By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Ram has taken a big step in advancing its half-ton pickup with an all-new 2013 edition that sets the bar for comfort and refinement while elevating performance, gas mileage and technology.

The new truck, which enters showrooms late this year with a full lineup of sizes and trim levels, gets the award-winning Pentastar 3.6-liter engine as standard equipment mated to a segment-first eight-speed automatic transmission. For those pickup buyers desiring more performance and more towing capability, the brawny 5.7-liter V-8 Hemi is back with more muscle at 395 horsepower, greater fuel efficiency and the new eight-speed automatic, a huge improvement from the standard four-speed found on the previous Ram.



Perhaps the headline technology is a new air suspension that offers five different settings for ride height with a height adjustment span of four inches. This gives buyers a choice of better off-road ground clearance and on-road gas mileage. The air suspension has automatic load leveling helping to improve towing and hauling performance.

Since 1981, Ram has been relegated to third place in the pickup truck wars behind perennial best-sellers Ford and Chevrolet. While this new Ram probably won't propel the Chrysler pickup past either of its two formidable competitors, it should go a long way in making the full-sized truck segment a true three-way race.

The new Ram is available in three cab configurations — two-door regular cab, four-door extended quad cab and four-door crew cab. It also has three box sizes: 5-foot-7, 6-foot-4 and 8-foot. Delving deeper it’s offered in 11 models/packages: ST (fleet only), Tradesman, Express, SLT, Big Horn, Lone Star, Outdoorsman, Sport, R/T, Laramie and Laramie Longhorn.

The new standard 3.6-liter V-6 is a leap from the outgoing base engine. It puts out best-in-class 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. Aside from increased power and torque, the V-6 shows at least 20 percent better fuel economy when compared to the previous 3.7-liter V-6.

As if better fuel mileage — rated at 18 city and 25 highway in the regular-cab V-6 — isn’t enough the 2013 Ram 1500 adds the pickup truck industry’s first application of stop-start technology. When the vehicle is completely stopped the engine shuts off, that adds about one mile per gallon to the city drive cycle. The driver and passengers won’t notice it because everything else like air conditioning, info display, etc., is still functioning.When the vehicle accelerates, the engine comes back to life in what’s supposed to be a seamless transition.

During a driving event in Nashville, Tenn., we found starting up was a bit abrupt at times with the stop-start feature engaged. But the trucks we were driving were pre-production, and Ram officials assured us that adjustments were still being made. They also pointed out that the feature can be turned off with a dashboard switch if the driver found it intrusive.

If 305 horsepower in the V-6 isn’t enough (it can tow up to 6,500 pounds) you can select one of two V-8s and really feel macho. First is the 4.7-liter SOHC 16-valve V-8 that’s listed at 310 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. It’s standard with a six-speed transmission. The other V-8 is the aforementioned 5.7-liter Hemi that's available with a six-speed or the eight-speed transmission.

We put some miles on the hemi mated to an 8-speed and if cost isn’t the final determiner you’ll be smiling behind the wheel of this beast.



The new Ram's civilized ride and surprisingly quiet interior are at times astounding. The two models we drove were almost completely devoid of road and wind noise. On rough road surfaces there wasn’t that harshness and discomfort one usually associates with a “work truck.”

Inside the cabin, the Ram sets new standards for quality and design. The outgoing Ram has one of the nicest truck cabins around, but the 2013 truck goes another step, with premium materials covering the seats, door panels and other key touch points.

Luxury features abound. There’s an available navigation system that speaks to you through an 8.4-inch touchscreen display. There’s also an available 7-inch full-color customizable display that issues a wealth of vehicle information. The instrument cluster itself is not only functional, it’s beautiful.

Prices are up slightly over the 2012 models, Ram says about one percent, starting at $23,585 for the base Tradesman work truck with rear-wheel drive up to $48,415 for the top-of-the-line 4X4 Laramie Longhorn. Our test model was a regular cab that stickered for $26,250.

Essentials
Base price: $23,585; as driven, $26,250
Engine: 3.6-liter V-6
Horsepower: 305 @ 6,400 rpm
Torque: 269 pound-feet @ 4,175 rpm
Drive: rear wheel
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Seating: 2
Wheelbase: 120.5 inches
Length: 209 inches
Curb weight: 4,550 pounds
Turning circle: 39.5 feet
Cargo capacity: 6-foot-4 bed
Towing capacity: 6,500 pounds
Fuel capacity: 29 gallons (regular)
EPA rating: 25 highway, 18 city
0-60: 7.6 seconds (manufacturer)
Also consider: Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tundra

The Good
• Base engine is powerful V-6
• Excellent gas mileage
• Quiet well-appointed interior
• Smooth non-truck-like ride

The Bad
• Despite revisions new truck looks like the old truck

The Ugly
• Stop-start system can be abrupt