2010 Dodge Ram 1500 Overview Change Vehicle

This 2010 Dodge Ram overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2010 Ram, and includes Dodge Ram safety, reliability, and fuel economy information.

Typically, few changes come one year after a model has been redesigned. The 2010 Dodge Ram* proves the point, as it follows 2009’s myriad updates with tweaks that are few in number but noteworthy. The list includes a new integrated trailer-brake controller, massive 22-inch tires for the Ram R/T, a variety of trailer-tow mirrors, an iPod connection located in the glovebox, and a deceleration fuel shut-off system engineered to increase engine efficiency. Perhaps most important is an increase in towing capacity, up from 9,100 pounds in 2009 to 10,450 pounds in 2010.

* There’s some confusion about the proper name of the truck we’re here to discuss. For years, it’s been known as the Dodge Ram, but thanks to a new marketing strategy, Dodge has separated its full-size truck into its own division, one simply called Ram. However, based on quotes from company executives claiming that this pickup will always be the Dodge Ram, and because Dodge badges can still be found on the truck, we’re sticking with the name Dodge Ram. For this year, anyway.

Shoppers interested in a 2010 Dodge Ram will need to determine if they want rear- or four-wheel drive, which cab style meets their needs (Regular, Quad, Crew), and how big the cargo box should be. The other significant choice focuses on trim levels, starting with the most affordable of the bunch, the Ram 1500 ST. Select this option and you’ll find yourself with a truck equipped with air conditioning, a single-disc CD player, vinyl on the seats and floor, manual side windows and a solid rear window, and four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS on the rear.

Move up one step on the 2010 Ram 1500 ladder and you’ll find yourself staring at the SLT. Compared to the ST this truck is downright luxurious with cloth upholstery, carpeting and floor mats, heated mirrors, power door locks and windows, chrome exterior trim, and convenience features such as cruise control and keyless entry. Unlike the ST, which is powered by a V6 engine, the Ram 1500 SLT packs eight-cylinder power.

Sharing a wrung on the lineup ladder with the SLT is the TRX model. Essentially a slightly sporty upgrade over the ST, this truck is distinguished by paint on the wheel flares and grille. The Dodge Ram TRX’s features are a hybrid of those offered on ST and SLT variants, including manual windows, vinyl flooring and steel wheels, basic amenities that are countered by more desirable items like keyless entry and cloth seats.

The 2010 Ram 1500 Sport takes the TRX up a notch thanks to a Hemi V8 packed under its hood, body-color trim, 20-inch alloys stuffed into the wheel wells, and front bucket seats. That’s nice enough, but if you see a genuine performance truck in your future, the Ram R/T would be a much better choice. Using the same Hemi engine, albeit mated to 4:10 gears and only available in rear-drive, Regular Cab guise, the R/T roars to 60 mph in just over six seconds.

Of course, some truck buyers are more interested in creature comforts than risking speeding tickets. For them, Dodge offers the Ram 1500 Laramie. Inside this top-of-the-line model are features such as steering wheel audio controls and a dual-zone climate control system. Outside is extra chrome trim, and behind the scenes are four-wheel-disc antilock brakes.

That’s the standard stuff. Direct your attention to the options list and discover expected items along the lines of a power sunroof, power-adjustable pedals, leather seats, Bluetooth connectivity, and a navigation system. What you might be surprised to find is a rear-seat entertainment system with satellite TV, or heated and cooled front seats. Other optional features that might stir your interest include a heated steering wheel, a heated rear seat, and the innovative RamBox that provides dry and lockable storage built into the cargo bed.

Packaged under the hood of every 2010 Dodge Ram is one of three engines. The smallest of the trio is a 3.7-liter V6 that’s been treated to a slight bump in output, boasting 215 horsepower instead of last year’s 210. Torque remains unchanged at 235 lb-ft. Available only with a four-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, the six-cylinder has earned EPA ratings of 14 mpg around town and 20 mpg on the highway.

Slide on up to the next engine in the 2010 Ram’s lineup, a 4.7-liter V8, and you’ll be rewarded with 310 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque. Not bad for the smaller of two V8s. Power is managed by a five-speed automatic transmission, and fuel economy comes in at 14-mpg city/19-mpg highway for rear-drivers and 13-mpg city/18-mpg highway for four-wheel-drive models.

At the top of the hill is the 5.7-liter Hemi V8, capable of pumping out 390 horses and 407 lb-ft of torque. As is the case with the 4.7-liter, the Hemi is mated to a five-speed automatic tranny, though fuel economy is actually a smidge better. Rear-drive Rams running the Herculean Hemi earn EPA ratings of 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway, while four-by-fours are predicted to travel 13 mpg in town and 18 mpg on the freeway.

Equal in importance to engine output is how it translates to capability. In the case of the 2010 Dodge Ram, the results are a maximum payload rating of 1,850 pounds and a maximum towing capacity of 10,450, up from 9,100 pounds last year.

For 2010, Consumer Reports once again predicts average reliability from the Dodge Ram 1500. J.D. Power and Associates hasn’t predicted reliability for the Ram, but we can tell you that it received an above average rating for its initial quality.

In terms of safety, things haven’t changed a bit since last year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) give top scores to the Dodge Ram for front-impact protection. Unfortunately, the IIHS also tacks on a Marginal rating for the truck’s side-impact protection (NHTSA has not conducted side-impact tests). That result comes despite the inclusion of standard side-curtain airbags. Every Ram also comes with antilock brakes and electronic stability control.

Drive each of the full-size pickup trucks currently on the market, and you’ll likely walk away pointing to the 2010 Dodge Ram as the most comfortable of the bunch. Plus, it offers aggressive styling, the sound and power of an available Hemi engine, and cool features like satellite TV service and the useful RamBox. However, most noteworthy for 2010 is the improved towing capability, which makes the Ram more competitive with trucks like the Ford F-150, and just a few hundred pounds shy of the Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra. It seems the light-duty pickup truck battle just got tighter.

By Thom Blackett