If you sort it out by 2-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive, regular cab or Club Cab, short
or long cargo box and engine choice, there are 68 possible iterations of the Dodge Ram
pickup--and that doesn't include your choice of four trim levels, manual or
automatic transmission, options and colors.
There are three "duty" levels; 1500 for lighter duty, 2500 for medium duty, 3500 for
heavy duty. For this review we had a 1500 Club Cab in Sport trim; ours was powered by
the 5.2-liter V8, had a 5-speed manual transmission and 2wd, and the short cargo bed
(6.5 ft.). Its curb weight was 4529 lb. and its rated towing capacity was 4600 lbs.
While there are versions of the Ram that are of a more heavy duty nature (depending
upon engine and chassis, maximum towing capacity can go as high as 13,300 lb!), our
test vehicle represented the kind of truck a lot of people will buy.
Ours had a base price of $17,851, but was outfitted with options that brought the
bottom line to $23,798. The Laramie SLT Advantage Package #23G includes premium decor,
air conditioning, power windows and door locks, cruise control, tilt wheel,
AM/FM/cassette stereo, tachometer, larger tires, chrome wheels and other convenience
features.
The Sport Appearance Package adds body color front bumper and grille, raised white
letter tires and fog lamps. The trailer package features a travel convenience group,
antilock brakes (at $500, a worthwhile option), limited-slip differential (another
worthwhile choice, for only $257), CD player with Premium Infinity sound system, and
other little touches and other luxury items. All in all, a pretty nice truck, even if
it did include some extra-cost options many buyers can do without.
Output of the 5.2-liter V8 is 220 hp at 4400 rpm and an ample 300 lb.-ft. of torque at
3200 rpm, so there's plenty of punch for whatever load or trailer might be in this
truck's future. Fuel economy, as rated by the EPA, was 14 city, 19 highway, but it
would probably beat those figures in a steady highway cruise under light load.
Driveability around town or at highway speeds was predictable, with the generous
torque providing good, smooth acceleration.
The Dodge Ram has independent front suspension on 2wd models, but the 4wd versions
have a solid, live front axle. We think the ride quality is better with 2wd and the
independent suspension, so if you'll be driving mostly on pavement and don't need 4wd
we'd recommend saving the additional expense and weight and giving yourself a better
ride in the bargain.
One place the Ram really shines is inside. From its introduction over two years ago
the Ram brought features to the truck market that were simply unavailable previously.
The interior is exceptionally roomy, with lots of head and legroom, and particularly
generous shoulder and hip room. There are storage spaces almost everywhere, with big
map pockets in the doors, a recessed tray in the top of the instrument panel, a handy
shelf in front of the passenger and a large glove box with an additional shelf inside.
Especially noteworthy is the innovative center armrest. Folded up, it's a seat back
for the center passenger. Down, it forms a writing surface on the lid, or lift the lid
to reveal compartmented storage for pencils, a clipboard, tape cassettes, coins,
sunglasses--you name it. It's one of the singularly great features available on any
truck in the market.
In the rear of the Club Cab is more good news. Even though the back seat won't be as
comfortable as in a full-size 6-passenger sedan, it's better than in other extended
cab pickups. The seatback isn't quite so close to vertical as in some of the
competition, and both upper and lower cushions are larger; the result is a seat upon
which three people can actually consider riding for more than just a trip around the
corner. For additional utility the seat bottom cushion folds up and out of the way.
But, unfortunately, the floor under the rear seat isn't flat or level, so it's not as
convenient for loading toolboxes, an ice chest, or big, rectangular luggage. A flat
floor in the rear would have been nice.
An important consideration with any interior is how well it contributes to the ease of
the driving task, and the Dodge Ram scores well on this point. The instrument panel
layout is logical and modern, controls are easy to reach and operate and instruments
and other information sources are clearly visible. And, another thing people will
like; typical for Chrysler products, the Ram has great cupholders.
As trucks go, the Ram is OK in the ride department, and the lighter-duty 1500 series
will ride better than the heavier-duty 2500 and 3500 models, which have stiffer rear
springs. Also, due to the nature of a truck, it will ride better loaded than when
empty. And the big interior means lots of stretch-out room up front, so the end result
is plenty of sun-up to sun-down comfort.
Handling is predictable and sure, if certainly not nimble; even the 1500 with the
short cargo box is a big vehicle. The wheelbase is 138.7 in. and the turning circle
eats up nearly 47 ft.; pick the larger cargo box and both the wheelbase and turning
circle will increase to even greater distances. Although it's bit ponderous around
town, the Ram feels right at home at highway cruise, where its relentless inertia and
length will keep it headed straight where you point it.
That kind of stability and long-haul comfort are among the major reasons people like
to drive trucks, where trips are measured not so much by miles covered as by county
lines crossed.