2009 Dodge Ram 1500
Expert Review

View Pictures:  2009 Dodge Ram 1500

The new Dodge Ram keeps building on the style introduced back in the early 1990s and looks great, with smooth lines and headlights flush with the bold grille. Our test Ram was equipped with the 5.7-liter V8 engine, which puts out 390 horsepower, enough to make this big truck feel like a hot rod. Acceleration is surprisingly strong, and the roar coming out of the two large pipes sounds great. Inside, the Lariat trim has all the amenities of a luxury sedan — stitched leather, wood trim, heated and cooled seats, DVD player, even a heated steering wheel. Seats are comfortable and the ride is surprisingly smooth. Rear seats are a bit cramped for adults, but the seat bottoms are easily moved vertical, with a fold-out shelf beneath providing a useful cargo space. The new Ram is a great combination of utility and comfort — easily one of the best full-size trucks on the market. – Perry Stern

Back in the day, pickups just hauled stuff. They were bare-bones, no-nonsense work trucks that simply got the job done. After spending a weekend in the 2009 Ram, it's clear that the modern full-size pickup has evolved — a lot. Leather, wood and chrome replace vinyl and stamped steel in the interior. Gone, too, are the traditional rear leaf springs, noisy cabin and buckboard ride. The latest Ram raises the bar in terms of refinement, delivering a sedanlike driving experience without sacrificing its core strengths. It still hauls plenty — both in the bed and behind the front seats — but even when fully laden, the ride, handling and cabin isolation are closer to what you'd experience in a big sedan than a hulking truck. Sure, it still feels huge on the road and hurts at the pump (12 to 15 mpg), but at least this newest Ram has turned the mundane job of hauling into a civilized and surprisingly enjoyable one. – Kim Wolfkill

The new Dodge Ram is a very nice truck. In fact, it is almost too nice to be a work truck, as you wouldn't want to truly subject it to the elements. The exterior styling is bold, with the aggressive grill and nice chrome accents. Inside, you are surrounded by quality materials and a great layout of features. The heated steering wheel is a great option that should make the Ram more appealing to atypical truck purchasers. The crew cab will fit three adults comfortably and is roomy and comfortable. Unfortunately, the truck is thirsty and I achieved 15 mpg in mixed driving. As long as gas prices are on the low side of $2, you can get a cheap thrill by punching the powerful HEMI engine, which pulls hard off the line like a sports car. Overall, the Dodge Ram is a great truck and a worthy competitor to the Ford F-150. – Joe Chulick

America makes many fantastic work trucks. Ford does, Chevy does and Dodge does. They're all pretty similar really, although each inspires a great deal of loyalty. The Dodge Ram 1500 is a worthy competitor to other American work trucks, with fantastic brakes that really stand out. In fact, those brakes make the Ram feel much smaller (in a very good way) from the driver's seat than its competitors. I had more confidence driving the Dodge Ram; it almost felt like a car around town because I didn't have to constantly plan so far ahead. Of course, the Dodge Ram hauls a load of stuff as well as any other truck, and is available with as much luxury inside as you could reasonably want. Yet, with the simple addition of really good brakes, I think this Ram stands above its competitors. – Paul Hagger