2009 Dodge Ram
by Jim Prueter - 04/2008

Dodge Ram gets complete redesign for 2009

For 2009, Dodge is redesigning its best-selling Ram pickup, giving it a more refined look. This is especially true on the inside, where the most work was desperately needed, given the economy looking hard plastic interior of the current model.

Truck sales are vital to the Detroit automaker’s bottom line; sales have been in a free fall thanks, in part, to gasoline prices that seem destined to approach $4 per gallon. As competition goes, Ford is also developing a new look for its best-selling F-150. Both vehicles won’t go on sale until fall.

We recently had a chance to preview a fully loaded topline Laramie edition with luxuries galore. Comfort and convenience features included dual-zone climate control, heated and cooled two-tone colored ventilated leather front seats and heated rear seats and even a heated steering wheel. Even the instrument panel was soft-touch with contrasting stitching. 

Outside, the new Ram features all new sheet metal from bumper to bumper and features the notable “grille forward” look borrowed from the Charger. The new all-aluminum hood has a noticeable bulge that adds to its aggressive stance. 

Five trim levels will be offered:  ST, SLT, TRX (off-road), Sport and Laramie.  As with the previous generation Ram, there are three cab choices: standard, extended cab (Quad Cab) and a new-for-2009 true four-door crew cab that replaces the humungous Mega Cab. Standard and extended cabs come with either a six-foot three-inch or eight-foot bed, and a new five-foot seven-inch bed is available on the crew cab, so it can still be parked in a standard garage.

The Sport and Laramie models get huge 20-inch wheels; the Sport model gets a body-color grille and mirror. A spoiler has been built into the tailgate, which prominently displays an oversized three-dimensional “Ram” moniker. The medallion is repeated dead center on the crosshair grille. Dodge designers are proud of their new Ram and apparently want to be certain no one mistakes it for anything else, coming or going.

The 2009 Ram will carryover the same 210-horsepower 3.7-liter V-6 and a 310-horsepower 4.7-liter V-8 that can run on gasoline or E85 ethanol. A new version of the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 will debut for 2009, which, according to Dodge, gets a four percent increase in fuel economy while seeing a ten percent increase in horsepower. The Hemi’s cylinder deactivation, which shuts down four cylinders under light engine demand to conserve fuel, will operate more frequently. Horsepower will jump to 380 from the current 345 in 2008 models.

According to Dodge, a two-mode hybrid powertrain is coming for the 2010 model year and a diesel will debut sometime after the initial launch of the 2009.

Transmission choices include four- and five-speed automatics, as well as part-time and on-demand four-wheel-drive transfer cases.

In addition to the upgraded interiors, Dodge is especially proud of the new RamBox storage system it will offer on its Crew Cabs. These storage boxes, located on each side atop the cargo bed, are dry and lockable with nine cubic feet of capacity. They’re big enough to hold a set of golf clubs or fit 10 cases of soda and, yes, they have a drain plug. 

Of course, the bed is narrower to accommodate the RamBox but Dodge says this was wasted space on the current design. It will still hold a four-by-eight sheet of plywood between the wheel wells. 

The other new mechanical feature Dodge is touting with its new Ram is a new rear suspension that features coil springs instead of the previous conventional leaf springs. This will supposedly improve the ride comfort. 

Safety features include anti-lock brakes and standard stability-control with trailer-sway control and a hill-hold function. In addition to dual front airbags, Dodge has added front and rear side curtain airbags standard. 

Since the new Ram we previewed was a pre-production prototype we didn’t get an opportunity to test drive. We were, however, quite impressed with the Laramie and it seems Dodge has made significant changes to keep its bestseller in the hunt. We’re certain current Ram owners will be more than pleased with Dodge’s efforts here.

We’ll do a full report later in the year once we’ve had a chance to spend some time behind the wheel and on the road.