The New 2009 Dodge Ram Crushes All Trucks-F-150 vs. 2009 Ram

Preview: 2009 F-150 vs. 2009 Ram

The latest full-size pickups square off on paper.

By Larry E. Hall of MSN autos

At January's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, automakers of every stripe were falling all over themselves to trumpet their innovations to improve fuel economy and reduce exhaust emissions. That included Ford, which unveiled its stylish Verve compact car, and Chrysler, which had a trio of concept electric vehicles.

However, for both of these Detroit car companies the most important new vehicle showings were not fuel sippers but their full-size pickup trucks — the 2009 Dodge Ram and 2009 Ford F-150. To note these top-sellers are important to Ford or Chrysler is like saying oxygen is important to life on Earth.

With a shaky housing market and gasoline surging towards $4 a gallon, pickup sales have sagged. Nevertheless, Americans have a love affair with trucks, and pickup buyers are the most loyal of any vehicle segment. In a dwindling market, keeping loyal fans in the fold is extremely important, and these new offerings might snatch some sales from longtime foe Chevrolet as well as upstarts Toyota and Nissan.

Compare: Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan

It's apparent today's pickup buyers are no longer keen on just horsepower, torque and towing prowess. Interiors and features have become the new battlefield in winning sales. When the new Ram and F-150 arrive at dealers this fall, here's a preview of what you'll find (prices have yet to be announced).

2009 Dodge Ram

With its "I-wanna-be-a-Kenworth" grille, the 1994 Ram vaulted Dodge from an also-ran to a major contender in the pickup market. When the new Ram's front end fills up your rearview mirror, it'll be more intimidating than ever. The signature crossbar grille is canted forward, à la the Dodge Charger, and is topped off with a larger power bulge in the aluminum hood.

Chrysler has made interiors a priority and the results are evident in the new Ram. A masculine appearance appropriate for a truck is combined with vastly improved materials quality. There are up to 38 interior storage locations, including two glove boxes, map pockets and a pair of rear in-the-floor bins.

The options for pampering and entertaining occupants are extensive. Fronts seats can be heated or cooled, a cold steering wheel can be heated, and rear seats can get toasty as well. Check the right boxes and you can have surround-sound, watch DVD movies or broadcast TV, and load photos and music onto a 30-gigabyte hard drive.

Watch Video: 2009 Dodge Ram Debut

Leaf Springs Out, Coils In

For improved ride and handling, Dodge has discarded the traditional rear leaf spring suspension. A new fully boxed frame incorporating high-strength steel supports the first-in-segment rear multi-link coil spring suspension. Dodge claims this setup won't sacrifice payload (up to an estimated 1,850 pounds) or towing capability (up to an estimated 9,100 pounds).

The new suspension can be put to work via three engines: a 210-horsepower six cylinder, a 310-horsepower 4.7-liter V8, and a new 5.7-liter HEMI V8 that not only has increased horsepower (380) and torque (404 lb-ft), but claims 4 percent better fuel efficiency. A six-speed manual and four- or five- speed automatic transmissions are available, depending on the engine option, and there's a choice of two- or four-wheel drive.

Message Board: Will the 2009 Dodge Ram be able to knock off the Ford F-Series as the best-selling truck in America?

The Ram will offer two wheelbases plus three box lengths, and buyers can choose a standard cab, Quad Cab or a new-for-Dodge crew cab. Five trim levels will be offered: ST, SLT, TRX, Sport and Laramie. All versions come standard with front and side-curtain airbags, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, and electronic stability control with hill start assist and trailer sway control.

As a final note, Dodge didn't neglect one of the most important functions of a pickup, the cargo bed. "RamBox" storage bins run the length of the cargo bed providing 8.6 cubic feet of storage, yet a full sheet of plywood can lay flat in the bed. With features like this, Dodge will surely keep loyal Ram fans happy, and might just woo buyers away from competitors.

Compare: Dodge Ram 1500 and Ford F-150

(Full pricing and data are not yet available for the new 2009 Ram and F-150, but here’s how the 2008 models compare.)

America’s Most Stolen Cars

The most popular cars among thieves, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
By Perry Stern of MSN autos

The 1995 Honda Civic is stolen more often than any other car in America, according to the NICB.

The popular 1995 Honda Civic continues to be the top pick among thieves, holding onto that position for the 2007 calendar year, according to the "Hot Wheels" report released in July 2008 by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

And while the types of vehicles being stolen remain consistent from year to year, overall car theft in the U.S. declined almost nine percent in 2007. "The continuing national decrease in vehicle theft is a positive sign that the fight against vehicle theft by law enforcement, the insurance industry and the NICB continues to be effective," said Robert M. Bryant, NICB's president and chief executive officer.

The most recent NICB report listed the 1991 Honda Accord as the second-most-stolen vehicle, followed by the 1989 Toyota Camry. In fourth position, the 1997 Ford F-150 was the highest-listed pickup truck as well as the most stolen domestic-branded vehicle. The only other domestic brands on the list were also trucks — the 1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500 and the 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup.

Other perennial favorites among thieves include the Acura Integra and Nissan Sentra. According to the NICB, thieves continue to target these older vehicles because they provide the best market for stolen vehicle parts.

The NICB encourages everyone to follow what it calls a "layered approach" to auto theft protection by employing simple, low-cost suggestions to make vehicles less attractive to thieves. The four layers include common sense, a warning device, an immobilizing device, and a tracking device.

The least expensive form of defense, common sense simply means using the standard anti-theft features of a vehicle by locking the car and taking the keys. The second layer is a warning device or alarm on the vehicle.

The third layer suggests some sort of immobilizing device, such as a fuel cutoff or smart key that prevents the vehicle from being driven. The fourth layer consists of a tracking device allowing law enforcement officers to track and recover a vehicle if stolen.

The NICB study is based on information reported to the National Crime Information Center.

Here are the 10 most stolen vehicles as reported by the NICB — the number in parentheses is the model year most stolen:

Honda Civic (1995)
Honda Accord (1991)
Toyota Camry (1989)
Ford F-150 (1997)
Chevrolet C/K 1500 (1994)
Acura Integra (1994)
Dodge Ram Pickup (2004)
Nissan Sentra (1994)
Toyota Pickup (1988)
Toyota Corolla (2007)