Although the previous-generation (1994-2001) Ram pickup was a big success for Dodge, Dodge knew it was getting long in the tooth compared to redesigned rivals from Ford and GM. In 2002, the company revamped the Ram, but it was careful not to make any radical changes in terms of styling even though under the skin the Dodge truck benefited from a number of improvements, ranging from a stiffer frame and bigger brakes to the adoption of power-adjustable pedals and a larger passenger compartment in the Quad Cab models.
Realizing that pickups are seeing increased duty as family vehicles and that most folks don't often fill up their pickup's bed, that redesign saw Dodge take 3 inches from the standard bed length (now 6 feet 3 inches) and add it to the passenger compartment. In essence, this design allows the Quad Cab to have the expansive passenger room of a crew cab while keeping the truck's overall length nearly the same as an extended-cab truck. But to make sure that every potential customer's needs are met, an 8-foot bed is still available.
In response to concerns that the old 5.9-liter Magnum V8 had both poor performance and atrocious fuel consumption, Dodge made the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 available in the Ram 1500 in late 2003. With 345 horsepower, this mill with the legendary name makes 100 horses more than the old 5.9-liter Magnum. Torque is also more robust and peaks at a stout 375 pound-feet. Further enhancements for 2006 include a stronger frame, a new 4WD suspension system and fresh exterior style. The new Mega Cab model, which is actually built using a heavy-duty Ram 2500 frame, adds 20 inches to the Quad Cab's cabin. We think highly of the 2006 Dodge Ram, as we appreciate its powerful performance, agile handling, comfortable ride, good crash test scores and tight build quality.