Vehicle Reviews

The 2012 RAM 1500 is a large pick-up truck available as a 2-door Regular Cab and cabs with conventional 4 doors: the Quad Cab and the Crew Cab. The Regular Cab offers 6.4 and 8-foot cargo beds. The Quad Cab gets a 6.4-foot bed; while the Crew Cab gets a 5.7-foot bed. Regular Cabs can seat up to three passengers; the Quad and Crew Cabs can seat up to six. RAM Outdoorsman, a new trim, has all useful features for hunters, fishermen, campers and boaters. Three new colors Hunter Green Pearl and Deep Cherry Red Crystal Pearl are available. Power folding mirrors, factory spray-in bed liner which is available on all models and active on-demand transfer case are now standard on Big Horn, Sport and Laramie 4X4 models are new. Garmin Navigation System and increased Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) are also. The RAM 1500 has up to 18 configurations which comprise of 2WD and 4WD, in long and short bed versions. The RAM 1500 comes with a number of game-changing features, innovations and more towing.

The Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of the RAM 1500 has increased to more than 15,500 lbs with 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 and 3.92 rear axle and 140.5-inch wheelbase. A number of features like the fuel-saver indicator on 3.7-liter engine, interactive Decel Fuel Shut Off (iDFSO) on all engines for improved real world fuel economy, available integrated trailer-brake controller, iPod Control with glove-box connection, 22-inch tires on R/T package, available folding trailer-tow mirrors, and available power trailer-tow mirrors are among the important features. Further, this ace RAM model includes a new premium Tire-pressure Monitoring (TPM) system and electro-chromic mirrors (available in Luxury Group, standard on Laramie).

RAM 1500 is available with three engines: a 215-hp 3.7-liter V6; a 310-hp 4.7-liter V8; and a 390-hp 5.7-liter HEMI V8. The 4.7 V8 is capable of running on E85 ethanol-blended fuel. The V6 comes only with a 4-speed automatic transmission, while the V8 engines come only with a 5-speed automatic. The V6 engine is only available on rear-wheel drive models. All RAM 1500 trims are available with rear-wheel drive or with 4-wheel drive (cannot be engaged on dry pavement); a 4WD that can be engaged on dry pavement is optional. Both 4WD systems include a low-range gear for off-road driving.

All-row side-curtain air bags, Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) senses and prevents wheel lockup, and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) provides enhanced vehicle stability during all maneuvers on all surfaces are standard. Adjustable pedals, ParkSense rear-park assist system which assists at low speeds in Reverse to detect stationary objects with a chime warning and ParkView rear back-up camera are available.