Back in the early nineties, Dodge bet big on a radical redesign of the RAM pickup. It worked; the ‘big rig’ inspired look vaulted them into contention with Ford and Chevy, and made them heaps of cash. Now they’re raising the ante again; but it’s under the table that the action is happening. The trump card? A coil-sprung rear suspension—the first ever for a half-ton truck.

Upsides include the best ride of any fullsize pick up, and confident handling, unspoilt by the hop that afflicts the rest of the breed to one degree or another. Dodge’s engineers must have just about burned up their Cray Super Computers figuring out how to make this happen without affecting the Ram’s cargo or towing capacities—they ended up with a dozen different coils, depending on which bed, spec, and cab is chosen. Their risk seems born out in the refined and supple way the truck goes down the road, loaded or empty. Other chassis changes include a stiffened frame and a ten-pound savings in unspung mass at the front.

Powertrains are comprised of a base 3.7-liter V6 with 215hp and two eights—a carry-over 310hp 4.7 and the second generation 5.7-liter Hemi. Now with variable valve timing, a two-stage intake, and considerable work paid to its cylinder deactivation protocols, it garners the same EPA ratings as the smaller V8 (15mpg city/20mpg highway), along with 45 more horses for a total of 390, and 407lb-ft of twist. The five-speed auto is a decent partner, with smooth shifting and an intuitive manual shift override. Performance is acceptably stout, and the accompanying Hemi soundtrack a pleasant reminder of days when fuel was cheap.

Realizing that half tons are more often family trucksters than work vehicles, Dodge added a normal-sized Crew Cab to the smaller four door Quad. It’s spacious and well laid out for domestic duty, with lots of well thought out storage spaces and supportive, well-bolstered seats. The new Ram also shows the company’s newfound emphasis on interior quality, which has gone from bottom of the barrel to top of the heap. Moldings feel high quality, and design details like the topstitched dash add welcome panache.

As city and suburb dwellers also need secure storage for their toys, there’s now the option of the ‘Ram Box’ storage system in the bed’s sides. Two lockable bins with drains for liquids will actually accommodate golf clubs or other bulky items; the only downside is the actual cargo capacity of the truck’s bed shrinks laterally as a result.

Outside, designer Ralph Gilles has preserved the butch Ram style while introducing enough aero refinements to actually help come fill up time. Tighter panel gaps, subtle tweaks around the grill, glass and mirrors, and reduced wheel well openings all contribute.

Great driving dynamics; a more powerful—yet more fuel efficient—Hemi; a much nicer interior: It’s all there. So good is the hand that Dodge is playing that Nissan has folded; the next Titan pickup will be a Ram underneath. Now the Dodge boys just have to hope the house has any money left to play with.

WATCH THE VIDEO

To see it in High Definition, click the ‘HD’ button once the video starts.

Price as tested: $45,595

Send article as PDF to