2017 Ram 1500 Quad Cab

I owned a Dodge Ram 2500 back in 2003 and it had a Cummins Turbo Diesel engine, at the time unavailable in the 1500 version. Now Dodge differentiates itself from the competition by offering it in the light duty model. Shame then that our 2017 Ram 1500 Quad Cab tester came with the optional Hemi………well not really, I mean who doesn’t love a Hemi.

There are 3 available engines in the Ram 1500, the base 3.6-liter V-6 that produces 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, the aforementioned turbo-diesel with 240 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque and of course the 5.7-liter V-8 making 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque, and the top-tier turbo-diesel 3.0-liter V-6, which  lb-ft. All models use the smooth shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. Our tester was a 2 wheel drive so that somewhat helped with gas mileage.

There’s some new features on the 2017 Ram 1500  including a Uconnect infotainment with an 8.4-inch screen, still the best in my opinion, just so easy to use. Our truck had an anti-spin differential, a premium gauge cluster, rear-view camera and rear park assist.

Daily Life

Just because it’s a truck we did everything a truck owner should do, we loaded it up with stuff we didn’t want anymore and took it to the local landfill, we ran a few errands, bought bread and milk, which fits perfectly in the large storage area beneath the armrest, took it downtown only to regret that immediately as we couldn’t find parking. Not everything is perfect in life.

I’ve always thought the Ram has the most car like handling of all the big trucks and the 2017 is no exception….it just rides so well. This suspension design is exclusive to Ram in the full-size-pickup category which makes  for a quiet ride especially in the cabin.

Once on the move the Hemi moves the Ram forward at a decent pace, hooked up to our equipment we ran from standstill to 60 in 6.8 seconds, not too bad for a 5,400 lb vehicle. Steering is pretty good and provides a decent turning radius and some feel and the body feels well controlled in the curves. It corners confidently and largely free of drama. Make no mistake though care is still needed as this is still a truck, especially in the wet.

Big On the Outside, Big On the Inside

The Ram’s Quad Cab has 4 doors and seating for 5, with plenty of legroom, headroom, and shoulder room. The center console is massive and deep, and the space in from is very handy for all sorts of stuff. There is also storage space under the rear seats and 2 cup cup-holders, making the total 8 in total.  With the rear seats down you get a flat platform to carry more things.

The big front seats are very comfortable, ours were covered in a durable fabric that seemed like it would never wear out. The driver gets 8 way power the passenger gets a work out. All in all it’s a really comfortable place to spend time.

During our week the Ram  proved to be a thirsty beast, we averaged 13.2mpg, however, the 32 gallon tank should offset too many gas station trips.

Verdict

If you’re looking for a truck that serves as a daily driver for both work and play  then Ram 1500 truck in any of its forms, is a good choice. Acceleration is impressive with the 5.7-liter HEMI V8, and the 8-speed automatic transmission operates smoothly and efficiently. That and the sedan like ride quality means you can’t go wrong.

2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Night Edition Quad Cab 4X2