Ram 1500 and Ram 1500 Rebel. What’s the Difference?

2017 Ram 1500

Available in nine trims, all depending on various configurations, the Ram 1500 offers three engine options, two drivetrains, three cab sizes, and three truck bed lengths.

The Ram 1500 comes standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine with VVT. Generating 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque, it’s a pretty impressive engine, especially considering that it is the smaller of the two engine options currently available on the Ram 1500 lineup. (A third engine option, the 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel, won’t be available until later this year.) The 3.6L V6 engine provides a maximum towing capacity of up to 7,580 pounds, and a fuel economy of 17/25 mpg city/highway.

2017 Ram 1500 Rebel

Standard on the Ram 1500 Rebel is the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine that generates 395 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque (buyers can upgrade all Ram 1500 trims to this engine). Surprisingly, it has a fuel economy of 15/22 mpg city/highway; not far off from the standard fuel economy of the V6, and that’s thanks to this engine being built with a multi-displacement system (MDS), a technology that shuts off four of the eight cylinders in the V8 at steady speeds. The Rebel’s max towing capacity is nearly a third more (10,140 pounds) than Ram 1500 models equipped with the 3.6L engine.

2017 Ram 1500 Exterior

The standard Ram 1500 trucks come with automatic headlamps, fog lamps*, LED bed lightingǂ, a locking tailgate, power heated mirrors with turn signals, and ride on 17- or 20-inch wheels. The Ram 1500 lineup consists of three cab sizes and three lengths for the truck bed.

2017 Ram 1500 Rebel Exterior

There are major aesthetic changes between the Ram 1500 and the Ram 1500 Rebel. For starters, the Ram 1500 is only available with a crew cab and 5’7” truck bed. Also, the Ram 1500’s stock crosshair grille design has been replaced with an all black grille with the letters “RAM” in the center and a bit of a lip. In addition to the black grille, black is also used on the front fascia, the wheels and wheel arches (with wheel flares), the front and back bumpers, the”RAM” logo on the tailgate, and the lower body panels. It also comes with a black “5.7L HEMI” badge, a flat black “Ram 1500” badge, and a Rebel license plate bracket.

2017 Ram 1500 Interior

Found in the Ram 1500 truck are cloth trimmed seats with leather as an option on select trims, 40/20/40 split bench seating, heated front seats, the option of ventilated front seats and heated second row seats, a rear folding seat, a rear under seat cargo compartment, dual-zone automatic temperature control, auto dimming rearview and exterior mirrors, tinted glass windows, a rear (power) sliding window, and a heated steering wheel.

2017 Ram 1500 Rebel Interior

The Ram 1500 Rebel does not come with a front split bench seat but it does come with heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, a 40/60 rear split-folding seat, a rear under seat storage compartment, dual zone automatic a/c, and the other options listed. It also comes standard with LED interior lighting, a leather wrapped steering wheel, and luxury front and rear floor mats.