2010 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie New Orleans LA
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2010 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie
2010 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie By Alison Lakin, Associate Editor
DriverSide Overview
Just one year into its successful redesign, the 2010 Dodge Ram is looking as big and bad as ever. For 2009 , the truck saw increased fuel economy, a new crew cab option, a sizable step up in interior refinement and much improved ride quality. It became the ultimate luxurious and capable full-sized pickup, marked by Ram badges the diameter of an ostrich egg. For 2010, just a few modifications have been added, including iPod integration, park assist and a new tire pressure monitoring system. Dodge has also increased the gross combined weight rating up 1,500 lbs to 15,500 lbs. That means your Dodge Ram Laramie – the top-of-the-line model – is still powered by the epically impressive 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, an engine that puts out 390 horsepower and 407 lb-ft of torque. It also has features that will stun F-150s into googly-eyed wonderment, like the cavernous and convenient Rambox system. The truck segment is a fiercely competitive one, even with dramatic changes in the economy taking place, but the Ram has all the right components to make it one of the best full-sized trucks out there.
What's to Like
A new coil-spring five-link rear suspension drastically alters the cornering capabilities of the Ram, keeping it level in turns and softening bumps. The, dare we say, luxurious interior can comfortably seat six. We doubt you could gather enough gear to fill the 42 storage bins found throughout the cabin and the optional RamBox on the side of the bed.
What's Not to Like
The Laramie doesn’t start cheap, and many won’t see the reasoning behind buying a nearly $40,000 truck. Rear legroom in the quad cab is three inches less than the crew cab and can be tight for taller passengers; drivers don’t even have the option of a regular, three-person cab with the Laramie. Just don’t bring up the topic of fuel economy.
The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
With the 5.7-liter V-8 HEMI, you can really feel the Ram dig into the road. Towing an Airstream , as we were able to do, is a piece of cake with the 10,500-lb tow rating. The steering is heavier and more direct than the previous generation’s, and the Ram feels good and grounded. Many trucks ride over the road, giving you a disconnected feeling – not so with the Ram. With individually tunable springs, the all-new suspension that replaces the leaf spring system – a first in its class – dulls road irregularities better than any rig we've laid our hands on. All trims cut through the air more easily than the previous model, and the five-speed automatic transmission shifts quickly and smoothly, even if second gear does seem to be quite the drop from first. This is not your grandfather’s old Mopar truck, that's for sure.
Engine and Drivetrain
The Laramie houses the largest of the Ram’...