The Return of Ram’s Mid-Size Pickup Truck Is Worth Waiting For

What It Is Like Burger King with Whoppers, the Ram brand is best known for making one thing: pickup trucks. But one item has been notably missing from the truckmaker’s menu for over a decade. After Ram ditched the Dakota nameplate in 2011, its lineup has been left without a mid-size truck. That’s finally set to change as Ram has confirmed it will reenter the segment. We think it’s likely that the Dakota name will be revived, but nothing has been officially announced. Why It MattersWhen Ram pulled the plug on the Dakota, it allowed existing competitors such as the Chevy Colorado, Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma to clog the drain. Ram’s return to the mid-size segment should allow it to reclaim some of those lost sales, though prying loyal pickup customers from their truck of choice is easier said than done. Still, Ram’s mid-size entry could attract new customers who don’t want to pay a premium for the brand’s half-ton models. Along with a lower price point, a mid-size pickup’s smaller size is another incentive for new customers. PlatformDespite prior clues that the unibody Ram Rampage—which is sold in Brazil—could be the Dakota’s successor in the States, that doesn’t seem too likely. Ram will almost surely give its new mid-size truck a body-on-frame design, and it’ll probably be based on the modular STLA Frame platform. The latter allows for wheelbases between 123.7 and 145.3 inches long. And whaddya know? That range aligns with other mid-size trucks. RamRam is expected to use a body-on-frame platform, instead of unibody construction like the Brazilian-market Rampage seen here.PowertrainWhen it comes to powertrains, Ram has been a bit cagey. The official line is: “The new mid-size truck is planned to take full advantage of our multi-energy strategy (ICE, PHEV, and BEV).” However, that doesn’t necessarily mean all three powertrain types will be available. If we had to guess, the electric option is the least likely. Ram has already deprioritized its full-size EV model, with the Ram 1500 REV’s production getting pushed back in favor of the plug-in hybrid Ramcharger. While it’s possible the new mid-sizer gets a PHEV model, a traditional gas engine is a sure bet. Will it be a turbo four like many competitors have, or will Ram find a way to shoehorn a Hurricane six-cylinder or—dare we say—a Hemi V-8 into its new truck? The jury is still out on that.CompetitionAs we already mentioned, Ram’s new mid-size truck will compete against the Chevy Colorado, Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma. The Jeep Gladiator is another body-on-frame rival. Meanwhile, there are also a handful of unibody alternatives, such as the Honda Ridgeline, and compact Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. There are currently no mainstream mid-size electric trucks; the Rivian R1T is probably the closest EV in size, but it starts at around $72K.What Might Go WrongAutomakers are currently dealing with some turmoil as the Trump administration has levied a 25 percent tariff on imported vehicles, with additional tariffs to be applied to parts such as engines and transmissions starting on May 5, 2025. On top of that, Stellantis—Ram’s parent company—had already been struggling amid poor sales and a leadership shakeup. Ram’s leadership looks to be solidified with Tim Kuniskis returning as CEO and he recently announced a slew of upcoming product announcements. However, with Ram’s mid-size truck still two years away from starting production, a lot could happen between now and then.Estimated Arrival and PriceRam previously said it would begin production of its new mid-size truck sometime in 2027, although it’s unclear if this timeline still stands. Production is reportedly slated to take place at the plant in Belvidere, Illinois, which has been idle since 2023. It’s hard to predict how much prices will increase between now and when the truck goes on sale, but based on the current prices of its competitors, we would wager that Ram’s mid-sizer will range from about $35,000 to $60,000. The latter figure could be for a high-performance off-road-focused variant, although that might not arrive until a year or two after the launch of the mainstream models.See all the cars worth waiting forMore on Ram TrucksEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.
Source: caranddriver.com