Overview

THE newly announced Ram 1500 Rebel is the latest entrant into the full-sized, US-sourced pick-up category, joining the 1500 Laramie and Limited in challenging the likes of the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, and Toyota Tundra.

An off-road-focused variant with a bevy of added extras, the Rebel competes at the same price point (from $141,950) as the entry to the 1500 range and delivers a shed-tonne of good bits for outdoorsy buyers.

These include high-clearance (+30mm) suspension from Bilstein, 32-inch Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tyres, a 313kW/635Nm twin-turbocharged Hurricane six-cylinder petrol engine, and Sports Hood as standard.

There are also additional driving modes, underbody skid plates, up to 4500kg of braked towing capacity, 893kg of payload capacity, a locking rear differential, spray-in bed liner, powered tailgate, powder-coated steel bumpers, fender flares, and bespoke 18-inch alloy wheels.

Moving inside we find a unique red-and-black interior trim combination, Rebel embroidery on the front seats, a panoramic sunroof, 19-speaker sound system, heated front and outboard rear seats, 12.0-inch digital instrument panel, 14.4-inch touchscreen infotainment array, and a 10.25-inch passenger entertainment screen.

Crucial off-road geometry figures for the Ram 1500 Rebel include an approach angle of 20.9 degrees, break-over angle of 19.2 degrees, and departure angle of 22.2 degrees.

The variant further features LED headlights; bespoke grille, front bar, colour scheme, and badging; blackened mirror caps and door handles; wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity; dual wireless device charging pads; adaptive cruise control; front and rear parking sensors; and a rear-view camera.

Yes, folks. It’s a showstopper of a deal.

Perhaps the best news is that the 1500 Rebel is not a limited-time offer. Ram Trucks Australia has confirmed the variant will become a permanent part of the local line-up, giving the importer a crucial edge over segment rivals that are without a comparable contender.

As is available elsewhere in the 1500 range, the Rebel features Ram’s new twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre ‘Hurricane’ petrol engine developing 7.6 per cent more power and 14.2 per cent more torque than the previous 5.7-litre Hemi V8.

Ram Trucks Australia says the engine enables the 1500 Rebel to accelerate from 0-100km/h in six seconds or less – which we reckon is how quickly Ram buyers will sign on the dotted line.

Driving Impressions

While there is a more potent engine tune available for the Hurricane engine, we think the SO (or Standard Output) offering is gutsy enough for the application. The 313kW/635Nm on tap comes in fast with no lag to speak of, whisking the full-sized truck up to legal speeds and beyond in just a handful of seconds.

Paired with a smooth-shifting eight-speed auto, the powertrain makes light work of anything we could throw at it on launch – and while it mightn’t have the same V8 bark to it, performance truck buyers will appreciate the added performance, and improved fuel economy, the Hurricane offers.

And while we’ve reviewed both the SO and HO versions of the Hurricane-powered 1500 before, there’s a lot more to this truck than the driveline alone. A bigger bed (thanks to the removal of the Ram boxes over the arches) provides more space for anything you want to carry, while a jacked-up ride and Bilstein damping smooths the ride on-road and off.

Despite the added clearance and ‘softer’ damping tune, the 1500 Rebel remains surefooted and predictable in the bends, its Falken Wildpeak rubber offering excellent purchase in a range of conditions, including wet-weather sealed roads, dirt trails, and a short section of mud.

That section of mud did, however, throw up a warning (4WD System Overheat) that seemed isolated to our particular test vehicle. Ram Trucks Australia said it had given us an early evaluation model in error and put us through the same course in another vehicle to prove the point. Try as we might, we couldn’t replicate the issue…

As before, the 1500’s steering weight is sensibly matched to a vehicle of its size, offering accuracy and the right amount of heft so as not to leave the driver guessing. The result is a pick-up that is more easily placed than its size would have you believe, a reassuring sensation when tackling the narrow farm lanes of the Bass Hills south of Melbourne.

While we didn’t tow or haul with the 1500 Rebel on test, Ram assures us that little changes with a few tonnes on the hitch. We look forward to putting the variant through its paces down the track – and will be very curious to see how its dynamics, and fuel consumption, fare in proper use.

Of course, the cabin of the 1500 remains a spacious and sensibly kitted place to spend time. Take away a little wind rustle and it’s the sort of environment one could happily while away the hours, enjoying the tunes and those comfortable pews.

We found the lane keeping assistants and adaptive cruise control very hard to fault, and the fuel economy excellent considering the vehicle’s size (13.7 litres per 100km as tested).

The ability to adjust the seat, steering column and pedal box to spec is yet another reason the 1500 cabin is a notch above the others. Personally, I also think it looks the goods with sporting touches feeling better suited to my tastes – and dare I say those of a lot of pick-up buyers.

Which might just be the only real hassle the 1500 Rebel presents. As smooth and capable as the remanufacturing process might be, the ability to keep up with demand might be one Ram Trucks Australia has misread.

This is a ripper truck for an attractive price… all things considered.

Add a helping of off-road capability to a package that already outperforms ‘regular’ utes and we think the 1500 Rebel is a damn good fit for Aussie buyers – and maybe others in the right-hand drive world. Let’s see if time proves us right.