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All-new 2009 Dodge Ram Best Full-size Pickup

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Khatir Soltani
Press release
Source: Chrysler LLC

The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 earned top honors in Edmunds' Inside Line head-to-head competition of full-size pickup trucks. The Dodge Ram 1500 beat the 2009 Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado and Toyota Tundra. The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram continues to win accolades, receiving 15 awards since its introduction last fall.

"After all the points were tallied, the Dodge Ram takes the win with a very well-rounded performance," wrote Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing, Edmunds.com. "The optional RamBox proved itself useful by swallowing 85 pounds of greasy trailer hitch parts in its lockable bins, and its repositionable bed divider is easily the best of its kind."

Capability testing was conducted over two weeks of day-to-day use and included tow-testing, off-road driving and hill climbing. All test vehicles were crew cabs and included sunroof, navigation system and other convenience features. Trucks were tested against their claimed tow capacity, as well as a fixed-weight face-off in which each truck pulled an identical trailer up a test mountain.

"We knew from previous experience that the Ram's coil-spring rear suspension works well when the truck is unloaded, but this time we found it has the chops to handle a trailer, too," wrote Edmunds' Inside Line. "The Dodge Ram impresses us with a solid performance, an understated ability to tow the socks off some others, a feature-laden presentation and rugged good looks."

"Our all-new 2009 Dodge Ram is the best truck ever built," said Scott Kunselman - Vice President Jeep/Truck Product Team, Chrysler LLC. "It is a game-changing, class-leading truck that is second to none. We are glad Edmunds' Inside Line agrees."

The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram features the industry's first-and-only RamBox(TM) cargo management system that includes versatile, weatherproof, lockable, illuminated, drainable storage bins; pickup bed dividers; a two-foot bed extender and a cargo rail system with sliding adjustable cleats.

The 2009 Ram also includes the first-in-segment coil-spring five-link rear suspension fitted to a solid rear axle that provides ride and handling not found on any other pickup truck. A new 5.7-liter HEMI(R) V-8 engine with fuel-saving MDS technology provides more horsepower (390 hp) and torque (407 lb.-ft.) while its best-in-class aerodynamics (.387 Cd) improve fuel economy and performance.

In addition, the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram includes a first-in-segment, factory-installed four-inch dual exhaust styled dramatically into the rear bumper, first-in-segment store-in-the-floor storage bins, twice as many storage spots than the previous model and 35 safety and security technologies. Standard safety features include side-curtain air bags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) which includes all-speed traction control, trailer sway control, hill-start assist and anti-lock brake system (ABS). Significantly upgraded interiors with a segment-first surround-sound audio system and live SIRIUS Backseat TV(TM) round out the interior.

Other premium amenities include first-in-segment heated and ventilated front seats, available heated rear seats, first-for-Chrysler heated steering wheel, one-touch up/down driver and passenger windows, automatic-on headlamps and dual-zone automatic temperature control - a first for Dodge Ram.

The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Regular, Quad and Crew Cab models recently earned Five Star ratings for driver- and front-passenger protection in a frontal crash, the highest ratings in the U.S. government's safety crash test program. The U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 is $22,170 (including $900 destination).

In addition to winning Edmunds' Inside Line's full-size pickup truck competition, the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram has earned 15 other key awards since its introduction and was recently chosen by Car and Driver as the best full-size pickup in another head-to-head comparison test in Texas, beating the 2009 Ford F-150. Other key awards include:

-- ICOTY - 2009 International Truck of the Year
-- Texas Auto Writer's Association (TAWA) - 2009 Full-Size Pickup Truck
    of Texas
-- MotorWeek - Best Pickup Truck
-- Maxim - Achievement in Party-Enabling Technology (RamBox)
-- Edmunds' Inside Line - A 2009 Editor's Most Wanted Vehicle
-- Consumer Guide - Large Pickup - Best Buy for 2009
-- Cars.com - Work Truck of the Year
-- Truckin' magazine - Truck of the Year
-- Autobytel.com - 2009 MyRide/Autobytel Editors' Choice Awards - Truck
   of the Year
-- Ward's AutoWorld - Interior of the Year
-- Rocky Mountain Automotive Press Association - Truck of the Year
-- New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) - Best-in-Class Pickup
    Award
-- Ward's AutoWorld - Ward's 10 Best Engines of 2009 (2009 Dodge Ram
    5.7-liter HEMI(R) engine)
-- Automobile Journalists Association of Canada - Best New Pickup
-- Sobre Ruedas - Sobre Ruedas Best Pickup Truck for '08
photo:Chrysler LLC
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada