The new RAM Rebel is the latest slayer to join the Dodge trucks lineup — this time with its radar locked onto the Ford F-150 Raptor.
The Rebel wears unique bodywork for the giant power-dome hood and special, new-shape Rebel grille up front. Most of the numerous other body features are rock-proof black plastic accents — the fender flares, badges and all brightwork is swapped for matte black. This includes the GIANT script on the tailgate. Color options include a few with a black lower body paint look across the doors and bed too, looking hot and functional-yet-macho.
Silver is the 4000-font size of the RAM name up front — and will give nightmares to those who see the giant letters in their rear-view mirrors! Perhaps a touch of dyslexia on my part, but editing the 80 photos below made me go slightly cross-eyed and see the words as WAR somehow.
That aggressive ethos might appeal to Rebel buyers. It is certainly a truck that is hardcore right down to its unique off-road protector plates, black-lined polished alloy wheels and special high-angle off-road bumpers.
On the road for this ultra-brief drive, the RAM Rebel is actually far more chill than its exterior would suggest. Air suspension with a massive range of selectable ride heights ensured a smooth ride, while the HEMI chugged hard and with a gorgeous exhuast note out of the twin straight pipes in back.
An as-tested price of $52k is competitive with the Z71 Silverado and F-150 Platinum or King Ranch, yet seems a bit steep in the grand scheme of things. The base price for the 4×2 (yes) Rebel is about $43k, but this jumps to $45k with four-paw traction. Standard spec includes the 395-horsepower HEMI V8 engine to a class-best eight-speed automatic transmission promising 22-mpg on the highway. The full standard equipment list is below and is pretty loaded. The trims comparo feature (listed below) in the RAM builder shows the Rebel as the third-to-top trimline, just below Laramie Longhorn and also-new Limited spec.
Numerous Rebel-specific features like the $170 Rebel gauge cluster design are still options — helping keep the base price of the Raptor-fighter in the low $40s. Unfortunately for our quick photoshoot, the long options list did not include HID bulbs for the black-tinted projector headlights operating lowbeams. LEDs for the amber running lights, front blinkers and brake lights are credibly premium versus 2015 truck competition, if not the next-gen 2016 Silverado and Titan XD.
Perhaps the most unique selling proposition for the RAM Rebel? The standard air suspension! Check of a sample of the easily-adjusted ride height options via low/high settings in the animated gif here.
Overall, if you love the RAM brand and want to shout it from the fast-lanes, rock-trails and grain silos…. the Rebel will shout it the loudest.
Underneath all this bluster is actually a fantastic truck with a smooth ride, outstanding powertrain and compelling cabin tech.
RAM Builder
2016 RAM Rebel
2016 RAM 1500 REBEL CREW CAB 4X2 5’7″ BOX
All Standard Features
Model HighLights
- Key Features
- Additional Key Features
- Anti-Lock 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
- Advanced Multistage Front Airbags
- Off-Road Truck Package
- Supplemental Side-Curtain Airbags
- Electronic Stability Control
- Folding Flat Load Floor Storage
- Off-Road Truck Rubber Floor Mats
- Remote Keyless Entry with All-Secure
- Rear Power Sliding Window
- 115-Volt Auxiliary Power Outlet
- Power Front Windows w/ 1-Touch Up and Down Feature
- Power 10-Way Driver / 6-Way Passenger Seats
- Sport Tail Lamps
- Bi-Function Projector Black Headlamps
- LED Fog Lamps
- Black Grille with RAM Lettering
- Sport Performance Hood
- Black Powder Coated Rear Bumper
- Black Powder Coated Front Bumper
- Dual Rear Exhaust with Bright Tips
- 26-Gallon Fuel Tank
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Heavy Duty Engine Cooling
- Speed Control
- Steering Wheel Mounted Audio Controls
- Perforated Steering Wheel with Red Stitching
- Front Bilstein Monotube Perf Shocks
- Rear Bilstein Monotube Perf Shocks
- Electronic Shift
- Cargo and Center High-Mounted Stop Lamp
- Sentry Key® Theft Deterrent System
- Additional Key Features
- Engine/Transmission
- 5.7-Liter V8 HEMI® MDS VVT Engine
- 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR 5.7L ENGINE
- 3.21 Rear Axle Ratio
- 32-Gallon Fuel Tank
- Multimedia
- Uconnect® 5.0
- Steering Wheel Mounted Audio Controls
- 6 Speakers
- 5.0-Inch Touchscreen Display
- Media Hub (USB, Aux)
- Seating
- Premium Cloth Seats with Embossed Tread Pattern
- Rear 60 / 40 Split Folding Seat
- Rear Under Seat Storage Compartment
- Second-Row In-Floor Storage Bins
- Folding Flat Load Floor Storage
- Bucket Seats
- High Back Seats
- Wheels/Tires
- 17-Inch x 8-Inch Alum Wheels w/Matte Black Pocket
- LT285/70R17E BSW All Terrain Tires
- Toyo Brand Tires
- Full Size Spare Tire
- EPA est. MPG
- EPA est. MPG: 15 city/22 hwy
Interior & Exterior
- Additional Features
- 1-Year SiriusXM Radio Service
- 115-Volt Auxiliary Power Outlet
- 12-Volt Auxiliary Power Outlet
- 120-MPH Primary Speedometer
- 160-Amp Alternator
- 17-Inch Steel Spare Wheel
- 26-Gallon Fuel Tank
- 7 Pin Wiring Harness
- 730-Amp Maintenance Free Battery
- Anti-Lock 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
- Ash Tray Lamp
- Automatic Headlamps
- B-Pillar Black-Out
- Bi-Function Projector Black Headlamps
- Black 5.7L HEMI Badge
- Black Grille with RAM Lettering
- Black Headlamp Filler Panel
- Black Powder Coated Front Bumper
- Black Powder Coated Rear Bumper
- Body-Color Door Handles
- Body-Color Fuel Filler Door
- Bright Rotary Shifter
- Bucket Seats
- Cargo and Center High-Mounted Stop Lamp
- Carpet Floor Covering
- Class IV Receiver Hitch
- Conventional Differential Front Axle
- Conventional Differential Rear Axle
- Dash Liner Insulation
- Door Parts Module
- Driver / Passenger Assist Handles
- Dual Note Electric Horns
- Dual Rear Exhaust with Bright Tips
- Electronic Shift
- Electronic Stability Control
- Electronic Vehicle Information Center
- Electronically Controlled Throttle
- Fixed Long Mast Antenna
- Flat Black Ram 1500 Badge
- Floor Tunnel Insulation
- Folding Flat Load Floor Storage
- For More Information, Call 800-643-2112
- Front Bilstein Monotube Perf Shocks
- Front End Parts Module
- Front Passenger Seat Belt Alert
- Front Stabilizer Bar
- Front Wheel Well Liners
- Full Length Upgraded Floor Console
- Full Size Spare Tire
- GPS Antenna Input
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Heavy Duty Engine Cooling
- Heavy Duty Transmission Oil Cooler
- High Back Seats
- Instrument Cluster with Display Screen
- Instrument Panel Color Keyed Bezel
- Instrument Panel Parts Module
- LED Fog Lamps
- Locking Tailgate
- Next Generation Engine Controller
- Non-Adjustable Pedals
- Off-Road Truck Door Trim Panel
- Off-Road Truck Rubber Floor Mats
- Overhead Console
- Passenger-Side Sun Visor with Mirror
- Perforated Steering Wheel with Red Stitching
- Pickup Box
- Power Accessory Delay
- Power Lumbar Adjust
- Power Rack-and-Pinion Steering
- R1234YF Air Conditioning Refrigerant
- Ram Glove Box Badge
- Rear 60 / 40 Split Folding Seat
- Rear Bilstein Monotube Perf Shocks
- Rear Dome Lamp
- Rear Power Sliding Window
- Rear Stabilizer Bar
- Rear Under Seat Storage Compartment
- Rear Wheel Well Liners
- Rebel License Plate Bracket
- Remote Keyless Entry with All-Secure
- Seat Parts Module
- Second-Row In-Floor Storage Bins
- Sentry Key® Theft Deterrent System
- SiriusXM® Sat Radio w/ 1-Yr Radio Subscription
- Speed Control
- Sport Performance Hood
- Sport Tail Lamps
- Temperature and Compass Gauge
- Tilt Steering Column
- Tip Start
- Tire and Wheel Parts Module
- Tire Pressure Monitoring Display
- Tow Hooks
- Toyo Brand Tires
- Trailer Tow with 4-Pin Connector Wiring
- Traveler / Mini Trip Computer
- Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers
- Climate Control Options
- Air Conditioning
- Exterior Paint Procedures
- Lower Two Tone Paint
- Glass
- Tinted Glass Windows
- Tinted Windshield Glass
- GVWR Packages
- GVW Rating – 6,800 Pounds
- Mirrors
- Black Exterior Mirrors
- Exterior Mirrors with Heating Element
- Power Heated Mirrors with Manual Fold-Away
- Rearview Mirror with Microphone
- Sound System Components
- 5.0-Inch Touchscreen Display
- Audio Jack Input for Mobile Devices
- Integrated Voice Command with Bluetooth®
- Media Hub (USB, Aux)
- Remote USB Port
- Remote USB Port – Charge-Only
- Steering Wheel Mounted Audio Controls
- Speaker Systems
- 6 Speakers
- Tires
- LT285/70R17E BSW All Terrain Tires
- Wheels
- 17-Inch x 8-Inch Alum Wheels w/Matte Black Pocket
Performance
- Engine
- 5.7-Liter V8 HEMI® MDS VVT Engine
- Transmission
- 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR 5.7L ENGINE
Safety & Security
- Convenience/Security Options
- Advanced Multistage Front Airbags
- Heated Front Seats
- Height-Adjustable Front Shoulder Belts
- Power 10-Way Driver / 6-Way Passenger Seats
- Power Door Locks
- Power Front Windows w/ 1-Touch Up and Down Feature
- Supplemental Front Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
- Supplemental Side-Curtain Airbags
- Supplemental Side-Curtain Front and Rear Airbags
Dimensions & Capacities
- Exterior Dimensions
- Cargo Area – Bed Height: 20.0
- Cargo Area – Bed Length: 67.4
- Cargo Area – Bed Width Wall: 66.4
- Cargo Area – Bed Width Wheel: 51.0
- Ground Clearance – at curb weight – Approach Angle: 20.9
- Ground Clearance – at curb weight – Breakover Angle: 20.6
- Ground Clearance – at curb weight – Departure Angle: 21.3
- Ground Clearance – at curb weight – Running Ground Clearance: 9.4
- Overall Body Width: 79.4
- Overall Height: 77.6
- Overall Length: 229.0
- Overhang – Front: 40.0
- Overhang – Rear: 48.4
- Track – Front: 68.6
- Track – Rear: 68.0
- Turning Diameter – curb-to-curb – Left: 39.3
- Turning Diameter – curb-to-curb – Right: 39.3
- Wheelbase: 140.5
- Interior Dimensions
- Cargo Capacity: 50.3
- Head Room – Front: 41.0
- Head Room – Rear: 39.9
- Hip Room – Front: 63.2
- Hip Room – Rear: 63.2
- Leg Room – Front: 41.0
- Leg Room – Rear: 40.3
- Passenger Interior Volume: 125.3
- Seating Capacity – Maximum Seating: 6
- Seating Capacity – Standard Seating: 2
- Shoulder Room – Front: 66.0
- Shoulder Room – Rear: 65.7
- Capacities/Weights
- Base Curb Weight – Automatic Trans: 5421
- Base Curb Weight – Manual Trans: Not Applicable
- Capacity/Weights – Fuel Tank Capacity: 26.0
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) – Maximum: 6900
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) – Standard: 6800
- Payload Capacity – Standard: 1379
- Towing Capacity – Maximum: 10300
- Towing Capacity – Standard: 8150
- Basics
- Brakes – Front: Disc
- Brakes – Rear: Disc
- Driveline Configuration: RWD
- EPA Classification: PUST2WD
- Maximum Number of Doors: 4
- Steering: Rack & Pinion
- Suspension – Front: Ind
- Suspension – Rear: 5-Link
- Tires – Aspect Ratio: 60
- Tires – Construction: R
- Tires – Spare Tire Type: Full Size
- Tires – Type: P
- Tires – Wheel Diameter: 20.0
- Tires – Width: 275
- Tops – Standard Top: HF
- Vehicle Type: Pickup Truck
- Mobility
- Body Opening Width : 34.0
- Open Door Angle: 65
- Open Door Trim to Body: 25.1
- Seat Cushion Height from Ground: 37.8
- Seat Cushion to Rocker Panel: 7.9
- Step-Out Height : -0.5″
- Step-Out Width: 5.3
- Step-Over Height from Ground: 22.6
- Warranty
- Basic – Miles: 36,000
- Basic – Months: 36
- Gas Engine – Miles: 36,000
- Gas Engine – Months: 36
- Powertrain – Miles: 60000
- Powertrain – Months: 60
- Roadside Assistance – Miles: 100,000
- Roadside Assistance – Months: 60
- Rust-Through – Miles: 100,000
Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.