2019 Ram 1500 Rebel Quad Cab: Quick Spin
When I was offered a week loan of a 2019 Ram 1500 Rebel Quad Cab, it took me a half second to say yes. I'd already driven a few versions of the all-new 2019 Ram 1500s, including a Big Horn crew cab, but this was my first drive in a Quad Cab. With the longer 6-foot, 4-inch bed, I thought this Ram 1500 would be a more useful configuration compared to the limo-long crew cab. My only complaint is you can't get the RamBox cargo storage system in the longer bed length for the 2019 model year. I'm hoping it will be offered down the road.
This non-air-suspension Rebel was equipped with Customer Preferred Package 25W. Its options include the Rebel Level 1 Equipment Group ($2,000,) which adds several comfort, convenience and connectivity items. This ran also had the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine ($1,195); black tubular side steps ($645); a 33-gallon fuel tank ($445); and a spray-in bedliner ($545).
The grand total for my test truck was $51,220 (including the $1,695 destination fee, the highest destination fee of any truckmaker), and it was finished in Bright White. I liked that the tire-tread seat covers that are less pronounced than in the first Rebel. I wasn't a fan of the red anodized trim around the interior, but I do appreciate that Ram is making efforts to differentiate the half ton's trim levels. The interior sported is some nice stitching throughout and soft-touch details around the door and center console.
I took the Rebel to the scale and with its optional 33-gallon tank full, it weighed in at exactly 5,600 pounds. The gross vehicle weight rating on the door jamb sticker was 7,100 pounds, leaving 1,500 pounds of calculated payload — a huge improvement from 2018 when a similarly equipped vehicle (Ram didn't offer a Quad Cab Rebel for 2018) would have been almost 500 pounds less capable. The tire and loading information sticker on the door jamb states the vehicle's payload at 1,651 pounds for passengers and cargo. I've found most half-ton pickups' door sticker payload numbers are a bit optimistic but usually within 100 pounds or so of calculated payloads.
My calculated fuel mileage was 13.9 mpg versus the computer trip calculator reading of 13.2 mpg for mostly city and some urban expressway driving. I wasn't able to put many miles on the Rebel during the weeklong loan, but two weeks later I had the opportunity drive one on an off-road course during the Midwest Automotive Media Association Fall Rally in Joliet, Ill. I watched a '19 Rebel scale some impressive obstacles with confidence, but most of my off-road drive was on a flatter, faster dirt course, which showed off the ability of the Rebel's four-corner coil spring suspension and Bilstein shocks, both of which soaked up bumps and provided a stable driving stance at higher speeds on a dry "two-rutter" course.
A Ram representative at the event said the Rebel's stock coil setup is better suited to more aggressive off-road driving with a taller stance and a touch more standard ground clearance. All in all, I found the 2019 Ram 1500 Rebel Quad Cab to be a competitively priced, sporty package with some real off-road chops. It deserves a hard look.
Cars.com photos by Andy Mikonis
