One of the things that's new about the just-redesigned Ram 1500 is that if you want a regular cab, you'll have to buy the old Ram 1500 ... which will be sold alongside the new one under the "classic" label, like Classic Coke.
The new Ram only comes in four-door form — at least for the moment.
So, we have a Tale of Two Rams.
What It Is
The new Ram is sold in many configurations, as 1500s have traditionally been sold, to meet almost any conceivable buyer need and desire. What's not traditional is that two versions are being sold: the new and the classic.
The new Ram, which is completely redesigned, is available in four-door form only (crew and quad cabs) in an almost unlimited number of trims (base Tradesman, Big Horn, Long Horn, Rebel, Laramie, Limited) in short- and long-wheelbase form, rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, and with short and long beds, too.
Or you can buy the old Ram if you want a regular cab, less stuff and a lower price.
The base price of the new Ram is $31,795 for a quad cab Tradesman trim with a 3.6-liter V-6 and rear-wheel drive. A crew cab long-wheelbase Laramie trim with 4WD and the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 costs $57,690.
The old Ram — which is still technically new, too — is available with two doors and a much lower price: $27,095 for the base Tradesman trim with V-6 engine, rear-wheel drive and a 6-foot bed.
What's New
Everything, unless you go classic — then it's the same as before, just a 2019 instead of a 2018.
What's Good
The new Ram cab is roomiest in class (4 inches longer than before).
The long bed is still available with both crew and quad cab configurations.
It has best-in-class tow/payload rating.
What's Not So Good
The crew/quad cab configuration with an 8-foot bed makes it a long-legged mac daddy.
The more manageable regular cab configuration is only available with classic Ram.
A mild hybrid system adds a noticeable amount to the new price — and may add noticeable down-the-road repair costs.
Under the Hood
Both the standard 3.6-liter V-6 and the optional 5.7-liter V-8 are paired with what FCA calls eTorque, a mild hybrid system that doesn't (as in less-mild hybrids) actually propel the truck per se but does amp up the electrical power available to run accessories that would otherwise have to be powered by the running engine — and a running engine runs on gas.
The eTorque setup also provides an on-demand torque boost of 90 foot-pounds for the V-6 and 130 foot-pounds for the V-8. Note that the extra power on demand is not included in the advertised output ratings: 305 horsepower for the V-6 and 390 horsepower for the Hemi V-8.
Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic.
The Ram can pull a staggering 12,750 pounds and carry 2,300 pounds of payload.
On the Road
You literally climb aboard — if you're not used to new trucks, you may expect an oxygen mask to drop — and look over a bulging hood (Hemi Rams) with four vented scoops. All that's missing are the pop-up .50 cals to blow away any Prius that gets in your way.
Which you might need to do, because the Ram — like all current 1500s — uses every inch of pavement in between the painted lines. It is 82.1 inches wide, which is almost a foot wider than a current midsize car like the Toyota Camry (72.4 inches wide).
That said, once you have climbed aboard, driving this thing is as enjoyable as it's got to be running an aircraft carrier at 40 knots on the open sea.
Handling and road manners are enhanced by the Ram's available load-leveling air suspension and Frequency Response Damping shocks.
At the Curb
The new Ram offers 4G Wi-Fi, reclining rear seats, a 12-inch touch screen and a 900 watt 19 speaker Harman Kardon audio rig. There's also a new three-piece/folding tonneau cover for the bed.
You can even get a full-length panorama sunroof — just as you'd find in a six-figure luxury sedan — only this one happens to have ground clearance and 4WD, and can pull the Queen Mary behind it.
The Rest
Some may be unhappy that the regular-cab Ram is not all new, but the upside to that is you can buy it for a lot less than the new Ram. It's also a simpler design (no eTorque system), and that gives people who want a more basic truck to buy one without it being used.
The Bottom Line
Dodge hasn't just raised the bar. It welded rockets to the Ram and shot the thing beyond the horizon.
Eric's new book, "Don't Get Taken for a Ride!" is available now. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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