It may look a lot like the old truck but there've been major changes made to the 2013 Ram 1500.
Looks can be deceptive. The 2013 Ram 1500 pickup truck might appear quite familiar but beneath the sheet metal it’s actually a new truck that delivers a quiet smooth ride as well as full range of truck features – along with markedly better mileage.
The new Dodge Ram has staked out a claim to be the most fuel-efficient full-size pickup truck on the road as well as one featuring a comfortable, car-like interior, which represents another step in the evolution of the pickup truck away from its strictly utilitarian roots.
The revamped Ram is being offered with two different engines. The relatively new Pentastar V-6 with variable valve timing, which Chrysler says delivers 42% more horsepower, 13% more torque and 20% more fuel economy than the older 3.7-liter V-6 engine. In addition, the 2013 Ram 1500 also is available with a classic 5.7-Hemi V-8.
The 2013 Ram 1500 will add a new 6.4-foot bed to its options list.
A new eight-speed automatic transmission, which makes the truck run smoother and more efficiently, will be matched up with the V-6 engine initially. The eight-speed has a more efficient shift pattern that helps boost fuel economy to 18 miles per gallon in the city and 25 miles per gallon on the highway.
Chrysler says the 2013 Ram 1500 with the V-6 and eight-speed will easily be the most efficient full-size pickup truck on the market.
But that doesn’t mean the truck is a wimp when it comes to performance. It also delivers a very respectable 305 horsepower and 269 foot-pounds of torque.
The effort to squeeze better fuel economy out of the Ram didn’t stop with the powertrain. Chrysler engineers and designers reduced the 1500’soverall weight and re-tooled other aspects of the truck, which includes a new electric power-steering system, a new thermal management system geared towards greater efficiency and active grille shutters that open and close to reduce drag.
The 2013 Ram 1500 gets a new, high-mileage V-6 mated to a new 8-speed gearbox.
There’s also a new air suspension which enhances the Ram 1500’s ride, raising and lowering the vehicle as needed for both on- and off-road handling. The system also makes it easier to get in and out of and load the truck.
The 2013 Ram also features a redesigned frame that’s stiffer, making it more stable and easier to handle while cutting noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) up to 30%.
The electric power steering system provides a nice balance between a feel for the road and an easy, accurate and smooth steering response.
Ram also adds stop/start, another fuel saving feature available on select 2013 Ram 1500 models. This new system — which admittedly unsettles some drivers – automatically shuts the vehicle off instead of idling. When the driver’s foot lifts off the brake, however, the engine immediately fires back up. The stop/start function will go into about 10% of the new Rams, and is estimated to improve fuel economy by up to 3.3% — or about one mile-per-gallon in the city drive cycle.
The 2013 Ram 1500 gets a much more well-appointed, car-like interior.
As we mentioned earlier, the interior of the new Ram has been given a very complete makeover. The materials used inside the cab have been completely upgraded with the kind of soft-touch material found in passenger cars; and the center stack has been redesigned to give it a more contemporary feel while the steering wheel, with redundant key controls, such as radio tuning and volume, also looks as if it were lifted from a sporty passenger car.
The center stack controls for heating and cooling include large, old-school rotary knobs. But the new Ram also will come equipped with Chrysler’s U-Connect system for quick, hands-free access to mobile phones via Bluetooth, as well as an assortment of entertainment and navigation functions. All will be operated through an 8.4-inch touchscreen display.
The basic appearance of the Ram hasn’t changed. But the Ram did spend considerable time in the wind tunnel to improve its aerodynamics such as subtle changes to the front air dam — which was moved downward ever so slightly — and a wheel-to-wheel sidestep to allow air to pass more smoothly around the truck.
Chrysler hopes the new 2013 Ram 1500 can lure in some traditional Ford and Chevy buyers.
A new 6-foot-4-inch bed option is now available on Crew Cab models giving customers the ability to combine Ram 1500’s largest available cab. All-new premium tail lamps are standard and consist of 15 red LEDs with three red LEDs for the side marker.
Our time behind the wheel was all too brief, but we found the re-tooled truck quick and responsive with a surprisingly smooth ride. The Ram, however, also maintains its rugged appearance and its basic utility. The modern upgrades simply add to the 2013 Ram 1500’s overall appeal.