What's new for the 2002 Dodge Ram: Redesigned; new model.
What's new for the 2003 Dodge Ram: The top-of-the-line model switches its name from SLT Plus to Laramie. The ancient, 245-horsepower 5.9-liter Magnum V8 gives way to a much better 5.7-ilter Hemi V8 with 345 horsepower. Both the Hemi and the smaller 4.7-liter V8 engines get a new 5-speed automatic.
What's new for the 2004 Dodge Ram: A 4-wheel-drive system with a full-time mode replaces the plain 4WD system on SLT and Laramie models. A navigation system and Bluetooth phone are new options. The limited SRT-10 debuts midyear (in the no-cab, short bed bodystyle) with a 500-horsepower 8.3-liter V10, 6-speed manual, sport suspension, and 22-inch wheels.
What's new for the 2005 Dodge Ram: The SRT-10 now comes as a Quad Cab, with a mandatory 4-speed automatic transmission. The 5-speed manual gets upgraded to a 6-speed.

What's new for the 2006 Dodge Ram: The big news is the addition of the ginormous Ram Mega Cab, whose back seat has leg-stretching space. All models get a new dash, center console, seats, radios, front styling, and new wheels. Dodge also added cylinder deactivation to the 5.7-liter V8 (to save a few drops of fuel), stiffened up the frame, and gave the Ram a new independent suspension, except on Mega Cab models. Last year for SRT-10 model.
What's new for the 2007 Dodge Ram: The Ram gets new seat cloth, plus the new options of a keyless start system and, more importantly, stability control.
What's new for the 2008 Dodge Ram: The 4.7-liter V8 makes a huge jump from 235 to 310 horsepower and 300 pounds-feet of torque to 330.

Though it's never snagged the sales crown from Ford or Chevy, the Dodge Ram earned its keep among truckers through its tough image. Its signature "Big Rig" face gives it a brutish, in-your-face look not found in other trucks. It also happens to be a message echoed in most aspects of the Ram's design.

Most would agree on the Dodge Ram feeling very, well, trucklike. Its engines roar loudly, its steering is vague, and its ride is a bit bouncier than the others. It's got a high step-in, and once inside, visibility over the tall hood is a challenge for smaller drivers. The Ram also seems to have a fetish for size and bulk. In the beginning, its "Quad Cab" body style was bigger than the extended cabs on most competitors (yet the back seat was still tight), and the more recent "Mega Cab" model is so ludicrously large (though very comfortable) that it's sure to cause problems in maneuverability and parking. The Mega Cab is also a victim of stiff ride quality, since it's built atop a more heavy-duty chassis.

For a long time, a similar gap plagued the Ram's engines. Buyers had to choose between an anemic 4.7-liter V8 (235 horsepower) and a strong-but-gas-guzzling 5.7-liter V8 (345 horsepower). (If anyone cares, there's also a superweak V6, and the 500-horsepower V10 that went into the limited-edition, sport-tuned Ram SRT-10.) In 2008, however, the 4.7-liter V8 got a welcome boost to 310 horses, finally offering a happy medium.

Customers in search of a more refined, civilized driving experience will likely find it in just about any of the Ram's newer, better competitors. But the Ram should still hold strong appeal among people who want a truck that looks, acts, and drives like one.

Find out more about the 2003 Dodge Ram.