I'm sure the aliens can see my giant red and black bug doing figure-eights and buzzing across arid southwestern dunes. Even from space there's no way to miss the huge tailgate badges—one for each letter, or the kilometres-long dust plume stretching halfway to the nearest tree. This is Ram's Rebel, an off-road special that's nicer to drive on the road and live with daily than most such things. (Overall score: 7.3)
Walkaround
The Crew Cab, short bed-only Rebel comes with almost everything Ram throws at a pickup, except chrome. The grill pattern echoes horns so the regular logo's replaced by simple RAM lettering—that, the bumper's metal "skidplate" and lights the only things breaking up the menacing dark front end.
Flares from a Power Wagon fit the larger tires, which now appear just the right size, you can get monotone paint if you prefer, and the blazing bright LED signals at both ends seem reasonably protected. I could do without the dummy Challenger inspired hood scoops and huge badges, and felt compelled to climb in the bed just to confirm there was no stars-and-bars flag on the roof. (Score: 6.8)
More from Autofocus.ca:
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Interior
On a standard mid-level Crew Cab, Ram adds red stitching and trim similar to a BMW 3 Series, adding style while eliminating glare from chrome. There are some things you won't find in a 3er as well, like embroidered REBEL in the black and red seats, seat cloth embossed like the tire tread prompting me to wonder if I need new seats if I choose different tires, and diamond-plate and grade-five bolt head patterns molded into the floor mats. A new centre console holds your phone while charging.
Otherwise it's Ram functional. Lots of storage and room, comfortable chairs, good instrumentation options, 19 buttons on the heated steering wheel and so on. (Score: 7.3)
Tech
Inputs in the upper centre armrest link your files to Uconnect: five-inch standard, optioned 8.4-inch with navigation here. If not the best man-machine interface in the industry, it is the best in pickups, and you can use your phone as the wi-fi.
Air suspension means never adjusting headlight aim with a load again, easier entry, available ground clearance and it lowers at speed…a benefit for handling and economy (more later). I could feel the Hemi switching itself to a V-4, but only at less than 55 km/h and only at very light, steady throttle. (Score: 8)
Driving
Rebel's air suspension sets the normal ride height about where a standard Ram air suspension is at off-road level one, fits Bilstein shocks for better wheel control and the flares help them fit big, cushy 33-inch tires on proper 17×8 wheels. This gives Rebel arguably the best ride of any Ram pickup, gliding along almost serenely, even though they call for relatively high (55/45 psi f/r) pressures in tires that can each carry more than half the weight of the truck. Off-highway performance improves mostly as a result of the tires, dampers and extra compression travel, but at full height it's a little bouncy as drop-travel is reduced…best to save that for low-speed crawling. And use a light foot as Hemi power and a 48:1 gear reduction can make for some jerks.
Higher ride height, wider tires with heavier rotating mass, and 2,750 kg (with a little driver) apply the Hemi name to fuel economy. Rated identical to a skinny-tire Ram at 16.2/11.5 l/100km, I squeaked into the 11s only once, did 18-20 litres in town and averaged 16.2. If you've never driven in the sand (not included in average): 75 l/100km with tires travelling many more kilometres than the truck due to wheelspin. That $250 for the larger 121-litre fuel tank could be money well spent.
The other downside of big-this, RamBox-that optioning is an effective payload of just 409 kg—a Dodge Dart or Chrysler 200 carries more. This Rebel had the integrated brake controller and a 4,614-kg tow rating, but if you stay legal and within ratings, actual trailer max is around 3,400 kg…if you bring no one with you. (Score: 8.1)
Value
Rebel runs from around $52,000; with plenty of options like this $59,140. The nearest thing to it sold in Canada is a Tundra SR5 TRD off-road with forged wheel and dual-exhaust options, and a moonroof, but not as fancy inside or refined. My bigger problem is a Power Wagon gets me locking differentials, a winch, more load and towing capacity, for $3,600 more with the same options. (Score: 6.3)
Conclusion
Rebel is one proof that "off-road" packages often ride the best on the road as well, while many will choose it based on looks or the cabin. If you camp light or don't pull a heavy power-sports trailer, it could be very useful.
Autofocus.ca is a Canadian automotive website dedicated to making car shopping easier and driving more fun. Follow Autofocus on Facebook and Twitter.
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