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Dodge Ram 1500 Review
See also the main fact sheet for the Dodge Ram 1500.
High Points
Low Points
- Frame stiffness makes the ride quality limitations more obvious (The Car Connection)
- 5.9-liter V8 is crude (USA Today)
- Needs lots of room to park (Carpoint.com)
- No extended cab model (Kelley Blue Book)
Performance and Handling
Gas Mileage
As seen on Autos.com, in the full-size truck MPG rankings, the 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 is in 3rd place with 15/21 MPG.
Safety
The Dodge Ram 1500 has the following safety features available:
- Advanced multistage driver and front-passenger air bags
- Available supplemental side-curtain air bags
- Child seat tether anchors (LATCH)
- Child-protection rear door locks
- Sentry Key engine immobilizer
- High-strength steel door beams
- Four wheel Anti-lock breaking system (ABS)
Reliability and Maintenance
Dodge offers a 3 year/36,000 mile limited warranty which includes towing assistance.
Interior and Comforts
Exterior
The 2007 Dodge Ram presents a bold, distinctive appearance with its big horse-collar grille and Freightliner fenders. The concept dates back a dozen years, but it received a major redesign for 2002 and a makeover for 2006. The headlamps cut back deeper into the fenders, and a flattened front bumper on Sport and Laramie emphasizes Ram's big-rig image. A slot in the front bumper aids engine cooling and air conditioner performance.
Ram's trademark front grille remains one of the most instantly recognizable front ends on the road. A thick band of chrome surrounds the grille on ST, SLT and Laramie; the band is body color on Sport models and grey on Work Specials. The broad, sloping hood has a pronounced crown that falls over the sides to the prominent front fenders.
A fast, raked-back windshield enhances aerodynamics and water management, while gracefully blending modern sleekness with Ram's retro lower body. The leading edge of the front door overlaps the A-pillar, creating a smooth transition from the front of the cab to the side. Everything is smooth and integrated. The big side mirrors, great for visibility, are mounted on platforms to minimize wind noise, and a channel has been specially designed to keep water off of the mirrors. A small spoiler at the top of the tailgate, new last year, is said to improve fuel efficiency.
Rams sit relatively high off the ground, particularly the four-wheel-drive models. Tailgate load height is 35 inches on four-wheel-drive models, and a little over 33-1/2 inches with two-wheel-drive. That seems high when trying to heave heavy gear aboard. All beds are fitted with boat cleats designed to handle 1,000 pounds each.
Ordering the long bed adds 20 inches to the wheelbase of a Dodge Ram. And a Quad Cab wheelbase is 20 inches longer than a Regular Cab. So a Quad Cab long bed has 40 more inches of wheelbase than a Regular Cab short bed. Long-bed Rams also get a bigger fuel tank, 35 gallons in place of the standard 26.
The frame is fully boxed and hydroformed.
Styles and Options
The Dodge Ram 1500 is available as a Regular Cab or four-door Quad Cab and there are two bed lengths are available: a 6-foot, 3-inch short-bed and an 8-foot long-bed.
Several engines are offered: A 3.7-liter overhead-cam V6, 4.7-liter V8, and the 5.7-liter Hemi V8. A six-speed manual transmission comes standard with the 3.7-liter V6 and 4.7-liter V8. A four-speed automatic is optional with the V6. A five-speed automatic is optional with the 4.7-liter V8 and standard with the 5.7-liter.
There are trim levels available: ST, SLT, Laramie, Ram Sport, and TRX4 Off-Road.
ST
- Vinyl upholstery
- Wind-up windows
- Air conditioning
- AM/FM/CD stereo
- Rear-wheel ABS
- 17-inch steel wheels
- Full-size spare tire
SLT
- 4.7-liter V8
- Six-disc CD changer
- Power windows and door locks
- Keyless entry
- Overhead console with mini-trip computer and compass
- Speed control
- 17-inch aluminum wheels
Laramie
(Laramie is available only with the Quad Cab and comes with the automatic transmission)
- Dual-zone climate control
- Steering-wheel mounted audio controls
- Four-wheel ABS
- Security alarm
- Sentry Key engine immobilizer
- Leather seats are standard
- Split 40/20/40 bench up front
- Power adjustment for the driver’s seat
Ram Sport
- 5.7-Liter Hemi V8 engine
- Five-speed automatic transmission
- Unique cloth-faced bucket seats
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Body-color grille and bumper fascia
- Fog lamps
- 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels
TRX4 Off-Road
(The TRX4 is trimmed like an SLT and comes with 4WD only, but there's also a TRX package for 2WD models)
- Unique 17-inch aluminum wheels
- P265 all-terrain tires
- Limited-slip differential
- Skid plates
- Special red-painted shock absorbers
- Body-color grille surround
- Tow hooks
- Fog lamps
The Trailer Tow Group Package
- Class IV hitch receiver
- Seven-circuit wiring harness
- 750-amp battery
- Heavy-duty engine cooling
- Auxiliary transmission oil cooler when equipped with automatic transmission
Work Special Package
- Gray bumpers
- Gray grille
- 17x7 steel wheels
Main Competitors
- Ford F-150: side-by-side comparison
- Nissan Titan: side-by-side comparison
- GMC Sierra 1500: side-by-side comparison
- Honda Ridgeline: side-by-side comparison
- Lincoln Mark LT: side-by-side comparison
- Toyota Tundra: side-by-side comparison
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500: side-by-side comparison
External Links
WikiCars Contributor Favorites
Dodge Manufacturer Sites
- Dodge Ram 1500 - Official US Site
Community Sites
- srt10forum.com - Dodge Ram SRT10 Forum
