Road Test: 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Hemi vs. Chevrolet Silverado SS
| 2003 Chevrolet Silverado SS | 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Hemi | | POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS | | Drivetrain layout | Front engine, awd | Front engine, rwd | | Engine type | V-8, iron block/alum heads | V-8, iron block/alum heads | | Valve gear | OHV, 2 valves/cyl | OHV, 2 valves/cyl | | Bore x stroke, in/mm | 4.00x3.62 / 101.6x92.0 | 3.92x3.58 / 99.5x90.9 | | Displacement, ci/cc | 364.1 / 5967 | 345.0 / 5654 | | Compression ratio | 10.0:1 | 9.6:1 | | Max horsepower @ rpm | 345 @ 5200 | 345 @ 5400 | | Max torque @ rpm | 380 @ 4000 | 375 @ 4200 | | Transmission | 4-speed automatic | 5-speed automatic | | Axle/final drive ratio | 4.10:1 / 2.87:1 | 3.92:1 / 2.62:1 | | Suspension, front; rear | Upper/lower control arms, torsion bars, anti-roll bar; live axle, leaf springs | Upper/lower control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar; live axle, leaf springs, anti-roll bar | | Brakes, f;r | 12.0-in disc; 12.8-in disc, ABS | 13.2-in disc; 13.8-in disc, ABS | | Wheels | 20 x 8.5-in cast alum | 20 x 9.0-in cast alum | | Tires | 275/55R-20 Goodyear Eagle LS | 275/55R-20 Goodyear Eagle LS | | DIMENSIONS | | Seating cap | 5 | 3 | | Wheelbase, in | 143.5 | 120.5 | | Track, f/r, in | 65.0 / 66.0 | 68.0 / 67.4 | | Length, in | 227.6 | 207.7 | | Width, in | 81.5 | 79.9 | | Height, in | 72.2 | 74.4 | | Turning circle, ft | 37.4 | 39.6 | | Headroom, f/r, in | 41.0 / 38.4 | 40.9 / na | | Legroom, f/r, in | 41.3 / 33.7 | 41.0 / na | | Shoulder room, f/r, in | 65.2 / 66.3 | 67.0 / na | | Curb weight, lb | 5300 | 4800 | | Payload capacity, lb | 1490 | 1750 | | Towing capacity, lb | 7500 | 9200 | | GVWR, lb | 6400 | 6550 | | GCWR, lb | 7890 | 8300 | | Fuel capacity, gal | 26.0 | 26.0 | | TEST DATA | | Acceleration, sec | | 0-30 mph | 2.1 | 2.3 | | 0-40 mph | 3.2 | 3.4 | | 0-50 mph | 4.8 | 5.0 | | 0-60 mph | 6.6 | 6.8 | | 0-70 mph | 8.6 | 8.8 | | 0-80 mph | 12.1 | 12.0 | | 0-90 mph | 15.4 | 15.8 | | 0-100 mph | 20.2 | 20.9 | | 1/4 mile, sec @ mph | 14.99 @ 89.05 | 15.11 @ 89.06 | | Braking, 60-0 mph, ft | 119 | 132 | | 600-ft slalom, mph | 61.3 | 62.3 | | 200-ft skidpad, lateral g | 0.77 | 0.80 | | Top-gear rpm @ 60 mph | 2000 | 1750 | | CONSUMER INFO | | On sale in U.S. | Currently | Currently | | Base price | $39,995 | $22,040 | | Price as tested | $40,010 | $27,820 | | Airbags | Dual front | Dual front | | Basic warranty | 3 yrs/36,000 miles | 3 yrs/36,000 miles | | Powertrain warranty | 3 yrs/36,000 miles | 7 yrs/70,000 miles | | EPA mpg, city/hwy | 13/17 | 14/18 | | Range, miles, city/hwy | 338/442 | 364/468 | | Recommended fuel | Unleaded premium | Unleaded premium |
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Posted May 5 2008 08:24 AM by Mark Williams
Much of our time is spent traveling places to drive a given manufacturer's latest and greatest. Usually that means flying to some familiar place, staying is some familiar hotel, and more times than not driving on some... more
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Some people consider traveling cross-country a bore, while others consider following the roads that keep our nation moving quite an adventure. I'm one of those adventurous types who see beyond the miles of flat asphalt... more
Subaru has redesigned its Forester crossover for 2009 and already the SUV has placed first in our tough test of compact crossovers. The Forester may have improved functionally, but are you digging the new look or do you... more
Has the ever-growing pain at the pump finally gotten you thinking about giving up your V-8, seven-passenger SUV for something a little more frugal? Well you might want to get to a dealership soon, because the trade-in... more
I congratulate General Motors for being first in the pool with hybrid-powered, full-size sport/utilities. These SUVs employ a true hybrid powertrain (not like the Malibu, Aura, and previous-gen GM trucks, which use what... more
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Posted April 11 2008 02:33 PM by Allyson Harwood
While it would make sense for cars, trucks, and SUVs to be painted in simple colors like "red" and "blue," that's never the case. Automakers use their own brand-specific paint mixes, and each one gets its own name.... more
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Some people consider traveling cross-country a bore, while others consider following the roads that keep our nation moving quite an adventure. I'm one of those adventurous types who see beyond the miles of flat asphalt... more
Subaru has redesigned its Forester crossover for 2009 and already the SUV has placed first in our tough test of compact crossovers. The Forester may have improved functionally, but are you digging the new look or do you... more
Has the ever-growing pain at the pump finally gotten you thinking about giving up your V-8, seven-passenger SUV for something a little more frugal? Well you might want to get to a dealership soon, because the trade-in... more
I congratulate General Motors for being first in the pool with hybrid-powered, full-size sport/utilities. These SUVs employ a true hybrid powertrain (not like the Malibu, Aura, and previous-gen GM trucks, which use what... more
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Posted April 11 2008 03:38 PM by thomas_voehringer
Some trucks and SUVs have huge blindspots. Here's a technology that overcomes them. more
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Some people consider traveling cross-country a bore, while others consider following the roads that keep our nation moving quite an adventure. I'm one of those adventurous types who see beyond the miles of flat asphalt... more
Subaru has redesigned its Forester crossover for 2009 and already the SUV has placed first in our tough test of compact crossovers. The Forester may have improved functionally, but are you digging the new look or do you... more
Has the ever-growing pain at the pump finally gotten you thinking about giving up your V-8, seven-passenger SUV for something a little more frugal? Well you might want to get to a dealership soon, because the trade-in... more
I congratulate General Motors for being first in the pool with hybrid-powered, full-size sport/utilities. These SUVs employ a true hybrid powertrain (not like the Malibu, Aura, and previous-gen GM trucks, which use what... more
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Posted Today 04:49 PM by Melissa
Some people consider traveling cross-country a bore, while others consider following the roads that keep our nation moving quite an adventure. I'm one of those adventurous types who see beyond the miles of flat asphalt... more
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Subaru has redesigned its Forester crossover for 2009 and already the SUV has placed first in our tough test of compact crossovers. The Forester may have improved functionally, but are you digging the new look or do you... more
Has the ever-growing pain at the pump finally gotten you thinking about giving up your V-8, seven-passenger SUV for something a little more frugal? Well you might want to get to a dealership soon, because the trade-in... more
I congratulate General Motors for being first in the pool with hybrid-powered, full-size sport/utilities. These SUVs employ a true hybrid powertrain (not like the Malibu, Aura, and previous-gen GM trucks, which use what... more
DETROIT - This is an idea whose time has come, and quickly gone. Presidential candidates John McCain (I believe he proposed it first, so he's mentioned first) and Hillary Clinton have proposed a moratorium on the federal... more
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