Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Review

2011 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SLT Regular Cab Pickup

New Models

Used Models

  • 2010 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SLT Crew Cab Pickup View photos
    2010 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Crew Cab Used TMV from $21,239 Find Used Inventory
  • 2010 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SLT Quad Cab Pickup View photos
    2010 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $19,332 Find Used Inventory
  • 2010 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SLT Regular Cab Pickup View photos
    2010 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $16,610 Find Used Inventory
  • 2009 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SLT Crew Cab View photos
    2009 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Crew Cab Used TMV from $20,398 Find Used Inventory
  • 2009 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SLT Crew Cab View photos
    2009 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $16,439 Find Used Inventory
  • 2009 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SLT Regular Cab View photos
    2009 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $14,758 Find Used Inventory
  • 2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Laramie Crew Cab View photos
    2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Mega Cab Used TMV from $18,804 Find Used Inventory
  • 2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Laramie Crew Cab View photos
    2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $15,504 Find Used Inventory
  • 2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Exterior View photos
    2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $12,690 Find Used Inventory
  • 2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 2500 Laramie 4dr Mega Cab 4WD SB View photos
    2007 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Mega Cab Used TMV from $17,023 Find Used Inventory
  • 2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Laramie 4dr Quad Cab 4WD SB View photos
    2007 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $12,510 Find Used Inventory
  • 2007 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Exterior View photos
    2007 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $10,113 Find Used Inventory
  • 2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Exterior View photos
    2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Mega Cab Used TMV from $14,166 Find Used Inventory
  • 2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Exterior View photos
    2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $10,892 Find Used Inventory
  • 2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Exterior View photos
    2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $8,584 Find Used Inventory
  • 2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SRT-10 2dr Regular Cab SB View photos
    2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SRT-10 Used TMV from $24,615 Find Used Inventory
  • 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 4dr Quad Cab SLT 2WD SB w/Hemi Package View photos
    2005 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $10,109 Find Used Inventory
  • 2002 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 2dr Regular Cab SLT 2WD SB Shown View photos
    2005 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $8,100 Find Used Inventory
  • 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SRT-10 2dr Regular Cab Rwd SB View photos
    2005 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SRT-10 Used TMV from $20,537 Find Used Inventory
  • 2002 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 4dr Quad Cab SLT 2WD SB View photos
    2004 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $8,845 Find Used Inventory
  • 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Exterior View photos
    2004 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $6,606 Find Used Inventory
  • 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SRT-10 2dr Regular Cab Rwd SB View photos
    2004 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SRT-10 Used TMV from $16,845 Find Used Inventory
  • 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Exterior View photos
    2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $7,326 Find Used Inventory
  • 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Exterior View photos
    2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $4,829 Find Used Inventory
  • 2002 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 4dr Quad Cab ST 2WD LB View photos
    2002 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $6,085 Find Used Inventory
  • 2002 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 2dr Regular Cab SLT 4WD LB View photos
    2002 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $4,034 Find Used Inventory
  • 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 4 Dr Laramie SLT 4WD Extended Cab SB View photos
    2001 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Club Cab Used TMV from $3,925 Find Used Inventory
  • 2001 Dodge Ram Pickup 2500 2dr Quad Cab SLT 2WD LB View photos
    2001 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Quad Cab Used TMV from $4,390 Find Used Inventory
  • 2001 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 2dr Regular Cab SLT 2WD SB View photos
    2001 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $3,295 Find Used Inventory
  • 2001 Dodge Ram Pickup 2500 2dr Quad Cab SLT 2WD LB View photos
    2000 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Extended Cab Used TMV from $3,628 Find Used Inventory
  • 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 2 Dr ST 4WD Standard Cab SB View photos
    2000 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $2,840 Find Used Inventory
  • 1999 Dodge Ram 2500 4 Dr Laramie SLT 4WD Extended Cab SB View photos
    1999 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Extended Cab Used TMV from $3,222 Find Used Inventory
  • 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 2 Dr ST Standard Cab SB View photos
    1999 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $2,540 Find Used Inventory
  • 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 4 Dr Laramie SLT 4WD Extended Cab SB View photos
    1998 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Extended Cab Used TMV from $2,913 Find Used Inventory
  • 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 2 Dr SS/T Standard Cab SB View photos
    1998 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $2,219 Find Used Inventory
  • 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 2 Dr Laramie SLT 4WD Extended Cab SB View photos
    1997 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Extended Cab Used TMV from $2,619 Find Used Inventory
  • 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 2 Dr Laramie SLT 4WD Standard Cab SB View photos
    1997 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $1,975 Find Used Inventory
  • 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 2 Dr Laramie SLT 4WD Extended Cab SB View photos
    1996 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Extended Cab Used TMV from $2,188 Find Used Inventory
  • 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 2 Dr LT Standard Cab SB View photos
    1996 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $1,656 Find Used Inventory
  • 1995 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Extended Cab Used TMV from $1,901 Find Used Inventory
  • 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 2 Dr LT Standard Cab SB View photos
    1995 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Regular Cab Used TMV from $1,461 Find Used Inventory
  • 1994 Dodge Ram 1500 2 Dr ST Standard Cab LB View photos
    1994 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Used TMV from $1,244 Find Used Inventory

For decades, Dodge's offerings in the full-size pickup truck segment soldiered on mostly under the radar. Sales were adequate, but it wasn't until the Dodge Ram 1500 received a major redesign in the mid-1990s that consumers snapped to attention and checked out their neighborhood Dodge dealer.

More recently, Dodge has taken another big step forward with its full-size pickup truck, jettisoning the traditional, stiff-riding rear leaf springs in the rear suspension in favor of relatively plush coil springs. The upshot is that the current Dodge Ram 1500 has the power, ride and styling to be the most versatile half-ton on the road.

Current Dodge Ram 1500
The Dodge Ram 1500 is available in five trim levels, beginning with the ST and moving through SLT, TRX, Sport and finally to the top-line Laramie. Three cab configurations and three bed lengths are also offered. The pickup can be had in either a two-wheel or four-wheel-drive setup. The "Mega Cab" from the previous generation is no longer, but the current Crew Cab still provides almost 40 inches of rear legroom. Three engines are available: a 3.7-liter V6 (215 horsepower), a 4.7-liter V8 (310 hp) and a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 (390 hp). Notable for the Ram is its coil-spring rear suspension, which significantly enhances the truck's ride quality over broken pavement.

The interior of the Ram 1500 is roomy and well-appointed. A three-across front bench seat and column shifter are in the mix, and all seating options have benefited from improved sculpting and attention to detail. Rear-seat video and a 10-speaker surround-sound audio system are optional, as are navigation and a rear back-up camera. A Ram 1500 can be ordered with lined wells below the rear floor mats (sized for a six-pack and ice), as well as the RamBox, a cargo bed storage compartment that can accommodate a golf bag or lots of tools. The exterior design intensifies the Ram's big-rig look via more angular and aggressive lines.

In reviews, we've found the Dodge Ram 1500 to be a pickup truck with a very un-trucklike ride. We're also fond of its competitively constructed interior, nifty storage spaces and impressively powerful Hemi V8. The main downside to the truck is its weak and inefficient base V6 engine.

Used Dodge Ram 1500 Models
The current fourth-generation Dodge Ram 1500 was redesigned for the 2009 model year. Compared to older Rams, this truck benefits from a coil-spring rear suspension (for a better ride quality), more powerful engines and newer technology features. There haven't been any significant changes since the 2009 introduction.

The previous, third-generation Dodge Ram 1500 pickup was produced from 2002 through 2008. Trim levels included the basic ST, the volume-seller SLT and the plush Laramie (which replaced the SLT Plus in 2003). Club and Quad Cabs were offered, with the stretched Mega Cab arriving in 2006. Initially, two of the three engine options were new: a 3.7-liter V6 (215 hp) available only on the 2WD regular cab and a 4.7-liter V8 (235 hp). An older but torquey 5.9-liter V8 (245 hp) preceded the arrival of the 5.7-liter V8 Hemi (345 hp) in 2004, and for the 2007 model year the 4.7 V8 got a power boost to 310 hp. Transmissions were steadily updated: Five-speed manuals gave way to six-speeds, and four-speed automatics were replaced by five-speeds.

Various options were offered from 2002-'08. Depending on the year Ram you look at, you'll encounter wheel and tire packages, upgraded sound systems, an off-road package, keyless remote start, a navigation system, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and Bluetooth connectivity. In reviews, we found this generation of Ram 1500 to have a smooth ride and nimble handling, especially when loaded with cargo and passengers. The 5.7-liter V8 Hemi was a big improvement over the sluggish, thirsty old 5.9 V8, although fuel economy for both engines was subpar. One other downside to this generation of Ram was that it wasn't offered in as many configurations as other competing full-size trucks of the same time period.

The second-generation Dodge Ram 1500 debuted for 1994 and marked the turning point for Dodge's full-size pickup truck. There were a number of important features that debuted, such as a standard driver side airbag, available four-wheel antilock brakes and a center console box big enough to hold a laptop computer. Cab styles included the Club Cab and the Quad Cab. Engine choices consisted of a 3.9-liter V6 (175 hp), a 5.2-liter V8 (220 hp) and a 5.9-liter V8 that started out at 230 hp and topped out at 250 hp. Transmissions included a five-speed manual and four-speed automatic, and one could select either a two- or four-wheel-drive configuration. Trim levels were the Work Special, LT, ST and luxurious Laramie SLT.

For more on Past Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 models, view our Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 History page

Read the most recent review for 2011 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500

Research Models

Advertisement

New Car Resources

Advertisement

Advertisement

Recently Viewed

    Select your vehicles
    Hosted by uCoz