In case you didn’t know, Ram trucks in Miami (and elsewhere) have experienced some serious sales growth in 2015, and are already off and running in 2016 as well. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the Awards page on ramtrucks.com is plastered with awards from 2015 and 2016. Some of them are from very recognizable publications like Kelley Blue Book, while others are from smaller outlets like the Texas Auto Writers Association. Regardless of where the award came from, the fact of the matter is that Ram has won a lot of awards recently, which have all certainly garnered some serious attention for the robust brand.
Here are five of the more notable ones, but there are still plenty more left on their website…
2016 Ram Rebel Wins Four Wheeler’s Pickup Truck of the Year
The 2016 Ram Rebel is a true force to be reckoned with, and is easily one of the best off-roading trucks on the market. Folks over at Four Wheeler Magazine, however, think it’s the best one in general. This is the 27th annual event where Four Wheeler has compiled the current off-roading trucks in order to test them, and determine which one will earn this coveted off-roading title.
Although it was put through a stressful driving test, and gauged in numerous areas, there were a few things in particular the judges really loved about this truck. Most notably, it was the performance. Judges said this truck is a “rocket” in the city and on the highway, the engine propelling it with “conviction.” They also said the on-road handling was exceptional, and comes with an admirable towing and payload capacity. It also has brisk acceleration and strong braking, along with a smooth ride. Finally, they praised its huge off-road capability in all types of environments and conditions. As an added bonus, they also enjoyed the inside of the truck – noting it’s comfort and convenient storage.
As you can see, when a truck wins this award they gain much more than just off-roading credibility; they also gain an overall prestigious reputation. Four Wheeler magazine is a big name in the truck world and fact this is their 27th annual event they’ve held to determine a trucks off-road/overall capability and quality is enough to prove that.
2016 Ram 1500 Named Full-Size Pickup Truck of Texas
The 2016 Ram 1500 was named the full-size pickup truck of Texas, and while that might not be as recognizable as the Four Wheeler accolades, it’s still a prestigious award – especially considering that this is the second year in a row the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) has named the Ram 1500 the truck of Texas. That’s right, back to back years of winning; what does that say about Ram’s attention to detail and engineering? It speaks — no, yells — volumes about their commitment to providing a capable and well-rounded truck to the masses.
Before a truck can win this award, TAWA puts it through an extensive and grueling two-day on and off-road driving test. After the members assessed the contestants’ capability on and off the road, exterior and interior styling, overall utility, value, and performance, 69 of them named the Ram 1500 the full-size pickup truck of Texas.
In a way, having an award from a smaller source is a good thing. Smaller associations like TAWA give it much more credibility. Why? In a nutshell, it means these smaller organizations are driven to provide buyers the most unbiased and accurate opinion on vehicles possible. Like I said, not as big of an award, but just as valuable.
2015 Rocky Mountain Truck of the Year
Ram trucks haven’t just been winning awards solely based on rugged off-road performance. They’ve also been winning awards based on fuel-efficiency as well. The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel in particular, caught the attention of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP), thanks to its amazing fuel saving capabilities. But, just because it won an award for stellar fuel economy doesn’t mean it sacrificed power to do so.
The Ram 1500 HFE, equipped with the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine and paired to an eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission is what’s able to snag 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, winning the hearts of RMAP. This engine is one of the most advanced light-duty truck engines ever built by Ram, and gives the 1500 pickup a best-in-class fuel economy rating. It puts out 240 horsepower, and 420 lb-ft of torque, while providing a towing capacity of 9,210 pounds, and a payload of 1,600 pounds.
With specs like that, it’s no wonder the Ram 1500 won this award. It’s still able to tow almost 10,000 pounds with the same engine that provides enough highway mpg for a cost-effective road trip. Overall, it’s just impressive.
2015 Ram 1500 Named One of the 15 Best Family Cars of 2015
The Ram 1500 also made it onto Kelley Blue Book’s list of the 15 Best Family Cars of 2015. Seeing a truck win a family award always has a head-turning effect, simply because it’s a truck. For years, their sole purpose was to work. But now, they are meeting the demand of the modern patron. Trucks are now used for everything from working on the farm to drag racing, and some parents even prefer them over a minivan.
The Ram 1500 making it onto a list created by such a well-known and reputable source is a huge advantage for the Ram brand. Kelley Blue Book praised the Ram as being the most civilized truck on the market today, and no other truck rides as comfortably. Also, they stated that the generous carrying capacity — I’m assuming they are referring to the added space provided by the truck bed and towing capability — make it an ideal truck for road trips.
Based on the fuel economy provided by the 1500 equipped with an EcoDiesel, I couldn’t agree more with KBB on this last statement. When you combine the towing capacity, extra space of a truck bed, and fuel economy that rivals (or beats) most minivans on the market, you have a great road-trip vehicle.
2015 Best Full-Size Pickup for the Money
Another big name to award the 2015 Ram 1500 was U.S. News, which labeled it the Best Full-Size Pickup for the Money. U.S. News based this award on the Ram 1500 earning the best combination of positive reviews and long-term ownership costs in its class. U.S. News honored the Ram 1500 by saying it has a “Best-in-Class ride, superior cabin materials, smooth transmission and Class-Exclusive diesel engine option” that contribute to the overall stellar ownership experience of this truck.
Overall, Ram Just Makes Great Trucks
This might not be surprising for someone who has been a long-time Ram truck advocate, but, Ram just makes great trucks. Notice how all of these awards highlight more than just performance and capability. They encompass every aspect that should be included on a truck, and Ram perfected every one: quality of design, off-roading capability, performance, fuel economy, family-friendly, great value — these elements are what buyers want from a truck in the 2015 and 2016 market and Ram made sure to deliver.
Whether you are thinking of grabbing a Power Wagon, EcoDiesel 1500 variant, or the standard 1500 base trim, you will be getting a truck that’s made with your needs and desires in mind. One that’s been praised, and continues to be praised, by numerous sources time and time again. Stop by the showroom and lot at Miami Lakes Chevy to scope out these award-winners yourself.
