First of all, the RAM 1500 Rebel is not as far out and comprehensively set up as a Ford F-150 Raptor.
It is however more than the sticker and shocks package that some brands offer in their off-road schemes. It looks beefier than the standard RAM, but there’s more to it than just appearance.
The nuts and bolts start with an air suspension and Bilstein shocks which have a unique set of specs for the Rebel. The ride height is one-inch higher than standard, which affords 10.3-inches of ground clearance, and room for its larger 33-inch Toyo Open Country all-terrain tires.
The air suspension I thought was a decent balance of firmness for control and compliance for the rougher stuff. Crawling up a moderate rock hill, it did a good job of keeping those tires planted and the suspension from bucking you around too much.
And that air suspension lowers at highway speed, which pays off not only for fuel economy but on-road handling. And when it comes to powertrains, at current you can choose either the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 or the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 – both with a standard 3.92 rear axle ratio.
The V8 in my tester offered up more than adequate power and a nice growl under acceleration through its 8-speed automatic transmission. It’s good on the highway and around town, and crawling around in the rough it offers enough torque to just idle along.
I’m honestly still not all that in love with its rotary dial transmission selector though. It just isn’t as intuitive as a console lever or even a column shifter. You really need to watch it to make sure you’re in the gear ya want to be in.
Interior trims of the Rebel are the other major stand out. If you like subtlety, this cabin might not be for you. Red anodized finish trims really stick out in every direction, trimming vents, instrument cluster and other key elements.
Seat fabrics too make a statement, here with the same tread pattern as those Toyo tires you find on the outside. Overall I like the look, but know that it might be a bit flashy for some folks. And to that, the unique grille also has its detractors. I like it tho, as well as the big RAM letters on the rear gate.
At current the RAM 1500 Rebel comes only in a Crew-Cab and short bed configuration. And at current, the 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel is not yet an option. But our RAM representative shared that if the market asks for more variety, they aim to please.
Our tester did have a number of options on it including the 5.7 liter Hemi, Luxury Group, Ram Box, Uconnect and more which brought the total price to a healthy but seemingly mid-pack $52,375.
That’s roughly comparable to packages offered by GM and Toyota for their top-dog off-road packages. And it’s much less than the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor will likely be though that truck will be more comprehensive in its specs.
Overall I was impressed with the RAM 1500 Rebel, as it offers something that actually stands out in the crowd both in styling, but in its performance and capability. It won’t be for everyone, but I think it shows RAM is busting their ass to play the game seriously.
