2019 RAM 1500 Rebel Road Test and Review

Americans are buying record numbers of full-size pickup trucks, and automakers continue to improve the products. Newly redesigned this year, the 2019 RAM 1500 is the brand’s most powerful, most technologically advanced and most capable half-ton pickup ever. It’s so good a jury of automotive journalists recently named it the 2019 Truck of the Year.

The fifth generation of the RAM pickup is offered in a long list of models, but one our favorite versions of the truck is the off-road capable Ram Rebel. Not only does it have one of the coolest names in the business, but it’s also available with Hemi V8 power. And with a base price of $46,635, including a $1,695 destination fee, it doesn’t cost a fortune. The 2019 Ram Rebel competes with the Chevrolet Silverado Trail Boss, GMC Sierra AT4, Nissan Titan FX4, Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, and Ford F-150 Raptor.

It’s hard to believe it has already been nine years since the Dodge’s line of pickups split off and became the RAM trucks brand. Dodge first used the Ram hood ornament on its vehicles way back in 1933, and the Ram name first appeared on a Dodge truck in 1981.

Built in Warren, Michigan, the 2019 Ram Rebel comes in two body styles: a Quad Cab with a 6-foot-4-inch bed and a Crew Cab with a 5-foot-7-inch bed. The Crew Cab model like our test vehicle costs $2,800 more and has a base price of $49,435. Every Rebel is four-wheel drive and comes standard with a 305-hp 3.6-liter gas-burning V6 backed by a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. Our test vehicle, however, was equipped with the optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8, which is rated to produce 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque at 3,950 rpm. With the Hemi, the truck is rated to tow up to 11,290 lbs, which is thousands of pounds more than a Ford F-150 Raptor. Unlike other RAM 1500 models, the brand’s 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 is not offered in the Rebel.

If you like playing in the dirt, the Ram Rebel is significantly more off-road-capable than the over versions of the RAM 1500. Ram offers an optional air suspension on the Rebel, but our test truck was equipped with the standard coil springs, which increase the truck’s ride height by 1 inch over other Ram 1500 models.

Rebels also have a smaller-diameter rear sway bar, uniquely tuned steering, and special Bilstein shocks with remote reservoirs at each corner. A robust aluminum front skid plate built into the front bumper and two beefy tow hooks come standard. It rides on 18-inch wheels with 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires, and every Rebel gets an electronic-locking rear differential. Unlike the Ram Power Wagon, which is based on the larger RAM 2500, the Rebel uses an independent front suspension for a smoother ride. Ram says the V6-powered Rebel can handle a payload of about 1,700 lbs and rates the truck’s maximum towing capacity at 7,160 pounds.

The Ram’s standard 3.6-liter V6 is going to be enough for most buyers. The engine, shared with the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs, has variable valve timing and a strong 269 lb-ft of torque. In the Ram Rebel, its fuel economy ratings are 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.

As much as we like the Rebel with the V6, we prefer the optional 5.7-liter V8. The Hemi packs a larger punch, and it sounds spectacular, with a traditional V8 rumble right out of the 1960s. With this engine, the Rebel is part muscle car, and the V8’s additional torque quickens its acceleration considerably. It doesn’t have the power of the 450-hp Ford Raptor, but the Rebel can haul and tow more than the quicker Ford. To save fuel, the Ram's V8 is equipped with a cylinder deactivation system, which turns off half the cylinders under the right conditions. The EPA rates it at 15 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. We averaged 20 mpg in mixed driving around Los Angeles. Both V6 and V8 Ram Rebels use 87-octane regular-grade gasoline to keep costs down, and every Rebel gets a large 26-gallon gas tank. 

All big pickups should have an automatic transmission that feels as good as the Ram's. This eight-speed always seems to be in the right gear, and its gearchanges are always silky and precise. This shouldn’t surprise anyone when they learn this is the same basic gearbox that’s used by BMW and Range Rover in their big-buck models.

We’re also very impressed with the Ram Rebel’s comfortable ride. Its five-link coil-sprung rear suspension is unique in the segment, and it still offers the smoothest ride in the light-duty truck segment. Although the Ford F-150 doesn’t ride quite as well as the Ram, it remains more agile and it handles better. The Ram is easy to maneuver in the city, but it doesn’t feel as athletic as the Ford.

Turn from the paved road into your local off-road park and the Rebel will handle almost anything you can throw at it. We spent an afternoon on the trails in our test truck and were impressed with its ability to climb steep hills and articulate over deep ruts. We didn’t do any rock crawling for fear of denting the borrowed truck’s pristine bodywork, but the Rebel’s suspension travel, its ground clearance, and the traction of its Goodyear tires made most obstacles easy to negotiate.

That said, if you’re looking for the most capable off-road full-size pickup truck, you should really be shopping the Ford F-150 Raptor. The Raptor is the king of the genre, offering the most power, ground clearance, and wheel travel. Although the Rebel is the most capable Ram 1500 in the dirt, and it’s capable enough for most buyers, it cannot hang with the Ford when the terrain gets tough. Fortunately for more serious off-roaders, Ram has announced it is creating the Ram Rebel TRX for 2020, and some have already nicknamed the truck the Raptor Killer. It’ll have a more capable suspension and the supercharged Hemi V8 with over 700 hp from the Dodge Challenger Hellcat.

Ram has hit it out of the park with the current truck's interior. It’s now the best cabin in the full-size truck class, and the second-place finish is a speck in the Ram’s rearview mirror. This is a very comfortable truck. Our test vehicle's heated front seats were large and well-shaped, and its driver’s seat was height-adjustable so anyone can get situated. Ram has also improved the driving position, so the truck is more comfortable on long drives.

The Ram’s interior is well assembled, ergonomic, and extremely attractive, with an abundance of chrome trim and clean and clear gauges that pack a ton of information. I also appreciated our truck's large 8.4-inch touchscreen, as well as its easy-to-use navigation and infotainment systems. Ram also offers a 12-inch screen, which is by far the largest in the class. Its rotary shifter is unique in this segment, and you’ll get used to it quickly. The Crew Cab’s rear seat is significantly more spacious than the Quad Cabs, and it seats three with room to spare.

Inside, the Ram Rebel has more interior storage than a mid-century duplex. There are two big gloveboxes, the door bins are huge, and the two-tiered center console is configurable and deep enough to swallow a laptop. There’s also a deep open cubby that perfectly cradles your drive-thru bag, and it has a phone holder. We counted six front cupholders and two in the backseat.

The all-new Ram Rebel also offers cool bed features like a spray-in bedliner, LED lighting, and a new lighter-weight aluminum tailgate. We’re also huge fans of the optional RamBox cargo management system, which provides covered and lockable storage areas on either side of the pickup bed.

Ram has also given its pickup a new more aerodynamic shape, and the Rebel is a sleek-looking truck with a strong, powerful front end that’s a bit more carlike than before. The Rebel’s steel fenders, doors, and bedsides also feature carlike character lines, but the result doesn’t look wimpy. This is a tough-looking truck with a large blacked-out grille and a visible front aluminum skid plate that’s reeks of purpose. Out back, there are two massive dual exhaust tips tucked up under its rear bumper.

The Rebel’s blacked-out trim also adds attitude. Unlike the Ram’s Laramie, Big Horn, Longhorn, and Limited models, which are slathered with chrome, the Rebel stands out with dark wheels, grille, and badging.

Off-road enthusiasts should add the Ram Rebel to their list of trucks to test drive. Its interior is class leading, and its unique rear suspension, which uses coil springs instead of leaf springs like the other trucks in the full-size class, give it an incredibly smooth ride. We’re also impressed with the Ram's well-tuned eight-speed automatic transmission and its choice of powerful engines. If you can, step up the 5.7-liter V8 for $1,395, as its additional power and muscle-car rumble are worth the additional cash.

If you’re shopping for a luxurious and off-road capable full-size pickup, the 2019 Ram Rebel is highly recommended.