Ram 1500

The redesigned Ram pickup truck will be offered as a conventional 1500 and later as a semi-electric 1500 Ramcharger equipped with a gas engine as an onboard generator. The base engine is a carryover 3.6-liter V6. Then there are turbocharged inline-six engines with 420- and 540-hp. All three are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Ramcharger blazes its own trail, being an electric vehicle with 663 hp. It uses the onboard V6 that can recharge its 92-kWh battery on the run, much like the departed Chevy Volt extended-range EV, giving the Ramcharger a targeted 690-mile range. Of course, that range will lessen when hauling heavy cargo or trailering. Many configurations allow the interior to be festooned with screens, including one exclusively for the passenger.

The redesigned 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.