2014 Ram 1500 Motor Trends' Truck of the Year

Every year, cars and trucks battle it out for the chance to be named best of the year by Motor Trends. Unfortunately, the reality doesn't match the demolition derby that I long for, but the slog is no less grueling. This year, Motor Trends named the Ram 1500 their Truck of the Year, and it was no surprise. In fact, it was voted so unanimously by the 11-judge panel, which must be something of a comfort to Ram. The 1500 was the target of a number of changes, most of which work for the better. The market for pickups stretches a long way past the farm or site these days, and Ram obviously kept this in mind when redesigning the new model year.

The highlights of the 2014 1500 are much broader than its forebears, and stretch further than horsepower and torque. Gas mileage, of course, is a huge concern for any truck owners, be they farmers, haulers, or a less professional consumer. With this in mind, Ram is making new 8-speed automatic transmissions the standard on the new V6, with V8s to follow soon. The 1500 V8 is currently launching with the old 6-speeds. The Hemi V8 is seeing some changes across the board, too, with economy in mind: variable valve timing, more efficient cooling, and even electrical power steering.

The new air suspension will probably surprise a lot of consumers, but this makes sense with the variable weight trucks carry (anywhere between one human and some tons of people and cargo). A popular feature this model year, especially on trucks and other utility vehicles, is a variable ride height. At highway speeds, the truck gets better gas mileage lower to the ground, but two further settings lever the truck up (1.2 and 2.0 inches, respectively) to help clear obstacles when at lower speeds.

There are some problems, though; the design isn't perfect. Ram is taking seriously that its customers are hard workers and many of the toggles, switches, and dials are designed to be used by gloved hands. This works well for the most part, but they have placed gear-shifting devices in odd places, claiming gloved hands as motivators. This includes a twist dial for the 8-speed transmission, which is dash-mounted, and manual gear shifting buttons on the steering wheel. The steering-wheel mounted buttons are easily confused with the cruise control buttons next to which they are mounted.

Overall, the Ram 1500 is well thought-out and well executed. The new features, for the most part, are useful. For instance, the truck can be made into a WiFi hotspot, which is undeniably handy. Some things could use more polish, but even the mistakes show a good understanding of what their market needs; these mistakes aren't made from sloppiness or laziness. And while it's rare for a mid-grade truck like the 1500 to see a near-total make-over like this, it's even rarer to see one of these redesigns go over so well. So kudos to Ram, and congratulations!

If you live in the Southern California region and need to take your vehicle in for service, head to your local Ramona Tire. Operating for over 40 years, Ramona Tire & Automotive Service Centers are among the most trusted service shops in California. To get the best prices on tires and some of the most competitive coupons in the industry, visit their website at http://www.ramonatire.com/index.htm and search for a location near you. Remember we always have the best deals in town on motor trends' truck of the year.

Check it out here for more information: http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/truck/1302_2013_truck_of_the_year_ram_1500/