2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Quality Review

The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, like pretty much every other pickup truck on the market, is not a luxury vehicle, but nobody seemed to mention that to the people in charge of build and materials quality.

The 2009 restyle of the Dodge Ram 1500 has been a huge upgrade in nearly all areas, but perhaps most noticeably in terms of interior comfort. ConsumerGuide says that "regular cabs seat up to three passengers" on the Dodge Ram 1500, while "the others seat up to six." All 2009 Dodge Ram 1500s get redesigned seats, which is a good thing since The Detroit News remarks the old ones were "as comfortable as plywood covered in cheap fabric and should have been banned by the Geneva Conventions." On the new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, however, those same reviewers at The Detroit News find "the seats have nice bolsters to hold you in place when driving off-road and are cushy on the highway." Edmunds chimes in that "all seats benefit from improved sculpting and attention to detail." In terms of legroom, headroom, and overall comfort up front, Consumer Guide points out "a high step in is about the only complaint one can muster." They also report that comfort in the rear is the same "as up front, though flatter seats seem less supportive."

Another aspect of the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 that earns accolades in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com is the unbelievable amount of storage space. ConsumerGuide states that "all models have a two-tiered glove box, with the top compartment chilled for beverage cooling," while "the available Ram Box storage wells combine to offer sufficient space for a week's worth of groceries or a couple of golf bags." On Crew Cab models, Edmunds notes that "the rear seat bottoms flip up to reveal storage compartments and there are two lined wells beneath the rear floor mats sized to hold a six-pack and ice," while out back, "twelve vertical slots are stamped into the inner bed walls, into which a bed divider can be clamped to keep items fenced in." The Detroit News is also pleased to find "lots of nooks and crannies (more than 40) to hold cell phones, gloves, tools, folders and just about anything else."

Dodge has managed to upgrade both the materials and the build quality on the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. The Detroit News finds that "every piece fits together nicely" on the Dodge Ram 1500, while "there's stitched material across the front of the dash that makes you feel like you're sitting in a top-end vehicle" on the Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie. Jalopnik proclaims that "fit and finish are quite good and all the gadgetry mechanisms feel like they'll stand up to years of abuse." Even the more conservative reviewers at ConsumerGuide remark that "front seat occupants are treated to a cabin generally finished in high-grade and soft-touch materials, with Laramie models seeming especially nice."

Noise suppression is admirable on the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, according to reviews read by TheCarConnection.com. Although Edmunds claims that their "pre-production Laramie Crew Cab 4x2 sample vehicle sounded a tad gusty when cruising at 60 mph," reviewers at ConsumerGuide contend that on their full production version "Dodge claims to have paid special attention to wind and road noise, and it shows." The result, according to ConsumerGuide, is that "the cabin is...impressively serene."

One area where reviewers are shocked to find a groundbreaking improvement is in ride quality. Consumer Guide immediately hails it as "best in class," and Car and Driver says the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 offers "vastly improved" ride quality. The reason for the upgrade, according to Cars.com, is that "the truck's rear suspension now features coil springs instead of leaf springs." The Detroit News adds that the "new suspension is a slam dunk."