(December 12, 2009) The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty has been named Motor Trend magazine's truck of the year, beating out contenders from Ford and Toyota in the closely watched competition.

The award is a welcome piece of good news for Chrysler, which has seen its sales continue to lag even as competitors rebound. The Ram Heavy Duty beat out three other competitors — The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, the Ford Transit Connect van and the Toyota Tundra 4.6-liter work truck.

The vehicle of the year designation is important to automakers, who often use Motor Trend's endorsement in their advertising. Chrysler last won truck of the year in 2003 with the Ram Heavy Duty. Last year, Ford Motor Co.'s F-150 truck took the prize, while in November the 2010 Ford Fusion was named car of the year.

Motor Trend praised the Ram Heavy duty for its powerful yet clean engine and its quiet comfortable ride. The magazine also said the truck's 17,500-pound towing capacity beats out rivals, while the platform received significant upgrades that improve ride, handling and noise compared with the previous model.

"The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty absolutely nailed the award in terms of our criteria, from the attractive exterior styling, to the plush and quiet cabins, to the tough and capable powertrains," said Angus MacKenzie, editor in chief of Motor Trend, in a statement.