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Sometimes less is more, but not when it comes to pickups and doors.

When Ford made the third door standard on the F-150, it caught the other truck makers off guard, and they scrambled to add a third door to their own trucks. For 1998, Dodge has taken a lesson learned from its minivans: If three doors are good, four is even better.

The Dodge Ram Quad Cab is the first extended-cab pickup truck to have access doors on both sides. Not a crew cab, or true four-door truck, the Quad Cab has two small doors behind the regular doors. The argument about whether the driver’s side or curb side is best is now moot. Doors on both sides mean you can use whichever is best given the circumstance.

While the extra doors make it easy to get into or out of the back seat, bear in mind that it is not as big as a regular seat. Legroom is adequate for adults, and the seating position is rather upright, but you won’t want to spend a long time there. This space is more suitable for kids, dogs or a few sacks of groceries.

Normally, getting into the back seat of an extended-cab truck requires your passenger to duck under a dangling seat belt, but Dodge has solved that problem by using front seats with the belts built in, like those of the Chrysler Sebring convertible. A nice solution to what could be a major aggravation. And, as a bonus, these seats have contours that make them comfortable.

Adding extra doors is not the only change for 1998. The instrument panel was redesigned to add dual airbags. It is also more functional and easier to use. The big cupholder that used to turn out from the top of the dash is gone, replaced by a large pull-out section in the lower part of the dash. This is the giant of all cupholders, and it can be adjusted to hold everything from a dainty cup to one of the biggest gulps you can find.

Two grab handles are built into the passenger side for help on getting up into the cabin, but there are none on the driver’s side. Short drivers could use a hand, as well.

The passenger-side airbag can be turned off if you have to carry small children or infant seats.

The large center armrest contains storage spaces inside for all manner of equipment and gadgets. If you need to seat three across it folds up for use as back rest by the person riding in the center.

Our test truck was a two-wheel-drive 1500 Sport. The grille and bumper were painted the same as the body for a sleeker look. With leather seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, it felt as plush as a fancy sedan. Extensive wood-grain trim and a whole host of convenience items enhanced the civilized nature of our test vehicle. It is clear that in today’s market a significant number of trucks are bought for personal use and many of the improvements for 1998 are an acknowledgment of that trend.

In the city, it drives like a tall car, but the minute you want to swing into a parking space at the shopping center you realize it is long er than your car.

Engine options for the Ram range from a 3.9-liter V6 to an 8.0-liter V10. Our truck had the 5.2-liter V8, and its 230 horsepower gave plenty of grunt. This is probably the most popular unit for everyday use. It sounded strong, and it even felt pretty snappy, especially without a load. If you find yourself carrying heavy loads or doing some serious towing you may well want the 5.9-liter, which has 245 horsepower, or the 300-horse V10. The V10 is similar to the engine in the Viper.

The overdrive switch for the automatic transmission has been moved to the end of the gearshift lever.

Even though rear-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS) are standard, our unit had the optional four-wheel ABS which is preferable in most conditions.

After driving this newest Ram for a week it is clear that the improvements have been worthwhile. Having a door on each side is quite handy, and the new dash is aesthetically pleasing as well as being more functional. The Ram ve Dodge truck sales a huge jump start, and there is no reason this one won’t keep it going.

Price

The base price of our test truck was $19,725, and it was loaded with a ton options. Leather seats, power windows and locks, heated outside mirrors, AM/FM stereo with compact disc player, keyless remote, tilt steering wheel, four-wheel ABS, limited-slip differential, 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, overhead console and power seats.

The sticker price was $28,240.

Warranty

The standard warranty is for three years or 36,000 miles.

Vehicles for The Star’s week-long test drives are supplied by the auto manufacturers.

Point: Adding dual access doors to the extended-cab Ram makes life easier for everyone that uses it. In addition, the new dash and dual airbags add to its car-like comfort level.

Counterpoint: While getting in is not hard, handles for the driver to grab would be handy. The doors often had to be shut twice because they didn’t latch firmly the first time.

SPECIFICATIONS:

ENGINE: 5.2-liter, V8

TRANSMISSION: automatic

WHEELBASE: 138.7 inches

GVWR: 6,400 lbs.

BASE PRICE: $19,725

PRICE AS DRIVEN: $28,240

MPG RATING: 13 city, 18 hwy.