The flagship for the rebellion
2015 Ram 1500 Rebel Review
A little bit country, a little bit Rock 'n' Roll
Web2Carz Senior Staff Writer
Published: December 3rd, 2015
One thing's for sure about the 2015 Rebel, it's a Ram. It says so every chance it gets: on the grill, on the tailgate, on the doors, in the bed boxes. It's also pretty proud to call itself the Rebel, with plenty of badges popping up all across the interior and exterior. But here's the thing, the Ram Rebel seems to back up its boasting, if just barely. Although the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with a 1,530 lb payload and 10,150-pound towing capacity is no different than the standard Ram 1500, the Rebel has way more style and a few off-road upgrades that make it a believable badass.
THE RUNDOWN:
- Lots of attitude both inside and out
- Comfortable seats, both up front and in the back
- Smooth ride, while still feeling like a truck
- Quiet, despite the off-road tires
- Robust infotainment system but poor control placement
- Adjustable air shocks that raise you above most other trucks
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Exterior: Mean and boisterous
The Ram Rebel's exterior departs from some of the typical Ram pickup truck visual cues while still staying true to the pickup's well-known identity. The grill loses the standard Dodge emblem and crosshairs and replaces it with the word RAM in large letters. The grill itself features mustache-like curve that brings attention to the capitalized bold letters in its center.
The rest of the truck looks much like a Ram 1500, but with minor changes that give the Rebel more of a menacing look. There's lots of black, almost no chrome, a muscled, vented hood, large off-road tires, and skid plates covering important components underneath. From behind, the Rebel once again screams Ram, with even larger letters on the tailgate and the dual exhaust adds an attractive element to its hind parts. -
Interior: Over the top, but comfortable
The Rebel doesn't tame down the bravado on the inside. The red and black cloth seats with tire-like tread on them are more comfortable than they look. The rear seats of the crew cab pickup are equally comfortable and have plenty of leg room. The rest of the interior features the same color scheme and lots of room and cavernous storage space
When it comes to electronics the Rebel features Ram 1500's command center 8.4-inch display, which handles entertainment, navigation, climate, apps, mobile device connectivity, voice commands and more, as well as the multi-view dial cluster with a 7-inch display, which shows vehicle information, such as mileage, speed, air shock height, oil status, ABS brake status, etc. While the number of features from these two systems are impressive, the controls for the systems - accessible from the dash, steering wheel and touchscreen - felt cumbersome, overly-complex and at times oddly placed. -
Driving Impressions: King of the road and completely capable
The first thing you notice when driving the Rebel is how high you're sitting up. While truck owners with lift kits won't be impressed, the Rebel's air shocks allow the driver to adjust the ride height. Even at the regular, on-road drive height we noticed you sit higher than most other pickup trucks the Rebel's size. The truck's steering was slightly slower than other pickups we've driven and the air shocks make for a fairly smooth but still truck-like ride. All in all, it's a lot like driving a standard Ram 1500 that sits just a little higher off the ground.
The Rebel's big 33-inch tall and heavily-treaded Toyo Open Country A/T tires look like they'd be loud on pavement, but even at highway speeds there is very little road noise. They also provided plenty of traction on snow and ice, leading us to believe that they would perform well off-road as well. -
Final Impressions: A good truck for both worlds
The Rebel is no monster truck, but it has everything it needs to handle off-road situations. That being said, we suspect few owners will really utilize the Rebel's off-roading capabilities to the fullest. This truck is about attitude and just enough off-road equipment to back it up. This is a truck for someone who likes to leave the pavement from time to time but still needs something for everyday driving and work. It's more badass than the Ram 1500, and if the styling fits your fancy, it might just be the perfect truck. That, however, is only true for the Ram enthusiasts who want a truck as bold and boisterous as they are.
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Price and specifications
Engine: 5.7-liter V8 HEMI VVT Engine
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Drivetrain Layout: Front Engine, Four-wheel Drive
Power Output: 395 Horsepower / 410 lb-ft
Fuel Economy (mpg): 15 city / 21 highway
Base Price: $44,720
As Tested: $52,375 (incl. $1,195 destination)
Options on our Test Vehicle: Dual Rear Exhaust with Bright Tips, Power Heated Mirrors, Auto-Dimming Exterior Mirror, Exterior Mirrors with Courtesy Lamps, Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror w/Mircrophone, Sun Visors with Illuminated Vanity Mirrors, Overhead Console with Garage Door Opener, Transfer Case Skid Plate, Front Suspension Skid Plate, ParkSense Rear Park Assist System, Parkview Rear Back-up Camera, 8-speed Automatic 8HP70 Transmission, Anti-Slip Differential Rear Axel, 5.7-liter V8 HEMI MDS VVT Engine, Rebel Instrument Cluster, GPS Navigation, SiriusXM Traffic / 5-Year Traffic Service, SiriusXM Travel Link / 5-Year Subscription, Media Hub (SD, USB, Aux), Uconnect Access 1-Year Trial (Reg Required), 4-Corner Air-Suspension, RamBox Cargo Managment System, Trailer Brake Control, Spray-In Bedliner
• For more information such as specs, prices, and photos of the 2016 RAM Ram 1500, click here: 2016 RAM Ram 1500.