2009 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Review

PROS  Great ride for a truck, Ample towing and payload capacity, Lots of passenger room on crew cab

CONS  Mediocre fuel economy, High step in

Ram went from pretender to contender when it gained big-rig styling in 1993. Since that time Dodge engineers have tweeked the design and engineering to keep the full-size truck competitive against the likes of the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-150. For 2009, Dodge threw away the rule book in an effort to leap-frog the competition.

Traditionally, pickup trucks have used leaf springs at the rear. They are inexpensive, sturdy, and excellent for handling heavy loads. They are not good at bump absorption, especially when the bed is empty. So Dodge figured out a way to use conventional coil springs, which are designed to provide a smooth ride, regardless of load.

In addition to the new rear suspension, the '09 Ram sports all-new styling that has best-in-class aerodynamics, Ram's first-ever crew cab body style, a more-powerful and fuel-efficient 5.7-liter V8, fresh interiors, a RamBox cargo management system, and covered storage bins in the floor of the rear seating area. In all, Dodge engineers claim more than 35 significant improvements over the previous-generation Ram.

Ram is offered as a two-door regular cab, four-door extended cab, and a four-door crew cab. The regular cab is available with a 6.4- or eight-foot cargo bed. The extended cab comes with a 6.4-foot bed while the crew cab uses a 5.7-foot bed. Regular cabs seat up to three passengers, the others up to six.

Three engines are offered: a 215-horsepower 3.7-liter V6; a 310-horsepower 4.7-liter V8; and a 390-hosepower 5.7-liter HEMI V8. The 380-horsepower engine replaces '08's 345-horsepower 5.7-liter and features cylinder deactivation, which is designed to improve fuel economy. The V6 comes only with a four-speed automatic transmission, V8s are offered with a five-speed automatic. Dodge says a light-duty diesel will arrive after 2009 and a two-mode hybrid powertrain to be offered in 2010 model year.

All Rams are available with rear- or four-wheel drive that is not designed to be left engaged on dry pavement. Optional is four-wheel drive that can be left engaged on dry pavement. Ram is the only full-size pickup to offer this option. Both four-wheel-drive systems include a low-range for severe off-road driving. Maximum towing capacity is 8950 pounds.

ST, SLT, and Laramie trims are offered. Standard safety features on all include antilock four-wheel disc brakes, stability control, tire-pressure monitor, and dual-front, front-side, and curtain-side airbags. Rear park assist is optional. A rear-view camera is will be available later in the model year.

ST models start at $21,270 and include air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, front split-bench seat, folding rear seat (Quad Cab, Crew Cab), heated power mirrors (Quad Cab), power windows (Quad Cab), power door locks (Quad Cab), AM/FM/CD/MP3 player, cargo-box light, automatic headlights, theft-deterrent system, trailer harness, and P265/70R17 tires.

SLT models start at $25,465 and add cruise control, heated power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, satellite radio, trip computer, compass, outside-temperature indicator, manual-sliding rear window (regular cab), power-sliding rear window (Quad Cab), carpeting, floormats, bright front and rear bumpers, and alloy wheels.

Laramie models start at $38,770 and add to SLT dual-zone automatic climate controls, heated leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, leather upholstery, heated front seats, ten-way power driver seat w/lumbar adjustment, six-way power passenger seat, power-adjustable pedals, split-folding rear seat, memory system (driver seat, mirrors, pedals), mirror-mounted turn signals, AM/FM radio with in-dash six-disc CD/MP3 changer, iPod adapter, music and image storage hard drive, Bluetooth cell-phone link, automatic day/night rearview mirror, illuminated visor mirrors, universal garage door opener, 115-volt power outlet, power-sliding rear window, fog lights, P275/60R20 tires, and chrome alloy wheels.

Options include heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, navigation system, rear-seat entertainment system that can include SIRIUS Backseat TV, surround-sound audio system, rear-seat storage bins with removable liners and RamBox. RamBox is only available on crew cabs and includes tow weatherproof, lockable, illuminated, and drainable storage bins built into the bed rails, pickup bed divider/bed extended, and cargo rail system with sliding cleats. Dodge claims that together, the two RamBox bins can hold up to 10 cases of 12-ounce beverages. Sport and off-road packages are also available.

There are two assembly plants for Ram. One in St, Louis, Missouri, and the other in Warren, Michigan. All Ram models have a $900 destination charge.

Get Up and Go  Dodge's 5.7-liter HEMI V8 is clearly the most powerful engine in the class. Dodge quotes a 0-60 mph time of 6.1 seconds and that's not hard to believe after a few quick on-ramp blasts. Unloaded, the 5.7-liter-equipped Ram jumps off the line and boasts impressive passing punch.

In addition, the engine is quite docile around town, with much of the smoothness of a passenger car engine. There's a hint of coarseness when accelerating if the engine is cold, but once the fluids are warm, the engine is smooth and refined.

Another bonus is the slick-shifting five-speed automatic. Though it's down a gear compared to the six-speeds at Ford and Chevy, the Dodge automatic, makes up for it with smartly spaced ratios and smooth shifting. Downshifts are also quite prompt, something that can't be said for competitors.

The standard four-wheel-drive system is no different than those offered on other full-size pickups. However, a full-time system is available as well. The full-time system can be left in four-wheel-drive mode on dry pavement. This is a boon for those who want the extra security of four-wheel drive in changing road conditions.

Dodge engineers worked to improve Ram's fuel economy. Adding cylinder deactivation and an extra gear to the transmission helped, no doubt, but they also massaged Ram's body to give it the lowest drag coefficient in the class. Those efforts paid off, giving four-wheel-drive, HEMI equipped Rams an EPA rating of 13 mpg city and 18 mpg highway, numbers that are on par with Ford and Chevy full-size trucks.

In routine city driving, expect to average about 15 mpg with the HEMI Ram. Straight highway driving will likely net about 18 mpg. Dodge says that all Ram engines run fine on regular-grade gasoline.

On the Road  Thanks to its class-exclusive coil rear suspension the Ram is the smoothest riding full-size pickup. Where other pickup trucks bounce over bumps, the Ram's coil suspension absorbs and filters them to the point where they are no longer bothersome. Perhaps the most notable difference between the Ram and its competitors is the lack tail hop and head toss, two commonly annoying traits of full-size trucks.

Though Ram is too large to be considered nimble, it remains composed and car-like in most situations. Body lean is modest and the front tires respond quickly to steering input. The brakes are powerful and the pedal is as responsive as any midsize sedan, making it easy to bring the Ram to smooth and even stops.

The long wheelbase and a large turning radius make Ram difficult to maneuver in parking lots. However, this is a malady that affects all large pickups.

Wind and road noise are nicely quelled, making the Ram one of the quietest large pickups on the road. The HEMI engine sports a throaty exhaust tone in hard acceleration, but quiets nicely in around-town cruising.

In all, the Ram easily surpasses the competition in terms of on-road demeanor and overall suspension refinement.

Behind the Wheel  Ram's interiors vary depending on trim levels. Work trucks generally have sturdy hard-plastic panels and little ornamentation. Upscale Laramie's have classy interiors that blend improved materials with attractive faux wood trim. Either way, the Ram's interior is a match to domestic and import competitors.

The dashboard design is simple, but quite functional. Directly in front of the driver sit two large and easy-to-read gauges for engine and vehicle speed. They are flanked by four smaller gauges that display fuel level, engine temperature, oil temperature, and battery charge state. The center stack features large easy-to-operate dials for climate control and clearly marked audio controls. Window, mirror, and lock switches are nicely arranged on the door arm rest and illuminated at night. The available console-mounted shifter is impressively hefty and sports a separate gate for manual operation of the transmission.

The optional navigation and uConnect systems are about as user-friendly as you will find and go a long way toward reducing driver distraction. Dodge has added real-time traffic information and that's a huge plus for those who regularly travel urban expressways.

Once you get past the high step in, front-seat occupants will find the Ram is quite hospitable. The seats are generously sized and have good back and thigh support. Head and leg room is abundant and the center console cover is nicely padded, making an excellent armrest. Outward visibility is good, but the sloping hood makes it difficult to get your bearings when parking.

The rear seats on extended and crew cabs are comfortable and supportive. There's plenty of width for three-across seating, though the floor isn't completely flat like on the new Ford F-150. Extra cab models have adequate leg room as long as the front seats aren't moved all the way back. Crew cabs have ample leg room. Both models have plenty of head room.

Other than the coil rear suspension, the big story on the new Ram is storage. There's covered in cab storage on extended- and crew-cab models and the available RamBox is a great feature that's been a long time coming--useful covered and lockable storage that is accessible whether the bed is in use or not. There are more than 30 bins and cubbies on the inside, highlighted by a huge center console bin.

Bottom Line  The new Ram is a great truck, easily the equal of offerings from Ford and Chevy and better than import competitors Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan. Dodge engineers successfully married the toughness of a work truck with the civility of a family hauler.

The biggest story is the car-like ride, but hidden in the background is a commendably smooth and powerful engine, functional interior, and more storage than you can shake a stick at. Prices aren't bad either, with a nicely equipped Laramie tipping the scales at around $30,000. Any full-size pickup shopper who doesn't give the Ram a test drive is a fool.