2015 Ram 1500 Rebel Review

It’s fitting we’re standing next to a lava red 2015 Ram 1500 Rebel in Cinder Hills just outside of Flagstaff, Arizona, seeing how a volcanic eruption created this whole area almost a thousand years ago. We tap a boot against one of the Rebel’s 33-inch Toyo Open Country tires, letting ash fall back onto the black hills, before climbing back into the Rebel’s cab and cranking over its 5.7-liter Hemi V-8.

As the ground climbs, loose gravel gets tossed around by the Toyo tires, which are digging the rear end into the ground as they try to put down 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. The V-8-equipped Rebels come standard with rear-wheel drive, but thankfully this one has the optional four-wheel drive. We put the transfer case in four-high and gently reapply the throttle, easing toward the dormant volcano in the distance.

The Ram 1500 Rebel’s air suspension, coupled to Bilstein dampers, soaks up ruts as we watch the GPS’s altimeter click toward 8,000 feet. Pointed straight up toward the sky, we crane our neck to peer over the Rebel’s bulged hood, hoping to get a glimpse of flat land. As we tip over the summit’s crest, we see white-capped mountain peaks and dense green forests. We put the transfer case in four-low for our descent, entering nearby woods just as a heavy blanket of snow comes down. The pure white snow gives way to thick brown mud as we charge down the trail, the big Toyos clearing slop from their tread blocks as we go.