Certain vehicles catch your attention for their sleek lines and elegant looks, while others simply make you stand up and take notice because of their size.
Well, the 2012 Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Can 4X4 we recently tested is part of the latter group, screaming for people to just get out of the way as it comes toward them on the road.
And that's not to say the Ram 2500 scares people out of the way because of its looks, because it's actually about as nice looking as a truck can be. But this pickup is huge, taking up two parking spots when I got to the local commuter train station to head to the office. I would have driven in to work, but I was afraid the Ram 2500 would smack into the ceiling of the underground parking lot below our downtown Montreal office building.
The Ram 2500 Crew Can seats five passengers, and probably has more interior space than many cars. And in the Laramie edition, which is fully decked out in leather, passengers are coddled in nice leather seats.
Essential standard fare on a vehicle of this size is a rear-view camera and ParkSense rear park assist system, which make parking at least a little bit easier.
The Ram 2500 is packed with safety gear, including anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, multi-stage front airbags, side-curtain front and rear airbags, tire pressure monitoring, security alarm and a sentry key theft deterrent system.
Other equipment includes air conditioning, rear 60/40 split/folding rear seat, heated steering wheel, power windows, power locks, remote start system and spray-in bedliner.
Options on the tester included a transfer case skid plate ($75), six-speed automatic transmission ($1,900), 4.10 rear axle ratio ($75), limited slip rear differential ($450), power chrome mirrors ($125), roof-mounted clearance lamps ($75), dual transmission oil cooler ($420), rear-seat video system ($1,200) and $300 for on/off-road 20-inch tires.
The biggest option, however, was the upgrade to the 6.7-litre Cummins turbo diesel engine, which adds $9,345 to the bottom line, bringing the total price to $74,210, up from the starting price of $58,845.
Design:
There is no mistaking that this is a Ram truck.
A tall front end is highlighted by the Ram signature grille, with a large ram's head front and centre on the fascia. There are also the recognizable haunches over the headlight assembly, which distinguish the Ram from competitors.
Other than that, though, the Ram is a fairy standard truck design - at least on the outside.
Once seated behind the wheel, you would be forgiven for thinking you were in a luxury vehicle - that is until you looked in the rear-view mirror and saw the eight-foot cargo bed that lay behind you.
A Longhorn emblem is found throughout the cabin, and is embossed in the leather seats, which are mighty comfortable.
The seats, front and back, are also embossed with a very western-style pattern that made me think of cowboys, but it works on this truck. That same pattern can also be found highlighting the gauge cluster.
Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/cars/Head+head+2012+Dodge+2500/6000619/story.html#ixzz1jjZa4auM