2003 Dodge Ram 1500

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.

Though it's never snagged the sales crown from Ford or Chevy, the Dodge Ram earned its keep among truckers through its tough image. That "Big Rig" front end has always been its signature look, giving 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 is still tight), and the more recent "Mega Cab" model is so ludicrously large (though comfortable, with 44 inches of rear legroom) 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 V8 engines. Buyers had to choose between an anemic 4.7-liter (235 horsepower) and a strong-but-gas-guzzling 5.7-liter (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, the 4.7-liter got a much-needed 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 have a firm grip on anyone after a truck that looks, acts, and drives like one.