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2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Review

November 3, 2008

STYLING | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Huge gauges are boldly marked and easy to read at a glance
ConsumerGuide

Three cab configurations and three bed lengths for the 2009 Ram 1500
Edmunds

New exterior, which Dodge cleaned up and streamlined
Cars.com

The Dodge Ram 1500 pickup has long been Chrysler's best-selling vehicle. Rather than approach the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 with a sense of complacency, Chrysler has thoroughly redesigned both the interior and exterior to produce one of the most desirable pickups on the market.

The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 is a "large pickup truck" that "is offered as a two-door regular cab and two four-door cabs with conventional doors—the Quad Cab and the Crew Cab," according to ConsumerGuide. In addition, ConsumerGuide comments that "the regular cab offers 6.4- and 8-foot cargo beds," while "the Quad Cab comes with a 6.4-foot bed" and "the Crew Cab uses a 5.7-foot bed." The Dodge Ram 1500 arrives in dealer showrooms with a new look that is well received in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com. Cars.com reports that "the new truck has a forward-swept crosshair grille that replaces its predecessor's upright design" and notes "new headlights flank this grille." Reviewers at The Detroit News love the "big, bold and distinctive" exterior that "stays true to [the] Dodge brand but incorporates function with art." Car and Driver reviewers also mention the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 "steps up the macho with bossy new sheetmetal."

Most reviewers appreciate the new exterior on the Dodge Ram 1500, and they unanimously rave about the interior redesign. ConsumerGuide mentions that the "huge gauges are boldly marked and easy to read at a glance" and appreciates that the "major controls are mostly convenient to access." Automobile Magazine declares that the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 has "the nicest interior of any Chrysler product," and other reviewers agree. Cars.com reports that the "new styling is an improvement over the previous truck's," and The Detroit News sums it up perfectly by proclaiming that "the interior offers everything a trucker needs, and everything a passenger wants."

Conclusion

Extreme Makeover: Truck Edition—the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 is here and looks better than ever.

STYLING | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Huge gauges are boldly marked and easy to read at a glanceConsumerGuideThree cab configurations and three bed lengths for the 2009 Ram 1500EdmundsNew exterior, which Dodge cleaned up and streamlinedCars.com The Dodge Ram 1500 pickup has long been Chrysler's best-selling vehicle. Rather than approach the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 with a sense of complacency, Chrysler has thoroughly redesigned both the interior and exterior to produce one of the most desirable pickups on the market. The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 is a "large pickup truck" that "is offered as a two-door regular cab and two four-door cabs with conventional doors—the Quad Cab and the Crew Cab," according to ConsumerGuide. In addition, ConsumerGuide comments that "the regular cab offers 6.4- and 8-foot cargo beds," while "the Quad Cab comes with a 6.4-foot bed" and "the Crew Cab uses a 5.7-foot bed." The Dodge Ram 1500 arrives in dealer showrooms with a new look that is well received in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com. Cars.com reports that "the new truck has a forward-swept crosshair grille that replaces its predecessor's upright design" and notes "new headlights flank this grille." Reviewers at The Detroit News love the "big, bold and distinctive" exterior that "stays true to [the] Dodge brand but incorporates function with art." Car and Driver reviewers also mention the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 "steps up the macho with bossy new sheetmetal." Most reviewers appreciate the new exterior on the Dodge Ram 1500, and they unanimously rave about the interior redesign. ConsumerGuide mentions that the "huge gauges are boldly marked and easy to read at a glance" and appreciates that the "major controls are mostly convenient to access." Automobile Magazine declares that the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 has "the nicest interior of any Chrysler product," and other reviewers agree. Cars.com reports that the "new styling is an improvement over the previous truck's," and The Detroit News sums it up perfectly by proclaiming that "the interior offers everything a trucker needs, and everything a passenger wants." ConclusionExtreme Makeover: Truck Edition—the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 is here and looks better than ever. 2009 DODGE RAM 1500 STYLING | [8 out of 10] ConsumerGuide: "Huge gauges are boldly marked and easy to read at a glance" Edmunds: "Three cab configurations and three bed lengths for the 2009 Ram 1500" Cars.com: "New exterior, which Dodge cleaned up and streamlined" The Dodge Ram ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

As this review is written, the 2009 Ford F-150 has yet to be released. The new Ford should prove to be a strong competitor given what we already know. The GM Silverado/Sierra twins could now be considered "old" in this group, and now occupy third place in this tightly spaced group given the Dodge's high level of refinement and clever packaging options like the Ram Box. Toyota continues to find its way with the Tundra, but their big truck doesn't compare well against the Dodge especially when it comes to ride, handling, and isolation of the cab. The Nissan Titan brings up the rear of this group, a position it owns by offering the oldest truck in this group with the fewest number of derivations. Nissan has already announced that a new Titan is in the works, and will be jointly developed with Chrysler and based off of the new Ram.

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See the Dodge Ram 1500 in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

Comments (2 total)

  1. By fede #1, Posted: 5/14/2009

    at last!

    Coil Springs! At last someone at Detroit realized this. Half ton pickup trucks are driven UNLADEN most of the time. After 30 years reading test drives complaining about the "tough ride" on all pickup trucks someone decided to actually CHANGE from springs to coils. Congratulations Dodge. Looks awesome.

  2. By floriroxana68 #2, Posted: 10/10/2009

    a new concept:
    http://www.autoshortnews.com/dodge-caliber-srt4-knew-ye/

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