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The Ram Heavy Duty was unanimously voted 2010 Truck of the Year by the MOTOR TREND judges after an exhaustive evaluation process that included a full range of performance tests, on-road driving, and attribute-based tests. The Ram Heavy Duty’s stylish exterior, quiet and comfortable interior, efficient powertrains, impressive capability, and great value impressed the MOTOR TREND team.

“No automotive segment has been left untouched by the economic downturn, but the truck market has been especially hard hit,” said Angus MacKenzie, MOTOR TREND editor-in-chief. “With many casual personal use truck buyers having deserted the market, the industry been forced to tightly focus its products on the specific needs of truck users.”

The Ram range includes the 2500 and 3500 models, available with a variety of cab and bed configurations, and towing and payload capacities. The Ram 3500’s towing capacity is 17,500 pounds, and as the testers at this year’s Truck of the Year discovered, towing a large boat is very easy. The judges were also impressed by the Ram Heavy Duty’s Cummins diesel engine, which delivers 350hp and 650lb-ft of torque while meeting 50-state exhaust emissions standards without the need for the expensive urea after-treatment required by rival diesels.

“Despite the crimp in sales, there is still demand for heavy duty pickups ready to do the hard work. Many truck buyers still need the extreme capabilities of a heavy duty pickup truck,” said MacKenzie. “For them, hauling 20,000 pounds of cargo is part of everyday life. Much of what is so impressive about the Ram Heavy Duty is not only how easily it does all the tasks it’s built for, but also how easy it is on the driver. The Ram is quieter, more comfortable and people-friendly than before without sacrificing its considerable capability.”

Finally each contender was put through specific attribute tests — extreme towing, fast off-roading, basic load carrying — relevant to its intended function. Throughout the process the judges discuss, debate, and evaluate how each contender performs against the six criteria. At the end of the week-long process each judge votes in a secret ballot to determine the winner.

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