Dodge Ram 1500 reviews

2007 Dodge Ram 1500 Interior Features

The Dodge Ram is among the roomiest of the full-size pickups, and its cab is a pleasant place to be. It sacrifices a few inches of bed space for interior space.

Regular Cab and Quad Cab versions offer identical roominess in the front seats. Standard front seating in the Ram is a bench split 40/20/40. The narrow center section features a large fold-down armrest with a compartment big enough to hold a laptop. We've found both the cloth and the leather seats comfortable. The driving position is good, with good visibility in all directions, though the aerodynamic front end makes it impossible to see the front corners. Big mirrors on the Ram make it easy to see what's behind.

We found the bucket seats in the Sport version comfortable and supportive and the sporty fabric looks durable. New fabrics for '07 are designed to be more stain and odor-resistant than before, while also reducing static cling. Laramie models get silver trim adorning the door panels and instrument bezels. Laramie comes with distinctive leather trim, with higher-contrast color seat inserts.

The Ram interior shows attention to details that add utility and convenience. The big fold-down center armrest/console comes with adjustable dividers and a power outlet. A hook on the passenger-side floor well is provided for securing a plastic grocery bag or anything else with suitable handles.

A power accessory delay and active turn signals have been added for '07. Premium amenities such as the full-screen GPS navigation radio and Bluetooth hands-free communications are available, along with a rear-seat DVD system for Quad Cabs. We found the navigation radio to be a nice design and relatively easy to operate; these systems are getting better all the time and the latest Chrysler Group's systems work quite well.

Overall, the center dash is a paradigm of convenience. Large heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) buttons can be operated while wearing gloves. A textured fabric is used for trim around the audio and HVAC controls that gives the center dash a nice look and feel. Just below the heating controls is a slot lined with a rubber mat that's perfect for a wallet. A big panel below that folds down with adjustable cup holders. Overhead is a console with an effective pair of map lights, a trip computer, a compartment for sunglasses, and a compass, which every self-respecting truck should have.

The design of the standard audio system could be improved for ease of use. Sometimes you have to search for the right button to press. Setting a preset for a station requires pressing a separate Set button, rather than just holding the preset button down. Small, sliding bass and treble controls are harder to adjust than knobs when bouncing around in a pickup truck. Steering wheel audio controls improve this situation with brilliantly designed buttons behind the steering wheel that are easy to use. Likewise, cruise controls on the steering wheel are easy to operate and come packaged with a tilt steering column.

The interior materials appear to be of good quality. The available faux wood surface on the center stack looks okay, though it's clearly not wood, partly because of the way it's molded around the nooks and crannies. White-faced instruments with turquoise numbers look sporty and trendy, but don't offer the legibility of traditional white-on-black designs, particularly at dusk. The top brow of the instrument panel provides glare protection in bright sunlight. At night, the instruments are nicely illuminated in green.

Power adjustable pedals let shorter drivers adjust their seating position better so they aren't sitting so close to the airbag. This improves comfort, safety, and drivability. Power adjustable pedals are a good choice for two-driver families because they allow shorter drivers to move farther away from the airbag-armed steering wheel, reducing the chance of airbag injuries.

Regular Cab models