Midsize pickup trucks are showing signs of making a comeback after a protracted absence, during which time most pickup trucks adopted the styling and exterior dimensions of diesel locomotives. But with the debuts of the even smaller Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz, some automakers are sensing favorable conditions for more compact lifestyle or work trucks that actually have a chance of squeezing through an ATM drive-through lane without scraping the curb.
Ram took the wraps off the Rampage this week down south, by which we mean Brazil, dusting off a nameplate some will remember as part of a duo that included the Plymouth Scamp. Now a four-door model, the Ram Rampage promises modest exterior dimensions roughly akin to the Maverick along with thrifty gas and diesel powerplants in its home market.
But could it also make its way stateside?
The Rampage, set to be offered in three flavors including Rebel, Laramie, and R/T, will get a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, good for 268 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, as an option in all three trims paired with a nine-speed automatic. But an even sweeter option will be a 2.0-liter turbodiesel in the Rebel and Laramie trims with 170 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque on tap. And by sweeter we mean more rumbly and economical, but not necessarily quicker, completing the jog to 62 mph in about 10 seconds.
The tradeoff will be a higher payload capacity, with the oil-scented version offering to carry 2237 pounds of stuff, while the gas-engined Rampage will carry 1653 pounds. All three versions will feature all-wheel drive as standard.
On the inside, drivers will find a 10.3-inch infotainment screen and optional goodies such as ambient LED lighting, so this won't be the Rampage of yesteryear when it comes to options and tech, or safety systems for that matter. The small truck will offer adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and seven airbags, among other features. A 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system will also be on the menu for a few extra reals, as will LED lighting and a 12-way power-adjustable front passenger seat.
Speaking of currency "down under," hold off a minute before you pull out that bag of Brazilian reals you've been stashing under your bed. For one thing, Ram will have to build the truck stateside to offer it here thanks to the Chicken Tax, and for now the truck maker hasn't mentioned plans to do so. Ram also needs a solid business case to offer the model here and would need to market the attraction of less truck after decades of trying to convince buyers (with plenty of success) that they need more truck.
Ford has been able to make such an argument with a hybrid powertrain in the Maverick as well as a starting price just over $24,000 for the entry XL trim, and Ram will have to do the same with its wee trucklet. The vast gap between the Rampage and the entry-level full-size Ram 1500 and likely price will perhaps help make the case for a smaller, less expensive option for those on a budget, especially as new vehicle prices have ballooned out of reach for some shoppers. At least these factors should help make the case for building and offering the Rampage stateside.
Should Ram offer the Rampage in the US, or is the small truck segment already well served by the Maverick and the Santa Cruz? Let us know your thoughts.