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

Ram 2012 2500 Mega Cab

What's New for 2012

For 2012, the Ram 250zero gets a six-speed automatic for the five.seven-liter V8, the option of the RamBox bed aspect compartments for the 6-foot-four-inch bed and some more versions of the Power Wagon.

Introduction

The 2012 Ram 250zero finds itself within the thick of a 3-approach brawl for serious-duty pickup truck supremacy. Fortunately, it comes packing the right talents in the form of powerful powertrains, a well-sorted suspension and a handsome cabin. The latter is especially notable for its high-quality appear and feel and several upscale features. The burly Ram additionally provides its occupants with a reasonably comfy and quiet ride, thanks to a relatively forgiving suspension, hydraulic cab-to-frame mounts and low levels of road and wind noise.

The Ram 250zero's standard 5.7-liter V8 is rated at 383 horsepower and four hundred pound-feet of torque, however to maximise its work potential, we have a tendency to suggest going with the diesel. The half-dozen.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel inline-6 churns out 350 hp and a best-in-class 80zero lb-ft of torque when equipped with an automatic transmission. As such, the Ram 250zero a lot of than earns its "serious-duty" status. Properly equipped, it will tow up to fifteen,five hundred pounds (relying on body vogue and powertrain alternative), whereas maximum hauling capability tops out at three,190 pounds.

Compared to its Chevy Silverado 2500HD and Ford F-250 rivals, the 2012 Ram 250zero finds itself basically evenly matched in terms of capability and ruggedness. But few would argue once we say that the Ram boasts the foremost enticing styling, along with an uncommonly upscale cabin.

Body Designs, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2012 Ram 250zero significant-duty pickup is available in three cab designs: regular, Crew Cab and Mega Cab (a jumbo crew cab). The regular cabs come with a long bed only, whereas the Crew Cab has either a short or long cargo bed. The Mega Cab rides on the identical wheelbase as the Crew Cab long bed, however it combines a fair bigger cabin with a short 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 the clean-bones trim level that comes with 17-in. steel wheels, black grille/bumpers, vinyl upholstery and flooring, a forty/twenty/40-split front bench seat, air-conditioning, an electronic vehicle info display, a tilt steering wheel and a six-speaker stereo with a CD player and auxiliary audio jack. Power windows and door locks are standard on Crew Cab models, while regular cabs have manual controls.

The SLT adds chrome exterior trim, chrome-clad wheels, electronic trailer brake control, power-folding/heated facet mirrors, a sliding rear window, cloth upholstery, full power accessories, keyless entry, cruise management and satellite radio. SLT Crew Cab and Mega Cab Rams are eligible to upgrade to the Huge 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 additionally the Outdoorsman package for the SLT that adds the diesel engine, a limited-slip rear differential, tow hooks, polished alloy wheels (with white-letter tires), two-tone paint, wheel flares, a body-color grille frame, foglights, remote starting, auto-dimming mirrors, an overhead console, a 115-volt power point, illuminated vanity mirrors, power driver (10-manner) 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 (accessible only as a Crew Cab 4WD with the short bed and five.seven-liter V8) ought to be of interest. It includes tow hooks, skid plates, all-terrain tires, a manual transfer case, a four.56 axle ratio with electronically locking differentials, a power winch rated at 12,00zero pounds of capability, a front antiroll bar that disconnects electronically to boost wheel articulation off-road, rooftop running lights, foglights, quad headlights and Bluetooth. The Power Wagon is truly offered in 3 sub-trims -- ST, SLT and Laramie -- and as such comes with the quality features of these respective trims levels.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is the luxurious Laramie, that features polished alloy wheels, twin-zone automatic climate control, leather seating, heated front seats, an influence 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 obtainable across the board, while many of the higher trims' customary options are available as choices in lower ones. Different option highlights include the RamBox cargo management system (which 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 very cheap one). The 4WD version has a solid front axle and recirculating-ball steering setup, whereas the 2WD model gets an freelance front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering.

Every Ram 2500 comes commonplace with a five.7-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 2500 Power Wagon equipped with the gasoline V8 and the previous 5-speed automatic went from zero to sixty mph during a respectable 8.1 seconds. The optional engine is 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 800 lb-ft of torque with a six-speed automatic.

Opting for the diesel will conjointly get you an exhaust brake. Typically seen only on big rigs, an exhaust brake provides further stability and braking power when towing terribly significant loads. And those loads will be quite substantial. The Ram 2500 features a most tow rating of fourteen,00zero pounds with the gasoline engine, 13,400 for the manual-equipped diesel and 15,500 with the automated and diesel engine.

Safety

Commonplace safety equipment for the 2012 Ram 2500 includes antilock disc brakes and facet curtain airbags. Optional on the SLT and commonplace 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, that is about average for a heavy-duty pickup.

Interior Style and Special Options

The Ram 2500 takes a page out of the Ram 150zero's playbook by providing the most effective interior among all pickups. On the upper trim levels, soft-touch materials and tasteful stitching are abundant throughout the cabin, while the plush seats and metallic accents are almost too nice for work truck standing. Interior storage is generous, with plenty of bins and pockets to supplement the twin gloveboxes. Unique to the present pickup is the optional RamBox feature, which places a try of lockable compartments over the rear fenders inside the truck bed. It's a neat feature, though we tend to've found that the compartments are not as durable collectively would expect.

The controls are among straightforward reach and user-friendly, apart from the audio system when it's paired with the optional navigation. In this configuration, the absence of exhausting buttons and knobs needlessly complicates a number of the most basic functions. Fortunately, the steering-wheel-mounted controls help alleviate this downside.

Ram 2012 2500 Mega Cab