2008 Detroit Auto Show: 2009 Dodge Ram

• Competes with: Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra
• Looks like: Last year's Ram after bumping into the back of a semi-trailer
• Drivetrain: 210-hp, 3.7-liter V-6, 310-hp, 4.7-liter V-8 or 380-hp, 5.7-liter V-8 with six-speed manual or four-speed automatic (V-6) or five-speed automatic (V-8); rear- or four-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Fall 2008

The Ram full-size pickup truck is the best-selling model in Dodge's lineup, and the truck has been redesigned for 2009. It has new styling inside and out, more standard safety features, a new crew cab body style and newly available features, like a RamBox storage system for the crew cab truck that consists of lockable bins built into the sides of the cargo box.

The biggest styling difference between the 2009 Ram and the previous model is up front, where the new truck has a forward-swept crosshair grille that replaces its predecessor's upright design. New headlights flank the grille, and the truck's hood is made of aluminum. Dodge says the Ram logo on the tailgate is 250% larger than before, and it is indeed one big badge. Three cargo box sizes are offered, and 17- or 20-inch wheels are available.

In a change from the previous Ram, the truck's rear suspension now features coil springs instead of leaf springs. Dodge says the design improves the truck's road manners and weighs less than a traditional setup. The truck's maximum towing capacity remains the same as last year at 9,100 pounds when properly equipped, which is less than a Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150 or Toyota Tundra can pull, all of which have maximum towing capacities of more than 10,000 pounds.

The new crew cab body style joins the regular cab and Quad Cab trucks (the Quad Cab's cabin is kind of like a three-fourths-scale crew cab's). The new cabin is an improvement, and the interior can get pretty luxurious if you step up to a higher trim level, like the Laramie, which has a two-tone dashboard with stitching and chrome trim. The Ram comes standard with antilock brakes, side curtain airbags and an electronic stability system. Sirius Backseat TV and a DVD-based entertainment system are available. More photos below.

Comments

U G L Y

send it back!

Chevy and Toyota are probably rolling in laughter!

I personally like it way more than the new Silverado!!!

That interior is awesome and is way better than ANY past offerings!!! It is better than the Silverado's and Tundra's (and possibly the new F-150's)!!!

Go Dodge!!!!

This thing looks just like the old one outside!
What are the designers doing?

typical dodge

i like the exterior, but the interior is not so great. i thought it was busy until i looked at the new f150. this interior at least looks better than the f150's.

i wish full sized trucks would stop growing. they're so much larger than they were in the 80s and 90s, and Dodge really started that growth trend. is it really necessary for the trucks to be this big???

I'm not a fan of Dodge's giant crosshair grille on this or any other vehicle they offer. Having said that, this is the best looking Ram they have made yet. While it's not a radical departure from their typical truck formula, which I won't get into here, it has enough changes to make it more visually interesting than previous models. The forward grille is a nice touch and they desperately needed to change the old headlight housing.

The interior is nice. It looks a lot like Ford's current offering with some Toyota cues as well. It's sad to see them moving to coil springs, though few people who need a truck for work buy a Dodge anyway. Dodge has always been more of a "Hummer-type" vehicle. "Look at me! My [truck] is bigger than yours!" It's also sad to see all the gimmicks like the rambox and cab-floor cooler storage. Gimmicks like these are usually the product of those who can't compete on the things that matter. Good effort but it won't change their fortunes.

Generic in a field of name brands if you ask me.

Wow. This truck is a nice change from the last Ram. It looks soooo much better than the new F150. I love the way this truck looks. And it looks like they really improved the interior (from the pictures anyway). The 2006-2008 Ram interior was really cheap looking. This one looks pretty nice. And it's a clean looking design without all the tacked on gimmicks of the Ford. If Chrysler knows how to do anything right, its design a nice looking vehicle exterior. This is a 100 times nicer looking truck than the gimmicky Ford. And in my opinion, a good percentage of full size pickup truck buyers will prefer a better everyday ride, than max payload ability. The coil rear springs is a good idea. A lot of people who buy full size trucks rarely use them to tow anything, they just want to look good (they think).

This is a bold-looking truck! In my opinion, this is way Dodge Trucks should look. It reminds me a little of the bold changes Dodge made in 1993, but I liked that ole style grille better. Also, I hope the designers stay away from that over-conservative look for the last 7 years. I see the Hemi has improved torque, horsepower, as well as gas mileage. This time, I might buy my first truck. Oh yes, It will be a Dodge. Look out Silverado, Ford 150, and Tundra.

It looks a lot better than any of the previous generation Rams. I think it looks like the last generation F-150 with mustang headlights and a Dodge grill, but it looks cool.

I don't think the interior looks better than the F-150 though. I wonder if it will outsell the F-150 since it still has a V6 standard and the new F-150 doesn't. Not to mention that the 4.7L V8 probably has more hp and torque than the 3V 4.6L V8 in the new F-150.

not that much changed ... it's got that forward protrusion reminiscent of the Mustang ... not so ugly when you really look at it. not a fan of trucks, but i vote Ford F150 best looking of the bunch.

the new Tundra is truely UGLY. they look like one group designed the headlights/grille for a small vehicle and then another group designed the rest for a larger vehicle and Toyota just smushed them together. completely disproportionate.

for all you idiots who think this pretty, you all need glasses AND you same idiots who says the TUNDRA is ugly definitely needs glasses!!! With all that said, THIS IS THE UGLIEST TRUCK ON PLANET EARTH!!! PERIOD! by the end of this year, the ram will be off the top ten list of best-selling vehicle in america AND the TUNDRA will take its place or some other vehicle, just like how the cr-v took down the explorer!!

For one brief moment, SOMEBODY in Dodge design cracked open a Virgil Exner notebook.

The Return of "the Forard Look"?

Well it's an improvement anyway.

as i was always saying...ford always changes there truck every 5 years while dodge and chevy try to stay the same thats why i love ford trucks you always get a different truck .buttttt this is the one truck buy dodge i would buy.ford for life

I think that this is also dodges best looking ram so far. My father has a 03 ram and i have a 06 ram, but im looking foward to selling my truck in 2009 or 2010 to get this. My 06 has given me a some problems,but its under warranty so its not a big deal. I like this truck a lot better than the fords and the silverados but thats my opinion. And for toyota its about time they came out with a truck that can compete with dodge, chevy and ford. I use my truck as an everyday driver and when i buy the 09 ram i plan to use it as a everyday driver as well. O and for all the people who complain about gas then dont buy a truck if thats all your going to do is complain. I could care less about gas and thats why i could buy a truck

looks good, of what i saw. i hope between now and time for distibution it does not get screwed up . the lights on the last few yrs. 06 07 08 looked bad. i have a 01 , i set mine up with 35'. i have a hundred and fiftythousand miles on it . i would love to have the 09 sport. hey dodge hook me up! mike 443-474-2342

Dodge, as always..suck...suck on quality...as always..suck on resale...highest recalled truck out there they suck...did I say Dodge sucks..like they always have?

chevy as allways rust out in two years ride like a car instead of a truck and they never change. lol but i like the latest model my point is dodge is awsome