Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
The Chrysler 200 ended up 3,409 units in the clear for calendar 2014, incidentally, but with 11,655 200 sales to the Malibu’s 8,246 deliveries you get my point. This is where I’d like to say something witty like, GM had better watch out or Ram’s trucks will soon oust them for second spot overall, but as it is the General’s 6,237 unit
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
We don’t even need to look back as far as 1994 to recognize how far they’ve come.
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
What about Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan sales? Ram averaged more than twice as many trucks in a single month than Nissan managed all year, actually tripling the Japanese manufacturer’s annual number in May 2014, whereas the Tundra is approximately three times
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
Reasons for domestic full-size pickup truck success over dramatically lower Japanese brand sales chart performance point to longevity in the market, brand loyalties being stronger amongst big truck buyers than other automotive segments, and the domestics offering a great deal more body configurations, bed lengths, weight categories including heavy-duty three-quarter and one-ton variants, plus more possible combinations of each as well as more engine options. The differences between the Big 3 truck makers are more finite.
Specific
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
This is my favourite half-ton powertrain. The 3.0-litre EcoDiesel V6 is a $4,700 option that not only ups towing and hauling performance thanks to 420 lb-ft of torque compared to the Hemi 5.7 V8’s 410, but most importantly improves fuel economy from the 5.7 4×4’s 16.3 L/100km city and 11.5 highway five-cycle EnerGuide rating to a much more livable 12.1 city and 8.8 highway; the same diesel/eight-speed automatic combo good for an even thriftier 11.6 city and 8.4 highway with rear-wheel drive. You can also get the Ram 1500 with an impressive 3.6-litre V6, this engine making 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque while also mated up to the eight-speed autobox, and when equipped with RWD is capable of 12.9 L/100km city and 9.3 highway, or alternatively 14.6 city and 10.1 highway with AWD. I’m not going to list out all of the various fuel economy ratings possible with this truck, but rather will just say you’re best off with the EcoDiesel if saving money at the pump and/or hauling big loads are critical to your trucking objectives.
Towing in mind, depending on engine, driveline configuration and body style/bed length, the Ram 1500 can trailer weights from 1,792 kilos (3,950 lbs) to 4,740 kg (10,450 lbs), while its payload capacity ranges from 426 kg (940 lbs) to 875 kg (1,930 lbs).
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
Those numbers are hard facts, but styling is a personal thing. You’ll either love the Ram 1500 or your leanings will be toward some other half-ton pickup truck, so rather than talk about this model’s many design details, which truly work for me, I’d rather take you inside where it leads its rivals, especially in lower to mid-grade trims. My tester gets a Big Horn badge on its tailgate, so therefore along with the chrome bumper underneath that matches the chrome bumper up front and brightwork grille just above, the latter infused with fog lamps, while its optional 20-inch five-spoke wheels are finished in highly polished aluminum and visually tied together with chrome side steps, its interior gets upgraded with a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel that frames an improved primary instrument package with a seven-inch reconfigurable multi-information display, a universal garage door opener is added overhead, the rearview mirror next to it is auto-dimming, the sunvisors include illuminated vanity mirrors, plus more.
All of these goodies get added to an interior that includes active grille shutters, automatic halogen headlamps, remote access, a space-saving premium-style rotary dial shifter for selecting gears, upgraded premium door trim, chrome inner door handles, powered windows, tilt steering, cruise control, Uconnect 5.0 infotainment, satellite radio, Bluetooth hands-free with streaming audio, USB ports and an aux jack, temperature and compass displays, an overhead console, a power-sliding rear window, four- and seven-pin trailer wiring harnesses, a longer than usual active and passive safety equipment list, etcetera.
As
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
There was no shortage of extras in my tester, either. The upgraded 10-way powered driver’s seat was amply comfortable while the premium woven cloth upholstery was really attractive, featuring inserts flecked with a black and brown pattern for added visual depth. The rear seat was upgraded to 60/40 split-folding functionality, the lower seat cushions flipping upwards to reveal the expected storage bins below, but their lids unexpectedly infused with heavy-duty plastic-folding feet that, when unfolded and laid out, produced a flat loading floor for stowing large items. My tester also included a handy 115-volt household-style socket, whereas additional options included a heatable steering wheel and front seats, dual-zone auto HVAC, a great sounding Harmon/Kardon audio system, a stunning high-resolution 8.4-inch colour touchscreen infotainment display with a backup camera, ultra-helpful front and rear parking assist, a powered moonroof and more. Altogether my test truck totaled $64,950 plus freight and dealer fees, which is very competitive for its standard and optional features. The base Ram 1500 starts at just $22,095, incidentally, whereas you can get into a Big Horn for as little as $34,495.
All of this luxury makes for a wonderfully comfortable pickup truck, while the coil-sprung Ram 1500 is easily the best riding of its kind. I also find it the most nimble in traffic and on a winding road, while its highway prowess is unflappable. Clearly Ram knows a thing or two about building pickup trucks, this 1500 offering many
Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
Other than these small details, the Ram 1500 remains a style, fuel economy, performance and refinement leader in the half-ton pickup truck class, which is reason enough for its impressive sales momentum to continue.
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