With all the full-size pickups on the road today, it’s hard to stand out — without pushing the six-figure mark anyway.
More and more trucks are becoming more conformist: squared off front end, super straight sides with a 5-foot bed on the back. Even offerings from Toyota and Nissan which used to be different are becoming more like their better-selling U.S. counterparts hoping for acceptance in the market.
Fortunately, I’ve found a cheaper way to break from the pack: the 2022 Ram Rebel G/T.
Oveview
Sure, truck fans know their Ford Silverados from their F-150 Sierras, but for the “it’s a pick’em up truck” crowd, the Rebel GT stands out — especially when it comes in Flame Red like our tester. The Rebel was Ram’s initial response to the Ford Raptor.
It was popular too, winning several awards for its performance and good looks; however, it wasn’t quite a strong in the horsepower department as the Raptor nor quite as good an off-roader so it surrendered the Ram machismo crown to the 701-hp TRX a few years back. However, it did so without giving up any of the qualities that made it popular.
Exterior
One of those things was its rough-and-ready exterior. It also comes with a sport performance hood, black grille, GT decals, cold air intake and cold end exhaust. Oh … the 18-inch gloss black wheels on massive tires puts you high up over traffic and in the pecking order.
Interior
As impossible-to-ignore as the exterior of the Ram Rebel is, it’s the interior that’s really the star. Roomy and comfortable — although tough to get into without running boards, which our vehicle did not have — it features leather bucket seats with high bolsters that were heated and cooled.
The new flat-bottom steering wheel with aluminum paddle shifters within easy reach give feeling of power and strength, augmented by the performance-oriented floor shifter, performance screens, and metal pedals.
Powertrain
Speaking of which, the 5.7-liter V-8 with the eTorque mild-hybrid assist is a 395-horsepower beast — and sounds like it too. Step on the go pedal hard and they’ll hear you before they see you. It’s also an impressive towing machine, easily handling something the size of say, a 2014 Chevy Sonic.
Safety and Technology
It also features a slew of luxuries and niceties, such as large center storage console, wireless phone charging, and a massive 12-inch tablet style touchscreen that gives the user access to everything from HVAC controls to up-to-the-minute information about the truck’s engine.
Driving Impressions
There’s not much to dislike about the Rebel, if you’re looking at it for what it is: a loud and proud truck ready to handle just about anything you throw at it. I’m only sorry I didn’t get a chance to take the four-by-four off the tarmac.
Wrap Up
However, like all big, shiny fun things, they come at a price: in our case the Rebel starts just over $53,000 — not including the destination fee. If you add all the other goodies, you cross $70,000 in a hurry — but it doesn’t approach the six-figure mark.
Our rig came in at $75,560, including the $1,795 destination charge. The question is: three-quarters of the TRX or Raptor worth three-quarters of the price? Yes. I’d say so.
