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CanadianDriver's New Car Buyer's Guide 2008:
Dodge Ram

NEW FOR 2008:

Dodge Ram 2008

Dodge Ram 2008
Click image to enlarge
Images courtesy: Dodge

- Revised 4.7-litre flexible-fuel V8 with electronic throttle control
- Available 6.7-litre Cummins turbo diesel replaces 5.9-litre Cummins turbo diesel
- SXT model includes cloth-faced seats, keyless entry, power windows and locks
- 1500 SLT with enhanced content, including 20-inch aluminum wheels on select models
- Sport Appearance Group and TRX4 Off-Road Group are now stand-alone options
- Electronic transfer case now standard on SLT and Mega Cab SXT 4x4 models
- Trailer sway control added to available electronic stability program on 1500 Regular Cab and Quad Cab
- Standard tire pressure monitoring system on 1500 and 2500
- Standard 9,600-km maintenance schedule alert for gasoline engines
- New exterior colours: Detonator Yellow and Sunburst Orange Pearl for select 1500 Quad Cab short-box models
- SIRIUS satellite radio standard on SLT and Laramie
- Dark Maple Burl woodgrain trim replaces Maple on all Laramie models
- Passenger side airbag switch removed on 1500 Regular Cab models
- 1500 ST models get Dark Grey front and rear bumper and grille, and black wheel centre caps

For 2008, the full-size Dodge Ram pickup adds several enhancements, including a revised 4.7-litre V8 that increases horsepower to 310, from 235 hp in 2007, and torque to 330 lb-ft, up from 300. The new available 6.7-litre Cummins diesel produces 350 hp to the 325 hp of the 5.9-litre available in 2007, while torque jumps to 650 lb-ft at 1500 rpm from 610 lb-ft at 1600 rpm.

The Ram is available as the 1500 half-ton, 2500 three-quarter-ton and 3500 one-ton; also available is a 3500 chassis cab, and new for 2008, 4500 and 5500 heavy-duty chassis cabs for the Class 4 and 5 commercial market.

The 1500, 2500 and 3500 are available in three cab styles: Regular Cab, with short or long box; Quad Cab, with short or long box, and the Mega Cab, which the company says is the largest cab ever on a pickup, with short box. Both the Quad and Mega Cab models have four independently-opening doors. All cab styles are available in two- or four-wheel drive.

Depending on the model, engine choices are a 3.7-litre V6 with six-speed manual or four-speed automatic; 4.7-litre V8 with six-speed manual or five-speed automatic; 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with six-speed manual or five-speed automatic, also available with multi-cylinder displacement for improved fuel economy; and 6.7-litre Cummins turbo diesel inline six-cylinder with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic.

Trim lines are the ST (Regular and Quad), SXT (Regular, Quad and Mega), SLT (Regular, Quad and Mega), Power Wagon (Regular and Quad), and Laramie (Quad and Mega). Box lengths are 1.9 metres (6-foot-4) or 2.4 metres (8.0 feet).

Standard features on the ST include 17-inch steel wheels, air conditioning, four-wheel disc brakes with rear ABS, dark grey bumpers, manual locks, vinyl floor covering, manual mirrors, CD stereo with auxiliary jack, 40/20/40 split bench vinyl front seat, tilt column, removable tailgate, three-flash lane change signal, manual mirrors, fixed rear window and variable intermittent wipers.

The SXT adds 17-inch chrome-clad steel wheels, bright bumpers, power locks with keyless remote, carpet flooring with mats, power heated mirrors, 40/20/40 split bench front seat with YES Essentials stain-resistant fabric, and power windows. The SXT Mega Cab also adds SIRIUS satellite radio and cloth 60/40 split rear bench seat.

The SLT adds 17-inch polished aluminum wheels, fog lamps and sliding rear window.

The Power Wagon adds 17-inch aluminum wheels, anti-spin rear differential, 160-amp alternator, 750-amp battery, fog lamps, electronically-disconnecting front stabilizer bar, tow hooks, fixed rear window and front electric winch.

The Laramie builds on the SLT with 17-inch chrome-clad wheels, garage door opener, electronic stability program, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, power-adjustable pedals, remote starter, heated leather seats with six-way power adjustment, security alarm, and leather-wrapped wheel.

Part of the traditional trifecta, along with the Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra and Ford F-Series, the Ram also faces the Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan. Well-styled and powerful, the Ram holds its own, although its interior can border on gaudy in the highest trim lines; should you need to haul a crowd, the Mega Cab offers up almost living-room comfort with legroom for even the tallest rear-seat passengers.

2008 Dodge Ram Specifications:
Type2-door, 3/2-passenger 
 full-size pickup
 4-door, 6/5-passenger
 full-size pickup
LayoutFront engine/rear-wheel 
 drive/4WD
Engine3.7-litre V6, SOHC, 12 valves
 4.7-litre V8, SOHC, 16 valves
 5.7-litre V8, OHV, 16 valves
 6.7-litre inline 6 diesel, 
 OHV, 24 valves
Horsepower215 @ 5200 rpm
 310 @ 5650 rpm
 345 @ 5400 rpm
 350 @ 3000 rpm
Torque (lb-ft)235 @ 4000 rpm
 330 @ 3950 rpm
 375 @ 4200 rpm
 650 @ 1500 rpm
Transmission6-speed manual/4-speed auto/
    5-speed auto
Tires P245/70R17 all-season
Curb weight 1500 (minimum)2022 kg (4459 lbs)
Curb weight 1500 (maximum)2479 kg (5466 lbs)
Wheelbase reg 1500 SWB3061 mm (120.5 in.)
Wheelbase reg 1500 LWB3569 mm (140.5 in.)
Wheelbase Quad 1500 SWB3589 mm (140.5 in.)
Wheelbase Quad 1500 LWB, Mega4077 mm (160.5 in.)
Length reg 1500 SWB5276 mm (207.7 in.)
Length reg 1500 LWB5834 mm (229.7 in.)
Length Quad 1500 SWB5784 mm (227.7 in.)
Length Quad 1500 LWB6342 mm (249.7 in.)
Length Mega6297 mm (247.9 in.)
Width 2019 mm (79.5 in.)
Height SWB reg 1500 4x21875 mm (73.8 in.)
Height LWB reg 1500 4x21869 mm (73.6 in.)
Height SWB reg 1500 4x41918 mm (75.5 in.)
Height LWB reg 1500 4x41999 mm (78.7 in.)
Height SWB Quad 1500 4x21885 mm (74.2 in.)
Height LWB Quad 1500 4x21880 mm (74.0 in.)
Height SWB Quad 1500 4x41928 mm (75.9 in.)
Height LWB Quad 1500 4x41923 mm (75.7 in.)
Height Mega 1500 4x2 1905 mm (75.0 in.)
Height Mega 1500 4x42009 mm (79.1 in.)
Ground clearance 1500 (minimum)185 mm (7.3 in.)
Ground clearance 1500 (maximum)244 mm (9.6 in.)
Towing capacity 1500 (minimum)1315 kg (2900 lbs)
Towing capacity 1500 (maximum)4127 kg (9100 lbs)
Payload capacity 1500 (minimum)549 kg (1210 lbs)
Payload capacity 1500 (maximum)1157 kg (2550 lbs)
Cargo capacity short box1628 litres (57.5 cu. ft.)
Cargo capacity long box2121 litres (74.9 cu. ft.)
Fuel consumption 3.7City: 13.5 L/100 km (21 mpg Imp)
 Hwy:  10.3 L/100 km (27 mpg Imp)
Fuel consumption 4.7City: 15.9 L/100 km (18 mpg Imp)
 Hwy:  11.2 L/100 km (25 mpg Imp)
Fuel consumption 5.7City: 16.1 L/100 km (18 mpg Imp)
 Hwy:  10.9 L/100 km (26 mpg Imp)
Fuel typeRegular/diesel
Warranty3 yrs/ 60,000 km
Powertrain warranty5 yrs/100,000 km
Side airbagsN/A
Curtain airbagsOptional
Anti-lock brakesStandard
Traction controlOptional
Stability controlOptional
Assembly location 1500Warren, Michigan
 St. Louis, Missouri
Assembly location 2500/3500Saltillo, Mexico
 St. Louis, Missouri
Assembly location Mega CabSaltillo, Mexico

*Specifications subject to change
Crash test results www.safercar.gov, www.hwysafety.org

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