Dodge Ram is available as a Regular Cab or four-door Quad Cab. (Dodge also offers the Mega Cab, which is built on a heavy-duty chassis. The Mega Cab is reviewed separately by New Car Test Drive. There is no extended-cab Ram.)
Two bed lengths are available: a 6-foot, 3-inch short-bed and an 8-foot long-bed. Several engines are offered: A 3.7-liter overhead-cam V6, 4.7-liter V8, and the 5.7-liter Hemi V8. A six-speed manual transmission comes standard with the 3.7-liter V6 and 4.7-liter V8. A four-speed automatic is optional with the V6. A five-speed automatic is optional with the 4.7-liter V8 and standard with the 5.7-liter. Several trim levels are available:
ST is the base model with vinyl upholstery and wind-up windows. ST comes standard with air conditioning, AM/FM/CD stereo, rear-wheel ABS, 17-inch steel wheels and a full-size spare tire. Options include a bed liner, trailer tow mirrors, speed control, four-wheel ABS, power adjustable pedals, 17-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels, and a power sliding rear window for the Quad Cab.
SLT comes standard with the 4.7-liter V8, six-disc CD changer, power windows and door locks, keyless entry, overhead console with mini-trip computer and compass, speed control, and 17-inch aluminum wheels. Options include a navigation system, Sirius Satellite Radio, UConnect Bluetooth hands-free wireless communication, bucket seats with leather upholstery, six-way power driver seat and 20-inch aluminum wheels. A power sunroof and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system are available for SLT Quad Cabs.
Laramie is the luxury trim level. It comes standard with dual-zone climate control, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, four-wheel ABS, security alarm, and Sentry Key engine immobilizer. Leather seats are standard, with a split 40/20/40 bench up front and power adjustment for the driver. Laramie is available only with the Quad Cab and comes with the automatic transmission.
The Ram Sport comes with the Hemi engine and five-speed automatic transmission, unique cloth-faced bucket seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, body-color grille and bumper fascia, fog lamps, and 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels. Options are the same as for the SLT.
The TRX4 Off-Road model comes with unique 17-inch aluminum wheels, P265 all-terrain tires, limited-slip differential, skid plates for the transfer case and front suspension, special red-painted shock absorbers, body-color grille surround, tow hooks, and fog lamps. Otherwise, TRX4 is trimmed like an SLT. TRX4 comes with 4WD only, but there's also a TRX package for 2WD models. Options exclusive to TRX4 include LT275 light-truck tires.
A Trailer Tow Group includes a Class IV hitch receiver, seven-circuit wiring harness, 750-amp battery, heavy-duty engine cooling and auxiliary transmission oil cooler when equipped with automatic transmission. There's also a Work Special package designed for affordability with gray bumpers, grille, and 17x7 steel wheels.
Safety features include optional side-curtain airbags designed to provide head protection in a side impact or rollover. We recommend getting them; head injuries are the leading cause of death in side impacts. The Ram was awarded the highest possible rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's offset frontal crash test. Three-point shoulder belts are provided at all locations, including the rear center seat. An electronic stability program (ESP) is optional.