Dodge Ram 1500 Tops AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Four-Door Truck Rankings

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 24 The all-new 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab(TM) was ranked first in owner satisfaction among all four-door pickup trucks in AutoPacific Inc.'s 2002 Vehicle Satisfaction Score (VSS) study.

"We are gratified by this most recent award as it relates directly to our customer satisfaction with the new Dodge Ram," said Jim Julow, Vice President, Dodge Division Global Brand Center, DaimlerChrysler Corporation. "We feel that the combination of Dodge Ram's bold, 'big rig' styling, versatile body and powertrain options make it a leader in the segment and provide the best package of features for our customers."

The Tustin, California-based AutoPacific conducts the annual VSS study based upon research and feedback from 34,000 new vehicle owners. Owners rank vehicles on overall satisfaction, as well as 43 specific areas related to operation, comfort, safety and purchase/lease experience. Category winners receive AutoPacific's "speedform" award.

The Dodge Ram Quad Cab is unique among four-door pickup trucks, combining the versatility of four real doors without compromising payload or capability. The 2002 Dodge Ram Quad Cab remains essentially the same length as the previous-generation Ram model, making it easy to maneuver and pull in and out of the garage, yet benefitting from an extra three inches of interior room.

The Dodge Ram 1500 provides a standard six-foot-three-inch bed and an optional eight-foot bed. Dodge Ram Quad Cab's rear doors open 85 degrees and the windows lower all the way down and Quad Cab's rear seats feature an optional 60/40 split to accommodate passengers and cargo together.

"The four-door pickup subset is really on a roll," said George Peterson, Founder and President of AutoPacific. "The Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab has just the right formula. All four-doors are front-hinged, and the cabin is usefully lengthened three inches to provide real adult-size accommodation in the rear seat. What's more, the rear seat area is a real treat when folded, providing dedicated in-cabin load space for cargo. Way to go, Dodge!"