Ram 1500

The freshened Ram pickup truck comes standard with 3.6-liter V6 that does the job. The Hemi V8 is gone and is replaced by a smooth and refined turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine with 420-hp. High-end versions get a high-output version of this engine with 540-hp. The smooth eight-speed automatic transmission remains. Auto 4WD mode that can stay engaged indefinitely is a plus on slippery surfaces. The Ram remains comfortable riding thanks to its rear coil springs and the cabin is very quiet. Handling is relatively responsive. The rear seat is very roomy in crew-cab models. A large 12-inch infotainment screen is optional. A hands-free driving system comes on high-end versions. A semi-electric 1500 Ramcharger equipped with a gas engine as an onboard generator will debut soon. The Ramcharger acts as an electric vehicle with a range extender gas engine. It uses the onboard V6 that can recharge its 92-kWh battery on the run, giving the Ramcharger a targeted combined 690-mile range.

The Ram 1500 continues to be the most comfortable-riding full-sized pickup truck, partly due to its rear coil-spring suspension. The smooth 5.7-liter V8 carries over, and with the mild-hybrid option, ensures smooth stop-start at idle without compromising the A/C. We got 17 mpg overall with it. The base 3.6-liter V6 has that setup as standard equipment. Handling is secure and responsive for such a large truck. The cabin is extremely quiet. In most versions, four-wheel drive can remain engaged indefinitely, a plus. Rear-seat room is generous, and the Uconnect touch-screen infotainment system is easy to use. The top trim Limited is lavishly furnished inside and features an enormous 12-inch touch screen for the Uconnect system. Advanced safety features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot warning are optional. A 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine is new for 2020, complete with 260 horsepower and 480 lb.-ft. of torque; it returned 23 mpg in our testing. The big news for 2021 is the arrival of the high-performance TRX version, which comes with a 702-horsepower, 6.2-liter supercharged V8. Other highlights of this muscle truck include a beefed up suspension, a 2-inch increase in ride height, and a standard 12-inch touch screen. Other updates for 2021 include an available pedestrian detection feature to the safety systems, a customizable head-up display, and a special Limited Longhorn 10th Anniversary Edition.

Ram became a separate brand for the Dodge pickups in 2011. The 2009 redesign brought the Ram 1500 up-to-date with a coil-spring rear suspension, which improved ride and handling significantly. This made the pickup fully competitive in the marketplace. Fuel economy for the 5.7-liter V8 was improved and cabin quiet approached that of a luxury car's. If towing is important to you, be aware that models with the 20-inch wheel option sacrifice 1,000 pounds of rated capacity.