2010 4X4 Of The Year

Dodge Ram Power Wagon Crew Cab
The Power Wagon name has always stood for strength and off-road ability, and the '10 Dodge Ram Power Wagon has all that and a great place to sit and enjoy it. In 2009 Dodge redesigned its Ram 1500 series truck, and for 2010 many of the same interior upgrades and the new exterior look have been carried over to the Ram heavy-duty trucks, including the Power Wagon. This new Power Wagon has a more powerful Hemi V-8 gas engine than previous models, a larger four-door crew cab (regular cab and Quad Cab models are no longer available with the Power Wagon package), and an additional 9 inches of wheelbase (149.5 total).

The '10 Power Wagon still has much of the same powertrain and off-road attributes as the '05-'09 Power Wagons, including front and rear selectable lockers, electronic sway bar disconnect, 33-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires (and a suspension to clear them), tow hooks, extra skidplates, 4.56 gears, black door handles, 180-amp alternator, trailer tow package, black fender flares, cab clearance lamps, manually shifted transfer case, fog lamps, U-connect hands-free cell phone system, 17-inch aluminum wheels, and bigger, bolder graphics.

The biggest change to the Power Wagon besides the wheelbase and increased power is the styling. Our judges found both the interior and exterior appealing. The interior holds a truckload of storage cubbies, bins, and cup holders, including two gloveboxes, center consoles, and hidden in-floor storage bins.

Another change is a "Power Wagon" sticker package reminiscent of the '78/'79 Dodge Macho trucks. Dodge is likely looking for results similar to the Rubicon, where some buyers just want the special package without recognizing all the great capability.

The crew cab interior is far more livable than the old Ram, with less plastic, or at least a less perceived plastic feel. The ride quality was judged better than any 3/4-ton truck ever tested. This may be due to the retuned suspension and the hydromount rear cab mount that allows for more individual cab-to-chassis isolation. The rear seat offers so much room over the previous Quad Cab that four grown men can now enjoy four-wheeling.

One of the biggest complaints of the Power Wagon was the low-hanging rocker panels, which come down beside the framerails. The high floor also made stepping in a stretch for some drivers and rocker dings common when rockcrawling. Other issues were the hard-to-see lights on the locker and sway bar controls, and the lack of overhead grab handles for passengers getting bounced around off road.

The off-road performance of the Power Wagon was on par with its heritage; the truck was strong, heavy-steering, and properly geared (though a little lower wouldn't hurt), and it felt like a big brute in the dirt. The additional 9 inches of wheelbase were noticeable when trying to weave through rock gardens, but appreciated on steep hillclimbs. The truck battered across the high-speed off-road section of the test with judges enjoying the power but frowning on the bouncy, heavy, rough ride.

Performance on loose sand wasn't much better. Wheelhop and chassis bounce shook judges to death.

While the desert prerunning didn't suit the Power Wagon, the off-road trails, hillclimbs, and rockcrawls did. The plethora of skidplates, the strong axles and suspension, and the never-ending traction had judges calling it the best work/farm/tow/hunting truck of the group.

The Quotes
•"Best-riding 3/4-ton truck I've driven"
•"A bit big for tight trails, and the body hangs too low."
•"It's the rescue vehicle of the group. Unstoppable."