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By David Mikesell, Test Drive Updated 5:05 PM Friday, November 6, 2009

It almost seems counterintuitive. That in itself gives the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 a chance in the heavy pickup category.

The Ram has been redesigned for this model year. Among the three engines available is the one we tested, the 5.7-liter V-8 Hemi with 390 horsepower. That’s up from 345 hp. This math adds up to improved performance on the road. And it’s on the road where the Ram shines.

This is still a pickup truck, but the expected characteristics are softened by a coil-spring rear suspension. Noticeable by its almost total absence is that bumpety-bump that occurs when traversing uneven pavement.

Also new this year is material that adds a little panache to a formerly pedestrian interior.

There are five trim levels for the Ram with prices beginning at $21,520 for a rear-wheel-drive regular cab. There are also Quad Cabs with a back seat that seats three but is a bit cramped and Crew Cabs with a full-blown rear seat. Our tester was the SLT Quad Cab with 4-wheel drive. We didn’t use the back seat for people, but it served the purpose of an expansive interior storage unit. The front bench had a large center storage unit that could be folded up for a sixth passenger.

The Quad Cab comes with a 6.4-foot bed as opposed to the Crew Cab’s 5.7-foot bed. The $245 box bedliner proved its mettle for mar-free loading of some rough materials.

Since this is a large pickup truck, many would prefer running boards, but our tester was minus the side steps. This meant a steep step-in height, which didn’t bother me as much as it did the more vertically challenged riders.

David Mikesell is a free-lance automotive reviewer based in Indianapolis. Read this review and others like it at DaytonDailyNews.com/Wheels.

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