First Drive: 2013 Ram 1500 [Review]

Unlike buyers of, say, family sedans, pickup shoppers have never been willing to compromise horsepower output and towing capacity in order to achieve higher fuel-economy numbers""that is, until now.

With the updated-for-2013 Ram 1500, buyers will be able to have the best of both worlds with 42 percent more horsepower and 20 percent better fuel economy than the outgoing 2012.

For 2013, the Ram 1500 has been cleverly re-tooled without losing sight of what made it one of our favorites in the first place. New engine and transmission options highlighted by more gears and a vastly superior base six-cylinder engine, a stylish front fascia, and a greatly improved interior, combine to make this more than just a light refresh.

Ramming speed
Although the Dodge moniker is long gone, the Ram is still a Chrysler product, so it has been given the best the automaker's portfolio has to offer: The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine mated to a new TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission.

Producing 305 horsepower and 269 pound feet of torque, the Pentastar is exactly what the Ram needed to compete in the pickup truck fuel economy wars. Rated to achieve up to 17 mpg in the city and a stellar 25 mpg on the highway, the powertrain combo is tops in terms of fuel efficiency among full-size pickups.

Buyers looking for a bit more oomph will still be able to purchase a Ram 1500 with the 5.7-liter HEMI V8, which now produces 395 horsepower and 407 pound feet of torque. In the middle of the 2013 model year, customers will be able to order their HEMI-powered Ram 1500 with the TorqueFlite transmission, improving their fuel economy even further (up 20 percent, Ram estimates). Until then, though, all HEMI Ram 1500s will only be available with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Pentastar V6 is not solely responsible for the Ram 1500's impressive fuel economy rating. Admittedly, adapting the Pentastar for a truck application is an impressive feat, but it's the small engineering touches that buyers will never notice that impress us (and improve efficiency) most.

Firstly, the ladder frame beneath the Ram has been redesigned for lightness and rigidity and forged from high-strength steel. While the frame is only 12 lbs. lighter than the last generation, the V6's tow rating is now best in class at 5,630 lbs.

The new, mildly updated front fascia is not only distinctive and tougher looking, it's also the most aerodynamic truck on the road with a drag co-efficient of 0.386.

The fuel-efficient designs don't end with the bodylines: An aluminum hood saves 26 lbs., while the optional running boards add accessibility and reduce airflow turbulence.

Behind the new grille are "active" shutters that automatically open and close depending on engine temperature. When closed, the shutters allow air to push past the front end, counter-intuitively decreasing drag. Similar tech has been used on passenger cars but never on pickups.

Topping the range, at least as far as mpgs are concerned, is a new HFE (high fuel efficiency) 4x2, regular cab, short bed (fitted with a tonneau cover) model equipped with the TorqueFlight and the Pentastar, plus Chrysler's first-ever use of start/stop technology. With this very specific package, Chrysler has upped city fuel economy to 18 mpg, though the highway number stands at 25 mpg.

By the numbers, the Ram's V6 actually commands a $1,000 price premium over the existing 4.7-liter V8, while the air suspension adds $1,595 to those models that offer it.

A model of performance
Regardless of trim level (five are on offer in countless bed, cab and drive configurations) the new interior has been greatly improved across the board - and it wasn't a bad starting place, even though its pre-2008 predecessors were pretty dismal.

Taking a page from the Jaguar design book, 2013 Ram 1500s fitted with the TorqueFlite feature a new rotary gear selector mounted vertically on the dashboard.

While interior fit and finish and material quality is vastly enhanced for 2013, we were most impressed with the quietness of the cabin. Chrysler has beefed up the Ram's sound deadening, rendering the cabin virtually silent at any speed. Although pickups aren't typically known for their quiet, luxurious cabins, surely few buyers will turn their nose up to the prospect of a more enjoyable interior.

On the road, the Ram continued to impress us at every turn. A new electric power steering has better responsiveness and on-center feel than the last hydraulically driven model, improving handling and responsiveness.

Distinctively, the Ram continues to ride on coil springs at all four corners, but for 2013, customers can now opt for a class-exclusive air suspension system (shared with the Jeep Grand Cherokee). With four selectable ride height positions, the air suspension system not only smoothes out road imperfections, it also improves handling.

The air suspension benefits don't end there. The system cleverly integrates an automatic load-leveling system. Twenty seconds after a load is added to the bed, the system will inflate the rear air springs accordingly. This feature not only looks cool but also serves a function; returning the vehicle to the standard ride height improves aerodynamics. If you haven't noticed the pattern, Ram engineers were obsessed with efficiency coupled with utility.

While we absolutely love the Pentastar V6 in the Ram, we must admit the 305 horsepower it produces doesn't quite feel like 305 horsepower - it feels more like 250. Although the power isn't lacking, it's less than we had hoped for.

That's not the only strange bit about the Pentastar-powered Ram. We also found that, at high RPMs, it sounded less like a truck motor and more like an American sports car. Not to say the sound is bad""quite the contrary. We were just surprised to hear such sporting notes coming from underneath the beefy RAM hood.

Eccentricities aside, the Pentastar V6 is marvelous in the Ram. It's both smooth and muscular in all the right ways, especially paired with the TorquFlite eight-speed automatic. It is absolutely a perfect choice for buyers not needing the raw power produced by the HEMI V8.

There's no denying the HEMI's prowess and powerful history. Like the Pentastar, we love the HEMI in all its applications but it feels most at home in the RAM. It sounds and pulls every bit the part of a RAM truck. We tested the HEMI with both the current six-speed automatic and the TorqueFlite and we recommend waiting for the eight-speed, which transforms and modernizes the V8.

To our delight, the eight-speed frees the HEMI from its shackles and allows it to become the motor it's always wanted to be. It's important we note that when the HEMI is mated to the TorqueFlite, it is estimated to be even more fuel-efficient than V6 EcoBoost-powered Ford F-150s.

Consider the bar raised.

Leftlane's bottom line
The 2013 model year brings even more diversity, capability, and engineering expertise to the Ram 1500, a truck that was already one of our favorites.

But for the first time ever, the Ram is a hard-hitting competitor in every category, from the burgeoning high-mpg race to additional comfort and convenience at every level.

The 2013 Ram 1500 is exactly what modern pickup truck buyers want: An uncompromising, extremely livable and highly capable truck.


2013 Ram 1500 base price range, $22,590 to $47,420.

Photos courtesy Chrysler.