2009 Dodge Ram 1500

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What is it?
2009 Dodge Ram 1500

What's special about it?
The biggest surprise found in the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500? An all-new light-duty, turbocharged Cummins diesel engine. That's right. You'll no longer have to step up to a heavy-duty Ram to get the torque and fuel economy of a diesel engine. Dodge says to expect 30 percent better fuel mileage and a 20 percent reduction in carbon-dioxide emissions (although it's not clear to which gasoline engine this turbodiesel is being compared). No details on its size, horsepower or configuration have been released, but most rumors point to a V8 between 4.5 liters and 5.5 liters. There's one catch — it won't be available until the 2010 model year.

Can't wait that long? Well, there's plenty of new stuff packed into the 2009 Dodge Ram, too. Topping the list is the Ram 1500's new multilink solid rear axle with coil springs. Dodge says it delivers better ride quality without sacrificing the truck's payload and towing capacity, which are rated at 1,840 pounds and 9,100 pounds, respectively. If you think coil springs aren't up to the task, Dodge points to the fact that its heavy-duty Ram trucks have been using coil-spring front ends for years.

If that's not enough innovation for you, this new Dodge also offers a new cargo storage system. Think of the "RamBox" setup as a pair of compartments the size of a small cooler integrated into the outside rails of the cargo bed. Each holds 4.3 cubic feet of stuff and is lighted and lockable. Not sure how much space that is? Dodge says it's enough to accommodate five cases of 12-ounce beverage cans. And should you want to keep all those Diet Cokes cold on the way to the Food City 500, the storage bins are lined and drainable.

The RamBox setup is only available for the new Ram crew cab, a new cab configuration for Dodge's half-ton pickup. Slightly smaller than the previous Mega Cab yet bigger than the Quad Cab, the Ram crew cab is roughly the same size as the crew cabs from Chevrolet, Ford and Nissan. (Crew cabs now account for 50 percent of the pickup market, Dodge reports.) And like its competitors, the Ram crew offers a shorter 5-foot-7 bed to keep the truck's overall length to a manageable size. Standard 6-foot-4 and 8-foot beds are available for the standard cab and Quad Cab models. Overall, the Ram remains much the same size as before.

Regardless of which cab you choose, most of the improvements for 2009 have gone into making the Ram's interior more comfortable, and the long list of options looks like it's from a Dodge minivan, not a truck. There are optional heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, a surround-sound audio system with a 30GB hard drive for satellite navigation and music storage, and the crew cab even offers heated rear seats. Order the rear entertainment system and you can now add Sirius Satellite Television, too.

If high-tech gadgets aren't your thing, there are plenty of more basic upgrades as well. Dodge says there are twice as many storage spaces as before, including two new "store in the floor" bins for crew cab models. Dodge also has put considerable effort into what it calls a "renewed emphasis on craftsmanship," reflected in more soft-touch interior materials, two-tone upholstery and chrome accents for premium models.

But Dodge didn't forget about the importance of what's under the hood. For 2009, the top-of-the-line 5.7-liter Hemi V8 has been pumped up to produce 380 horsepower and 403 pound-feet of torque. Those numbers put the Ram in a virtual dead heat with the Toyota Tundra's 5.7-liter V8, which delivers 381 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque. The addition of variable valve timing, a higher compression ratio, an active intake manifold and a higher-flow exhaust system were used to help the Hemi generate its added power. The VVT system also works with the standard Multi-Displacement System (MDS) to increase fuel efficiency by 4 percent.

Dodge has Toyota licked when it comes to its midlevel engine choice, as the Ram's 4.7-liter V8 delivers 310 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque versus Toyota's 4.7-liter V8 with its 272 hp and 313 lb-ft of torque. The 5.7-liter Hemi comes standard with a five-speed automatic, while the 4.7 uses either the five-speed automatic or a six-speed manual. A 3.7-liter V6 continues as the base engine. It produces 215 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque and is matched with either a four-speed automatic or a six-speed manual.

When the 2009 Dodge Ram goes on sale this fall, five trim levels will be available — ST, SLT, TRX, Sport and Laramie.

What's Edmunds' take?
Dodge figures the time is right for a full-size truck that emphasizes comfort over an impressive maximum tow rating. It's a good plan, especially when you combine it with the Ram's sharp-looking new style. — Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor

2009 Dodge Ram Buzz Station