2012 Ram 2500 Review

For 2012, the Ram 2500 gets a six-speed automatic for the 5.7-liter V8, the option of the RamBox bed side compartments for the 6-foot-4-inch bed and a few more versions of the Power Wagon.

The 2012 Ram 2500 is a top pick for a heavy-duty truck thanks to its top-notch interior, comfortable ride quality and impressive towing and hauling capabilities.

The 2012 Ram 2500 finds itself in the thick of a three-way brawl for heavy-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 look and feel and many upscale features. The burly Ram also provides its occupants with a fairly comfortable and quiet ride, thanks to a relatively forgiving suspension, hydraulic cab-to-frame mounts and low levels of road and wind noise.

The Ram 2500's standard 5.7-liter V8 is rated at 383 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, but to maximize its work potential, we recommend going with the diesel. The 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel inline-6 churns out 350 hp and a best-in-class 800 lb-ft of torque when equipped with an automatic transmission. As such, the Ram 2500 more than earns its "heavy-duty" status. Properly equipped, it can tow up to 15,500 pounds (depending on body style and powertrain choice), while maximum hauling capacity tops out at 3,190 pounds.

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

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

Every Ram 2500 comes standard with a 5.7-liter V8 engine that produces 383 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. The 5.7 is paired with a six-speed automatic. In Edmunds testing, a 4WD 2500 Power Wagon equipped with the gasoline V8 and the previous five-speed automatic went from zero to 60 mph in a respectable 8.1 seconds. The optional engine is a 6.7-liter turbodiesel inline-6 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 also get you an exhaust brake. Typically seen only on big rigs, an exhaust brake provides additional stability and braking power when towing very heavy loads. And those loads can be quite substantial. The Ram 2500 has a maximum tow rating of 14,000 pounds with the gasoline engine, 13,400 for the manual-equipped diesel and 15,500 with the automatic and diesel engine.

Standard safety equipment for the 2012 Ram 2500 includes antilock disc brakes and side curtain airbags. Optional on the SLT and standard 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 about average for a heavy-duty pickup.

Even though the 2012 Ram 2500 is built to tackle demanding pickup duties, it remains comfortably composed in most situations. The ride is firmer than that of its smaller 1500 sibling (which features a coil-spring rear suspension), but the 2500's leaf spring rear is as good as most other heavy-duty trucks.

Further isolating the occupants from the outside world are hydraulic cab-to-frame mounts that are tuned to reduce the jolting ride that is typical of an unloaded heavy-duty truck. On the highway, road and wind noise are nicely quelled. Both of the Ram's engines are strong and provide plenty of power for towing and hauling heavy loads. Still, we highly recommend the big diesel matched to the six-speed automatic transmission, as its 150 extra lb-ft of torque over the diesel with the manual gearbox makes a noticeable difference in towing ability.

The Ram 2500 takes a page out of the Ram 1500's playbook by offering the best interior among all pickups. On the higher 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 status. Interior storage is generous, with plenty of bins and pockets to supplement the dual gloveboxes. Unique to this pickup is the optional RamBox feature, which places a pair 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 within easy reach and user-friendly, except for the audio system when it's paired with the optional navigation. In this configuration, the absence of hard buttons and knobs needlessly complicates some of the most basic functions. Fortunately, the steering-wheel-mounted controls help alleviate this problem.