2006 Dodge Ram 1500

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.

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.