Best Car Models & All About Cars: Ram 2012 2500 Crew Cab

Ram 2012 2500 Crew Cab

What's New for 2012

For 2012, the Ram 2500 gets a six-speed automatic for the five.seven-liter V8, the option of the RamBox bed aspect compartments for the half-dozen-foot-4-in. bed and some a lot of versions of the Power Wagon.

Introduction

The 2012 Ram 2500 finds itself in the thick of a 3-approach brawl for significant-duty pickup truck supremacy. Fortunately, it comes packing the right abilities in the form of powerful powertrains, a well-sorted suspension and a handsome cabin. The latter is very notable for its high-quality appear and feel and many upscale options. The burly Ram additionally provides its occupants with a fairly comfy and quiet ride, thanks to a comparatively forgiving suspension, hydraulic cab-to-frame mounts and low levels of road and wind noise.

The Ram 2500's customary 5.7-liter V8 is rated at 383 horsepower and four hundred pound-feet of torque, but to maximise its work potential, we recommend going with the diesel. The vi.seven-liter Cummins turbodiesel inline-six churns out 350 hp and a best-in-category 80zero lb-ft of torque when equipped with an automatic transmission. As such, the Ram 250zero additional than earns its "significant-duty" standing. Properly equipped, it can tow up to 15,five hundred pounds (depending on body vogue and powertrain choice), while most hauling capability tops out at three,one hundred ninety pounds.

Compared to its Chevy Silverado 2500HD and Ford F-250 rivals, the 2012 Ram 2500 finds itself basically evenly matched in terms of capability and ruggedness. However few would argue when we say that the Ram boasts the most engaging styling, together with an uncommonly upscale cabin.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2012 Ram 250zero heavy-duty pickup is offered in 3 cab styles: regular, Crew Cab and Mega Cab (a jumbo crew cab). The regular cabs come with a long bed only, while the Crew Cab has either a short or long cargo bed. The Mega Cab rides on the same wheelbase as the Crew Cab long bed, but it combines a good bigger cabin with a brief bed.

The regular cab comes in ST or SLT trims; the Crew Cab in ST, SLT, Laramie, Laramie Longhorn and Power Wagon trims; and also the Mega Cab in SLT, Laramie and Laramie Longhorn only.

The Ram ST is that the bare-bones trim level that comes with 17-inch steel wheels, black grille/bumpers, vinyl upholstery and flooring, a 40/twenty/40-split front bench seat, air-conditioning, an electronic vehicle data display, a tilt steering wheel and a six-speaker stereo with a CD player and auxiliary audio jack. Power windows and door locks are customary on Crew Cab models, while regular cabs have manual controls.

The SLT adds chrome exterior trim, chrome-clad wheels, electronic trailer brake management, power-folding/heated aspect mirrors, a sliding rear window, cloth upholstery, full power accessories, keyless entry, cruise control and satellite radio. SLT Crew Cab and Mega Cab Rams are eligible to upgrade to the big Horn package (sold because the Lone Star package in Texas). This includes a chrome grille, foglights, brighter quad headlights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel (with audio controls), an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a universal garage door opener.

There is also the Outdoorsman package for the SLT that adds the diesel engine, a restricted-slip rear differential, tow hooks, polished alloy wheels (with white-letter tires), two-tone paint, wheel flares, a body-color grille frame, foglights, remote beginning, auto-dimming mirrors, an overhead console, a 115-volt power point, illuminated vanity mirrors, power driver (ten-means) and passenger (six-method) seats (with power lumbar supports) and a leather-wrapped steering wheel (with audio controls).

For those designing on using the Ram for serious off-road duties, the Power Wagon (offered only as a Crew Cab 4WD with the short bed and five.7-liter V8) should be of interest. It includes tow hooks, skid plates, all-terrain tires, a manual transfer case, a 4.56 axle ratio with electronically locking differentials, an influence winch rated at 12,0zero0 pounds of capability, a front antiroll bar that disconnects electronically to improve wheel articulation off-road, rooftop running lights, foglights, quad headlights and Bluetooth. The Power Wagon is really offered in 3 sub-trims -- ST, SLT and Laramie -- and as such comes with the quality features of those respective trims levels.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is that the luxurious Laramie, which features polished alloy wheels, twin-zone automatic climate control, leather seating, heated front seats, a power driver seat with memory, power-adjustable pedals, auto-dimming mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth and an upgraded 9-speaker surround-sound audio system with digital music storage and iPod integration. The Laramie Longhorn adds color-keyed bumpers, remote begin, rear park assist with rearview camera, bucket seats/console, ventilated front seats and a navigation system.

A spray-in bedliner is offered across the board, whereas several of the higher trims' standard options are obtainable as choices in lower ones. Different option highlights embrace the RamBox cargo management system (that includes bedside storage compartments and an adjustable bed divider and tie-downs), a sunroof, an upgraded stereo and a rear-seat entertainment system.

Powertrains and Performance

The 2012 Ram 2500 is obtainable with rear-wheel or four-wheel drive (4WD is electronically engaged at the high trim levels and mechanically engaged at rock bottom one). The 4WD version encompasses a solid front axle and recirculating-ball steering setup, while the 2WD model gets an freelance front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering.

Every Ram 2500 comes standard with a 5.seven-liter V8 engine that produces 383 hp and four hundred lb-ft of torque. The 5.seven is paired with a six-speed automatic. In Edmunds testing, a 4WD 250zero Power Wagon equipped with the gasoline V8 and also the previous five-speed automatic went from zero to 60 mph in a very respectable 8.one seconds. The optional engine could be a half-dozen.seven-liter turbodiesel inline-half-dozen that produces 350 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque with a six-speed manual transmission, or 80zero lb-ft of torque with a six-speed automatic.

Opting for the diesel will additionally get you an exhaust brake. Typically seen only on huge rigs, an exhaust brake provides extra stability and braking power when towing terribly heavy loads. And those masses can be quite substantial. The Ram 250zero has a maximum tow rating of 14,000 pounds with the gasoline engine, 13,four hundred for the manual-equipped diesel and fifteen,500 with the automatic and diesel engine.

Safety

Commonplace safety equipment for the 2012 Ram 250zero includes antilock disc brakes and facet curtain airbags. Optional on the SLT and customary on the Laramie are power-adjustable pedals. In Edmunds braking tests, a Dodge Ram Power Wagon came to a stop from 60 mph in 141 feet, which is concerning average for a serious-duty pickup.

Interior Design and Special Features

The Ram 2500 takes a page out of the Ram 150zero's playbook by giving the best interior among all pickups. On the higher trim levels, soft-bit materials and tasteful stitching are abundant throughout the cabin, while the plush seats and metallic accents are virtually too nice for work truck standing. Interior storage is generous, with plenty of bins and pockets to supplement the dual gloveboxes. Unique to this pickup is the optional RamBox feature, that places a try of lockable compartments over the rear fenders inside the truck bed. It's a neat feature, though we've found that the compartments aren't as durable as one would expect.

The controls are inside easy reach and user-friendly, except for the audio system when it's paired with the optional navigation. In this configuration, the absence of laborious buttons and knobs needlessly complicates some of the foremost basic functions. Fortunately, the steering-wheel-mounted controls help alleviate this drawback.

Driving Impressions

Even though the 2012 Ram 250zero is made to tackle demanding pickup duties, it remains comfortably composed in most things. The ride is firmer than that of its smaller a hundred and fifty0 sibling (that features a coil-spring rear suspension), but the 250zero's leaf spring rear is as sensible as most alternative serious-duty trucks.

Additional isolating the occupants from the surface world are hydraulic cab-to-frame mounts that are tuned to reduce the jolting ride that is typical of an unloaded serious-duty truck. On the highway, road and wind noise are nicely quelled. Both of the Ram's engines are strong and give lots of power for towing and hauling serious loads. Still, we highly suggest the large diesel matched to the six-speed automatic transmission, as its 150 additional lb-ft of torque over the diesel with the manual gearbox makes an apparent distinction in towing ability.

Ram 2012 2500 Crew Cab