number of packages including a Premium Appearance group (bright grille and foglights), a Driver Convenience package (overhead shelf and locking glovebox) and a Cargo Convenience group (cargo net and sidewall tie-down rings).
Standard on all Ram ProMasters is a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 280 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. Optional is a 3.0-liter turbodiesel four with 174 hp and 295 lb-ft paired to a six-speed automated manual transmission. Properly equipped, the ProMaster can handle payloads of up to 4,417 pounds (this number varies depending on the configuration you choose) and tow up to 5,100 pounds.
On the safety side, the 2014 Ram ProMaster includes front side and side curtain airbags, antilock disc brakes, hill start assist, stability control (with trailer sway control) and traction control. Optional features include a roadside safety kit, rear parking sensors and a rearview camera.
Climb inside the  2014 Ram ProMaster’s and you will find instruments are large and clear, with a multifunction display centered between the speedometer and tachometer. Climate controls are of the tried-and-true three-knob design, while the audio system and optional navigation system are mounted up high on the center stack. Long hours on the road are eased via well-bolstered captain’s chairs and an abundance of handy cupholders and cubbies. There is also a rear camera which I really enjoyed.
The ProMaster’s immense cargo area – up to 530 cubic feet – offers plenty of customization possibilities. From the factory there is a choice of solid or windowed walls and rear doors, and the interior walls can be fitted with paneling. Upfitters will have plenty of space to work with for installing shelves, cabinets, cages, work benches and the like.
The high, cab-forward driving position on the 2014 Ram ProMaster gives you a good perspective of the road ahead, making it easy to park and navigate tight urban areas. The tall seats and the lack of tilt adjustment on the steering wheel can make finding a driving position more difficult for taller operators, however.
Thanks to a tight turning circle, the ProMaster feels maneuverable and nimble in city driving conditions. Whether you choose the base V6 or the turbodiesel four-cylinder, payload numbers for the ProMaster are high, contributing to its versatility as a work van. Yet it still drives comfortably, with a relatively smooth ride quality that seems more like that of a minivan than a traditional work van.
The RAM ProMaster is a purpose-built, highly customizable, full-size cargo van that was developed from the successful Fiat Ducato that has been in production for more than 30 years and is the most popular full-size van in Europe. It boasts exceptional cargo capability, durability, a unique front-wheel-drive system, and a choice of gasoline or diesel engines.
The 2014 ProMaster is available in two roof heights, three wheelbases, and four body lengths. The standard 280-hp 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, while an optional 3.0-liter 4-cylinder EcoDiesel engine generates 295 lb.-ft of torque and is matched with a six-speed automated-manual transmission. The ProMaster features a standard sliding door on the passenger side with an optional sliding door on the driver’s side. In the rear, an available two-position rear clamshell door swings open up to 260-degrees, folding almost flat to the side of the van. Options such as a double passenger seat, passenger seat delete, swivel seats, driver’s suspension seat, and heated seats are available. A ParkView backup camera, ParkSense rear parking assist and Bluetooth wireless connectivity are optional. A full-color, five-inch touchscreen is available with global positioning satellite (GPS) navigation, providing ProMaster customers the ability to chart time-saving routes to their destinations. Up to 17 tie-down rings and operations and available partitions offer passengers excellent protection against the possibility of load shift in the cabin.
The new 2014 ProMaster features best-in-class fuel economy, cargo capacity, step-in height, ceiling height and lowest load floor. Thanks to its unique front-drive system, body-integral construction and the multiple of configurations offered, the ProMaster can be upfit for virtually every conceivable commercial need.
By the way, my tester was $33,625.
Until next week, drive safe, buckle up, don’t text and drive and be a courteous driver.

By Frank S. Washington

DETROIT – The LaCrosse was the first car that signaled Buick was serious about making a comeback in the U.S. market.
In 2009, the LaCrosse’s styling made a quantum leap forward that put it in line with the Buick Enclave crossover vehicle that resurrected the brand. And even though the LaCrosse’s styling hasn’t been changed significantly since 2009, the sedan is still a stunner.
For 2014, the styling has been tweaked a bit with winged shaped LED accent lighting in the front and wrap around taillights with LED lights in the rear. The interior has been spiffed up with new seats, four-way adjustable headrests and the car has the latest technology like the next generation of IntelliLink that included smartphone connectivity and voice controls.
Buick said: “In addition to easily identifiable icons covering everything from navigation to phone to music apps such as Pandora, next-generation IntelliLink is designed to accommodate new features and enhancements and be highly customizable. It also features natural language voice recognition, which allows customers to safely place calls, enter destinations, browse media, play music and control other functions simply by telling the vehicle what to do.”
But what really set the LaCrosse apart from other midsize sedans is the ambiance of quality that is part of Buick’s heritage.
The car was spacious with plenty of head and legroom fore and aft. With a wheelbase of 111-inches, the LaCrosse was sizable for a midsize sedan but not so big as to be cumbersome on the road.
In effect, the car could be comfortable on long haul trips or in the aggravating stop and go mess of rush hour traffic. And that holds true for up four passengers.
Equipped with a 3.6-liter V6, the engine made 304 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque and moved the 2014 Buick LaCrosse down the pavement with authority on surface streets or the expressways here.
What Buick has branded as QuietTuning meant that gear shifts weren’t heard or felt. Contributing to the ambiance of the car was the near silence of the passenger cabin. Indeed, the Buick LaCrosse felt like what it is – a premium sedan.
One of the few quibbles with the car was that the ambient interior lighting could have been used a little more liberally and it could have been more pronounced (read brighter) in a subdued sort of way.
It snowed during the weeklong test drive but it wasn’t enough to really test the 2014 Buick LaCrosse’s all-wheel-drive system. Capable of sending 90 percent of the car’s torque to the rear wheels, the 2014 Buick Lacrosse is front-wheel-drive, for the most part, under normal driving conditions.
Still, the car handled well, avoided the potholes and the divots of winter worn streets here and the LaCrosse was really easy to drive with its electronic power steering.
The test vehicle was chock full of equipment.
Its leather package included heated and cooled front seats and an eight-way power front passenger seat. The heated steering wheel, pushbutton lock/unlock as well as start and stop, and the remote start systems must really sell well in northern states.
Of course, the test model was equipped with OnStar which offers more services than will be listed here. But the live concierge in this day of automated and digitized voices is a person-to-person service that is becoming rare.
The car had two of what Buick called driver confidence packages. The first included forward collision alert, rear cross traffic alert and blind side warning alert. There was also a heads-up display and front fog lamps.
The second confidence package included adaptive cruise control, a sunroof with fixed second row skylight, navigation and select Bluetooth streaming. That means the audio system could play some of the apps on your smartphone including Pandora.
With a base price of $39,885, the 2014 Buick LaCrosse was reasonably priced. Add on $5K worth of options along with its $925 freight charge and at $46,670, the premium sedan was on the same tier as other quasi luxury brands and in some instances it was better.

Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com.