What a time to be launching a new full-size pickup truck. Sales have been ultra-slow across the board let alone the pickup

A new take on a well proven theme, the 2009 Ram 1500 looks better than ever. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

truck segment, hit especially hard due to a massive reduction in new housing starts, and while gasoline prices have let up from their skyward rise in recent months, in most peoples’ minds they could swing to stratospheric levels just as quickly again. So why is Dodge’s truck team feeling so positive about the new 2009 Ram’s future?

Chrysler LLC’s financial situation aside, they’ve got a lot of reasons to feel so buoyant in this sinking market, starting with their first Crew Cab half-ton. Surprising, I know. Unless you’re a Dodge Ram buyer, you might not realize that there’s never been a regular four-door Ram 1500 before (it’s somewhat unwieldy stretched Mega Cab was what Dodge previously offered), and being that this configuration makes up about fifty-percent of the Canadian light truck market it represents a major opportunity to grow sales. But that’s not all. Put a new Ram 1500 Laramie beside a Lincoln MKLT and you’ll gravitate toward the Dodge if premium interior touches matter to you. Maybe that’s why the dressed up F-150 was recently cancelled, but either way the new Ram is the pickup truck for luxo-snobs. Soft touch plastics just about everywhere, at  least where

Four doors on a regular wheelbase make all the difference. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

it matters most like the centre armrest, door armrests and window sills, and on top-models across the dash with accenting double stitching. It gives the truck a premium feel that can’t be matched by any competitor. This is what I expected from Toyota when it reintroduced the Tundra last year, but was sadly disappointed in that respect at least, and while GM and Ford have been the interior quality leaders for the last few years, Dodge, the work truck of the bunch, is now the styling and quality leader as far as cabins go.

As for the exterior design, Dodge has long been considered a style leader… that is if you like the Ram’s big rig design. The new back-canted grille should appeal to more of those offended by the outgoing truck’s in-your-face façade without alienating those who like to intimidate when driving up behind slower moving traffic.

And

The Sport model with a few Mopar add-ons. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

believe me, with the new 5.7-litre Hemi, boasting 390-horsepower and 407 lb-ft of torque, you’ll be coming up behind slower moving traffic at a rapid rate. Yes, that’s more power and torque than the last one, if you didn’t notice, complemented by 5-percent better fuel economy thanks to variable valve timing and a further optimized MDS cylinder-deactivation system. What’s more, Dodge incorporated a nifty feature conceptually derived from its hybrid lineup that might just save you more fuel than all of the other technology put together, a fuel saver light that comes on when you’re getting a little too aggressive on the throttle.

I can’t say that I babied my bright silver Crew Cab tester from the beachfront up into the Southern Californian mountains where the truck was launched, yet even under load it was a dream drive, with superb grip and fabulous composure over rough surfaces thanks to the new coil-sprung multi-link rear suspension. Empty, the revised Hemi pulled with an unusual level of enthusiasm

Tow you speed boat? No problem. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

for a 5,000 pound-plus vehicle, and then when filled to the brim with feed on one occasion, so that I could experience all of the 617-kilo (1,360-pound) payload capacity my Crew Cab 4x4 tester could manage safely (the 4x2 Crew Cab can haul a total of 748 kilos or 1,650 pounds and the highest rated Regular Long Box 4x2 Ram can carry 844 kg or 1,860 pounds in the box) it felt just as agile as when empty, yet even more planted on the road surface. I followed up the payload test with three rounds of trailers, one with a speed boat, the other a horse trailer (without any horses) and after these a gorgeous new Airstream, and once again I was amazed at how deftly the Ram 1500 moved along side streets, merged onto the highway and then cruised at high speed. Its maximum towing capacity is 4,060 kilograms (8,950 lbs) in Regular Cab 4x2 guise, with the 5.7-litre V8 doing the work I might add, although only the horse trailer mule was equipped this way, with the others being the least capable Crew

It tows an Airstream like it wasn't there. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

Cab 4x4 models, other than their Hemi powerplants that is, and the towing capability of these four-door 5.7-litre Rams range from a moderate 2,858 kilos (6,300 lbs) to 3,946 kg (8,700 lbs), depending on trim.

And there are a lot of configurations and trim levels, too many to tackle in one sitting, really… but I’ll try. For starters, you can get a Regular Cab, with a front bench seat, a Quad Cab, with a smallish rear passenger area, and the new Crew Cab with room for five comfortably. Behind the rear glass, Regular Cab models come with a six-foot-four or eight-foot box, Quad Cab Rams get a six-foot-four box, and the new Crew Cab comes with a five-foot-seven box. And then there are the trim levels starting with ST and followed by SLT, Sport and Laramie.

The ST

A brilliant interior! (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

comes standard with a 3.7-litre V6 that makes 215-horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque, which, I have been told, is sufficient for light duty use and ideal for people and companies not needing a heavy hauler but instead focused on saving money from its fuel economy rating of 13.5 L/100 km in the city and 10.3 on the highway. Moving up to a 4.7-litre V8, also available in ST trim, will cost you at the pump, but its larger displacement benefits performance with 310-horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque on tap. And remember that if you’re doing a lot of hauling or if you live in a hilly area, the V8 might deliver better fuel economy than the six because it doesn’t have to work as hard. The base transmission is a six-speed manual, while either a four-speed automatic can be had with the V6 or a five-speed auto with either V8.

The ST

Some thoughtful touches that really come in handy. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

also comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels, a chrome grille, air conditioning, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, traction and stability control, dual front and side curtain airbags, tilt steering, automatic headlamps, a single CD/MP3 audio system, and a four-pin wiring harness for towing. Some might find its interior a bit utilitarian, as black vinyl floor covering goes where carpets are found more often than not and a work-grade 40/20/40 split bench seats three abreast. Outside, its black door handles and gray bumpers and front fascia are similarly business-like. If you opt for a Quad Cab in ST trim you’ll get under-seat storage in back and power windows, locks and mirrors throughout.

Outside of industry use, most people will option up to the SLT with its standard 4.7-litre V8, 17-inch alloy rims and body-colour exterior trim. Along with the items that came standard with the ST, the SLT also gets a trip computer

The details are very upscale. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

integrated into the overhead console, plus a more sophisticated Electronic Vehicle Information Centre that includes a compass and exterior temperature gauge, keyless entry, cruise control, carpeting on the floor, a colour-keyed instrument panel bezel, premium door trim, stain repellent fabric for the bench seat, Sirius satellite radio and a rear power sliding window for Quad and Crew Cab models.

The Sport is easy to distinguish because of its body colour grille, front fascia and front and rear bumpers, fog lamps and 20-inch chrome wheels. Under the domed hood is a standard 5.7-litre Hemi, rumbling through a sweet sounding dual exhaust system. Other niceties include power multifunction mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with redundant audio controls on the spokes, 10-way power cloth bucket seats with lumbar support, upgraded door trim, a 115-volt power outlet, an light group package and halogen headlamps. The Quad Cab gets a split folding rear seat too. Yes, it’s no SRT-10, but on the other hand it’s a truck you can live with doing things that trucks are meant to do every day.

The Laramie is Dodge’s top-tier Ram, and like I mentioned before, it’s nicer than some that boast premium brand names. Along with a standard 5.7-litre V8, it gets deluxe interior trim, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated leather seats (and I’m talking about front and back heaters with the front seats ventilated too) with memory, wood grain interior trim with chrome and aluminum-look highlights, power adjustable foot pedals, a remote starter, rear parking assist, a security alarm, UConnect hands-free connectivity (not yet available in Canada), plus a top-grade audio system with surround sound, a subwoofer

On or off-road, the new Ram 1500 is a step above. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

and MyGIG hard drive storage plus USB and auxiliary connections. Outside it gets a nice chrome grille complemented by chromed multi-function mirrors, fog lamps and two-tone paint.

My favourite new option is the RamBox Cargo Management System, which basically transforms the sidewalls of the rear box into lidded, lockable storage compartments, water tight unless you’re filling them up with ice and beverages, in which case there’s a drain to empty them. A brilliant answer to Honda’s trunk under the bed floor, the RamBox might not be quite as accommodating but you can reach your things (and the spare) when the bed is loaded. I thought the round silver button for opening up the bins looked and felt fairly cheesy and totally aftermarket, but other than that it’s a great idea well executed. Of course, Dodge offers a bevy of Mopar accessories from wheel and tire options to a box divider and more.

Our lunch stop, high in the mountains on a private ranch, offered the opportunity to off-road the new Ram on light to medium grade roads, and it proved to be suitably up to the task. The truck features a part-time 4x4 system, preferred by those serious about off-roading, and together with all of the electronic driving aids there’s little that can stop it.

Which is pretty well how I feel about the new Ram 1500 on the whole, there’s little that can stop it from succeeding.

Specifications (2009 Dodge Ram 1500):

• Price Range (ST 4X2 – Crew Cab Laramie 4X4 MSRP): $26,820 - $51,715
• Body Type: 2- or 4-door pickup truck
• Layout: front engine, 2WD (opt. 4WD)
• Base Engine: 210-hp, 235 lb-ft of torque, 3.7L, 12-valve SOHC V6
• Opt. Engine: 310-hp, 330 lb-ft of torque, 4.7L, 16-valve SOHC V8
• Opt. Engine: 390 hp, 407 lb-ft of torque, 5.7L, 16-valve OHV V8 HEMI
• Transmission: 6-spd manual (opt. 4-spd auto, opt. 5-spd auto w/AutoStick)
• Brakes (front/rear): disc / disc, ABS
• Tires: 245/70R17 (opt. 275/60R20)
• Curb Weight (manual-auto): 2,258 – 2,285 kg (4,977 - 5,038 lbs)
• Ground Clearance (min): 194 mm (7.7 in)
• Tow Rating (min-max): 1,724 – 4,060 kg (3,800 - 8,950 lbs)
• Payload (min-max): 585 - 839 kg (1,290 - 1,850 lbs)
• Fuel Economy (est. 3.7/4.7/5.7): 13.5 / 15.9 / 16.1 city; 10.3 / 11.2 / 10.9 hwy
• Warranty (mo/km): 36/60,000 comprehensive - 60/100,000 powertrain
• Direct Competitors: Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra, Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra
• Web Site: www.dodge.ca

Interior

Exterior

Mechanical

Safety

Dimensions

Misc

(J003) Standard Metallic Paint

(J005) Standard Gloss Paint

(GFD) Sliding Rear Window

(DMH) 3.92 Axle Ratio

(EKG) 3.7L Magnum V6 Engine

(XFH) Class IV Receiver Hitch

(AWS) Smokers Group

(RSC) Sirius Satellite Radio

(GPD) Mirrors: Folding Trailer Tow

(AHE) Trailer Brake Control Group

(XMF) Spray in Bedliner

(XME) Box Bedliner

(AGR) SXT Appearance Group

(V9__) Cloth 40/20/40 Split Bench Seat

(26A) Quick Order

(DGQ) Transmission: 5-45RFE 5-Speed Automatic

(EZH) 5.7L V8 Hemi MDS VCT Engine

(DGV) Transmission: 42RLE 4-Speed Automatic

(22A) Quick Order

(24A) Quick Order

(EVE) 4.7L Magnum V8 Engine

(XEA) Tow Hooks

(DMC) 3.21 Axle Ratio

(CLY) Front Rubber Floor Mats

(RSP) UConnect Hands-Free Communication