Ram Wants To Build an SUV, Believe It or Not

Ram split off from the Dodge brand way back in the before-time of 2009. The current lineup consists of pickup trucks and vans. Ram does trucks well, too. It knows its customer, and the 1500 boasts what I’d consider to be best-in-class interior design and overall ride quality. The van… gets the job done. Either way, the family will soon add another member. Not only is there a mid-size pickup on the way, but Ram will reportedly add an SUV to the mix by 2028.

Automotive News reports that Antonio Filosa, the CEO of Stellantis, told Wall Street analysts that the automaker will soon bring an SUV to market. The on-sale date is targeted for 2028. It will arrive with a choice between a standard gas or a range-extended hybrid setup. Given that Dodge has a new Durango planned for 2029, we wouldn’t be shocked to see these two SUVs share the same platform.

Does Ram actually need an SUV in its product portfolio, though? After all, parent company Stellantis owns a number of brands that offer a wide range of SUVs. You have everything from compact crossovers on up to full-size body-on-frame trucks—from the Dodge Hornet and Jeep Compass, to the Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Wagoneer.

On the luxury side of the coin, customers can turn to the Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and Grand Wagoneer side of the Stellantis dealer lots. If you prefer a rugged, adventure-ready rig, there’s a Wrangler waiting for you to rip its doors off and fill your dashboard with rubber duckies.

Ram adding an SUV to its lineup feels similar to when Land Rover was reportedly mulling over the idea of a sedan (remember that?). I’m not sure it’s really necessary. That doesn’t mean this future product won’t be well built, offer good power, and sell more than I expect.

As I said earlier, Ram knows its audience. The automaker brought back the Hemi V-8. Customers cheered, and third-quarter sales numbers saw a noticeable uptick, all despite the fact that the Hemi V-8 is more expensive, less powerful, and less efficient than the Hurricane twin-turbocharged inline-6. 

None of that matters to the customer who wants a V-8 under the hood of their Ram truck, though. And it likely won’t matter to a potential Ram SUV buyer that a Dodge Durango already exists. But it would be a bit hilarious if they used this model to revive the Ramcharger name. It’s a great name from a great bit of Dodge history, but if you have to tell people you bought a Ram Ramcharger, you’re just going to sound silly.

Regardless, I hope we eventually get an off-road-focused version of this Ram SUV. That way, we can see the return of the Trail Duster nameplate, too—a very fun trim name.