Still a truck
When ensconced in the opulence of the Laramie’s cab, it’s easy to forget that the Ram 1500 is a ‘rough and tough’ pickup truck; and in the case of my tester, the ruggedness was fortified by four-wheel drive traction and underbody skid plates.
An area of development that hasn’t made much progress in the full-size pickup segment is weight. These trucks are heavy vehicles, and as such require substantial quantities of horsepower to return decent performance.
In the tester’s case, Chrysler’s potent 5.7L HEMI V8 was on duty as standard Laramie fare, delivering 390 hp @ 5,600 rpm and 407 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm. Power from the big engine was fired through a 6-speed automatic transmission on its way to an electronic transfer case that enabled the selection of 2WD, 4WD auto, 4WD locking and 4WD low range.
The ability of the HEMI’s prodigious output to hustle the big truck off-the-line and surge it ahead in the passing lane actually surprised me. I’ve driven Ram pickups a multitude of times but for some reason, this week’s tester seems even gutsier despite the same power output as last year.
Towing capacity also remains unchanged at 4,750 kg (10,450 lbs) when properly equipped. The equipment includes an integrated trailer brake control supplied as a factory-installed option. A 4-7 wiring harness is contributed as standard equipment on all Rams.
Of course, power to tow generally manifests itself in poor fuel economy – and Dodge has a partial remedy with their Multi-Displacement System (MDS), which seamlessly deactivates four cylinders during minimal power needs, improving fuel economy.
But don’t be lulled into bliss. The ‘big truck, big engine’ format remains a thirsty combo. My tester was rated at 15.8L/100km city and 10.8L/100km highway. Local driving saw consumption in the 16L/100km range about town, and that was with an empty payload and no trailer attached.
One certainty is the outstanding level of comfort occupants will enjoy as the fuel is disposed of.
When ensconced in the opulence of the Laramie’s cab, it’s easy to forget that the Ram 1500 is a ‘rough and tough’ pickup truck; and in the case of my tester, the ruggedness was fortified by four-wheel drive traction and underbody skid plates.
An area of development that hasn’t made much progress in the full-size pickup segment is weight. These trucks are heavy vehicles, and as such require substantial quantities of horsepower to return decent performance.
In the tester’s case, Chrysler’s potent 5.7L HEMI V8 was on duty as standard Laramie fare, delivering 390 hp @ 5,600 rpm and 407 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm. Power from the big engine was fired through a 6-speed automatic transmission on its way to an electronic transfer case that enabled the selection of 2WD, 4WD auto, 4WD locking and 4WD low range.
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| In the tester’s case, Chrysler’s potent 5.7L HEMI V8 was on duty as standard Laramie fare, delivering 390 hp @ 5,600 rpm and 407 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm. (Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com) |
The ability of the HEMI’s prodigious output to hustle the big truck off-the-line and surge it ahead in the passing lane actually surprised me. I’ve driven Ram pickups a multitude of times but for some reason, this week’s tester seems even gutsier despite the same power output as last year.
Towing capacity also remains unchanged at 4,750 kg (10,450 lbs) when properly equipped. The equipment includes an integrated trailer brake control supplied as a factory-installed option. A 4-7 wiring harness is contributed as standard equipment on all Rams.
Of course, power to tow generally manifests itself in poor fuel economy – and Dodge has a partial remedy with their Multi-Displacement System (MDS), which seamlessly deactivates four cylinders during minimal power needs, improving fuel economy.
But don’t be lulled into bliss. The ‘big truck, big engine’ format remains a thirsty combo. My tester was rated at 15.8L/100km city and 10.8L/100km highway. Local driving saw consumption in the 16L/100km range about town, and that was with an empty payload and no trailer attached.
One certainty is the outstanding level of comfort occupants will enjoy as the fuel is disposed of.
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| Local driving saw consumption in the 16L/100km range about town. (Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com) |