Review
Introduction
In the crowded full-size-pickup segment, the Dodge Ram’s aggressive styling has stood out since 1994. The current truck debuted in 2003 and received a host of structural, design, and interior upgrades for 2006. The 1500-series Ram is available in four trim levels (ST, SXT, SLT, and Laramie), three different cab configurations (regular, Quad Cab with small rear doors, and Mega Cab with has huge rear doors and rear-seat space), and two bed sizes (6.3 feet and 8.0 feet).
There is a dizzying array of options, but each successive level brings more luxury and takes the Ram from work-site mule to country-club thoroughbred. Three engines are offered in the Ram 1500, and all are available no matter the trim level. Base trucks are powered by a 215-hp, 3.7-liter V-6. A step up from the V-6 is a 4.7-liter V-8 with 310 horsepower, and the top engine is the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with 345 horsepower and fuel-saving cylinder deactivation. Transmissions are as follows: V-6s can be paired with a standard six-speed manual or an optional four-speed automatic; 4.7-liter V-8 models mate to the manual as standard but have a five-speed automatic option. The five-speed automatic is mandatory with the Hemi. Four-wheel drive is available with all trim levels and cab configurations but is not available with the 3.7-liter V-6.
Verdict
From spartan work truck to leather-trimmed luxury, the Ram offers a pickup truck for nearly every lifestyle and customer. Rams drive exactly as you’d expect—very trucklike. The cab sits high off the ground offering excellent sightlines, but stepping up can be difficult in the absence of running boards.
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What’s New for 2008
Aside from a couple of new colors, the big news for 2008 is that the midlevel 4.7-liter gets a 31-percent horsepower boost that brings it to 310. Other changes include a new extended 6000-mile service interval, improved steering linkage for four-wheel-drive models, a trailer-sway algorithm for the stability-control system, and an optional tire-pressure monitoring system. An all-new Ram is being released for 2009, so there’s a good chance you’ll be able to snag a deal on a 2008 model.
