We have unsurprising news. That truck with American flags in the tail lights will be sold to Americans.
Earlier this week, Ram debuted a new compact truck much like the so-popular-it’s-always-sold-out Ford Maverick. Called the Ram Rampage, the truck is a 4-door unibody pickup with a short bed. Ram officially said the model would be sold in Brazil. But we were immediately suspicious that it would come to the United States as well.
What tipped us off? Probably the Stars-and-Stripes taillights. No, we’re not kidding. Look:
The Rebirth of the Little Truck
Compact pickups were once popular with Americans but disappeared from the market entirely about a decade ago. Trucks have steadily grown larger ever since. America’s three best-selling vehicles are all full-size trucks — the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ram 1500.
Ford and Chevrolet also build smaller midsize trucks, the Ford Ranger and Chevy Colorado.
True compact trucks small enough to fit within the footprint of a midsize car, however, didn’t exist for nearly a decade until Ford introduced the Maverick in 2022. It has been a smash hit ever since. Ford sold its entire 2023 production run of the truck in just six days and recently warned that it expects 2024 to be similar.
The Maverick is not particularly useful for contractors hauling enough drywall to finish a basement. But it’s ideal for weekend projects and easy to live with as an everyday driver. It’s also affordable — starting at just $22,595, and fuel efficient, with a hybrid powertrain in base models.
Rivals have finally caught on.
Reports: Ram Rampage, Small Chevy On the Way
The Drive reports that “a well-sourced informant with inside knowledge of Stellantis plans” has told the website that the Rampage “will indeed be brought to the U.S. market, with a debut scheduled for later this year.”
We’re still awaiting confirmation from Ram, along with specifications. The logical choice for the powertrain would probably be the Hurricane 4-cylinder engine found in the Dodge Hornet. But if Ram really wants to make a splash (and they so often do), they might also consider the Hornet’s other powertrain — a plug-in hybrid system that can travel up to 30 miles on electric power alone before using gas.
If true, the report means two of the Big Three are back in the compact truck game. The third may not be far behind. In January, trade publication Automotive News reported that Chevrolet has its own Maverick rival in the works, with an all-electric drivetrain.
