The Ram Rebel incorporates the best of off-road capability with on-road comfort and convenience.
From every perspective, the popularity of the good old pickup truck is larger than life as the vehicles from American brands like Chevrolet, Ford and Ram continue to fetch higher and higher prices.
But then there is plenty of evidence that the pickup truck of today is several evolutionary cycles removed from the old-fashioned work trucks that are an enduring part of the American landscape prior to the 1980s.
A case in point is the Ram Rebel, a truck that incorporates most of the old fashioned pickup’s rugged practicality and marries it to luxury once found in expensive sedans and additional capabilities for anyone will to take a $57,125 “off road.”
I didn’t get a chance to take the Ram Rebel, a Ram 1500 with unique features, hill climbing or rock crawling, but it performed quite nicely on dirt roads, out on the highway and in everyday traffic. In fact, one of the secrets of a contemporary, full-size pickup truck is that even when you are riding high up in cab, it can feel just like a comfortable sedan that also has been popular with American buyers for generations.
In addition, trucks such as the Ram Rebel also offer the tactile feel of an expensive sedan with their carefully assembled blend of materials and textured finishes that are used to furnish the interior of the cabin.
A case in point is the embossed tread pattern that marks the cloth seats as well as the interior door panels and headliners, which are much plusher than anything found in same class truck of a generation ago. It also has a large storage compartment with a flat top that sits between the driver and passenger seat that can be used as a desk when necessary.
Plenty of convenience and creature comforts are mated to plenty of power and performance in the new Ram Rebel.
(Mopar back with limited edition 2016 Ram Rebel model. Click Here for the story.)
For all the attention paid to the driver and passenger comfort in the cabin, which also features a modern center console with entertainment system, including Sirius XM radio, voice recognition software, Bluetooth and connectivity options as well as the latest safety features such as dual-stage air bags, the heart of the Ram Rebel is the powertrain.
The Rebel comes to market with a hefty 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine, an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and a four-wheel drive system that are laid out to take the truck over any kind of terrain and when called upon, deliver first-rate performance on the road.
The powertrain produces 395 horsepower and 410 foot pounds of torque, while the fuel economy is 15 miles per gallon in city driving and 21 highway, which isn’t bad for a vehicle weighing three tons and equipped with a big engine.
Since the Rebel 4×4 is billed as an off-road capable vehicle, skid plates protect the transfer case and front suspension, according to the vehicle’s equipment list.
Moreover, the Ram Rebel is surprisingly quick and nimble. The engine and drivetrain is very responsive and the acceleration is impressive when passing another vehicle. In addition, the ride and handling are top notch, making the vehicle easy to maneuver. At the same time, the four-corner air suspension gives the Ram Rebel a ride quality on all kinds of surfaces that can almost match that found in a full-size sedan.
(Click Here to see how Ram bolstered its off-road rep with new truck.)
The Ram Rebel is tough-looking on the outside, but features all of the creature comforts truck buyers expect on the inside.
I’ve been driving trucks for a while, going all the way back to the various summer jobs I had while I was college student, but the polished ride of the Ram Rebel is no match for old-school work trucks that have now morphed into the vehicles, such as the Rebel, which has to be considered an alternative to life-style pickup trucks such as the Ford Raptor.
But ultimately what sells the Ram Rebel is the clever attention to detail that uses components from Fiat Chrysler’s big Mopar unit to add to the Rebel’s appearance and ultimately its appeal, which was evident from the compliments I received while driving the truck through a work day and while running an errand to the recycling center.
The Rebel is the first limited-edition Mopar-modified vehicle designed for truck segment and follows limited-edition Mopar-modified vehicles such as the Dodge Challenger
The Mopar Custom Shop package created for the Rebel includes an aluminum, dual bezel sport performance hood with a matte-black hood graphic. It also features off-road wheel flares that bulge out away from the truck’s body. A Mopar blue-and-black graphic stripe accents both sides of the Mopar ’16, as well as the tailgate.
The package also features a skid plate to guard the power steering box. Seventeen-inch satin black wheels tie-in with the blacked-out front for added continuity and visual appeal. The package also includes a Mopar ’16 glove box badge and black tubular side steps and a spray-on bedliner and a tri-fold tonneau cover emblazoned with the Ram logo that folds neatly when you need access to the cargo box. The Rebel is also equipped with LED lighting to illuminate the bed.
(Strong pickup demand helps revive U.S. market in November. Click Here for the story.)
Ram has built a reputation for delivering well-equipped trucks that offer all the grit, spirit and versatility that have made the pickup trucks America’s most beloved vehicle. The Ram Rebel simply pushes the envelope with it aggressive appearance and style.