Dodge Ramcharger: which version to buy and why
If you are choosing a Dodge Ramcharger rather than reading a first-time overview, the catalogue data collapse to one decision: 5.2 MT, 5.2 AT, or 5.9 MT. Those three names repeat in 1 generation (1974-01-01 to 1980-12-31), 2 generation (1981-01-01 to 1996-12-31), and 3 generation (1999-01-01 to 2001-12-31).
If you are choosing a Dodge Ramcharger rather than reading a first-time overview, the catalogue data collapse to one decision: 5.2 MT, 5.2 AT, or 5.9 MT. Those three names repeat in 1 generation (1974-01-01 to 1980-12-31), 2 generation (1981-01-01 to 1996-12-31), and 3 generation (1999-01-01 to 2001-12-31). Horsepower, torque, displacement, gearbox, drive, tank, and ground clearance do not change from generation to generation in this dataset. Year of production therefore does not buy a different engine on paper. What changes the numbers is the version name.
There is no measured price in the source, so “what you pay extra for” here means extra displacement, extra horsepower, extra newton-metres, and the gearbox you accept. Fuel consumption is not measured on any version. 0–100 km/h is not measured on any version. A hybrid Ramcharger is not in this catalogue. Wheel sizes are not measured.
Dodge Ramcharger specs that actually differ between versions
Across all three generations the body is SUV 3-doors and drive is RWD. Fuel is 95. Injection is Central injection (single-point or single- point). Boost is No. Cylinders are 8, layout V-shaped, 2 valves per cylinder. Compression ratio is 9.2 on every engine.
| Version | Generation years | hp (kW @ rpm) | Nm @ rpm | Displacement, cm³ | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.2 MT | 1974–1980, 1981–1996, 1999–2001 | 172 (127 @ 4000) | 353 @ 2500 | 5210 | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | Manual, 4 | RWD |
| 5.2 AT | 1974–1980, 1981–1996, 1999–2001 | 172 (127 @ 4000) | 353 @ 2500 | 5210 | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | Automatic, 3 | RWD |
| 5.9 MT | 1974–1980, 1981–1996, 1999–2001 | 193 (142 @ 4000) | 396 @ 2400 | 5898 | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | Manual, 4 | RWD |
5.2 MT and 5.2 AT share the same engine numbers. The only driveline difference in the table is Manual 4 versus Automatic 3. 5.9 MT is the only version with a larger engine: +688 cm³, +21 hp, +15 kW, +43 Nm, peak torque 100 rpm earlier (2400 versus 2500).
Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 5.2 MT and 5.2 AT are 172 ÷ 5.210 ≈ 33.0 hp/l. 5.9 MT is 193 ÷ 5.898 ≈ 32.7 hp/l. The larger engine is not more specific; it is simply larger. Bore × stroke is 99.31 × 84.07 on both 5.2 versions and 101.6 × 90.93 on 5.9 MT.
Dodge Ramcharger horsepower and engine: 5.2 versus 5.9
Search queries about Dodge Ramcharger engine, hp, and engine options map onto these two gasoline V-shaped 8-cylinder units only.
5.2 MT / 5.2 AT: 5210 cm³, 172 hp, 127 kW at 4000 rpm, 353 Nm at 2500 rpm. That is 100 × 21 / 172 ≈ 12.2% less peak power than 5.9 MT, and 100 × 43 / 353 ≈ 12.2% less peak torque.
5.9 MT: 5898 cm³, 193 hp, 142 kW at 4000 rpm, 396 Nm at 2400 rpm. Displacement is 100 × 688 / 5210 ≈ 13.2% larger than 5210 cm³. Power and torque rise by about 12%, not by the full 13% of capacity — specific output is slightly lower, as above.
If the question is “which engine,” the catalogue answer is binary: 172 hp on 5.2 MT and 5.2 AT, 193 hp on 5.9 MT. There is no third engine, no boost option, and no measured difference in engine output between 1 generation, 2 generation, and 3 generation for the same version name.
Kerb weight is 1800 kg where it is measured (5.2 MT and 5.9 MT). Weight per horsepower: 1800 ÷ 172 ≈ 10.5 kg/hp on 5.2 MT; 1800 ÷ 193 ≈ 9.3 kg/hp on 5.9 MT. The 5.9 therefore carries about 1.2 kg less per horsepower at the same 1800 kg kerb figure. 5.2 AT kerb weight is not measured, so kg/hp cannot be calculated for the automatic.
Performance, mpg, and top speed
0–100 km/h is not measured for 5.2 MT, 5.2 AT, or 5.9 MT in any generation.
Dodge Ramcharger mpg (city, highway, mixed) is not measured for any version. CO2 is not measured. Eco class is not measured. Anyone comparing running cost from this catalogue has no consumption number to use.
Top speed is measured on the two manuals only:
- 5.2 MT: 160 km/h (all three generations).
- 5.9 MT: 170 km/h (all three generations) — 10 km/h more than 5.2 MT.
- 5.2 AT: top speed not measured.
The extra 21 hp and 43 Nm on 5.9 MT coincide with that 10 km/h higher measured maximum. Whether the automatic is slower is not in the data.
Dodge Ramcharger weight, dimensions, tank, and clearance
Length, width, size, and wheelbase are not measured for any version. Wheel sizes are not measured. Ground clearance is 200 mm on 5.2 MT, 5.2 AT, and 5.9 MT in every generation — buying another generation does not buy more clearance in this dataset.
Fuel tank is 129 litres on every version. That figure does not help mpg comparison because consumption is not measured.
Weights:
- 5.2 MT: kerb 1800 kg, gross 2500 kg. Payload arithmetic: 2500 − 1800 = 700 kg.
- 5.2 AT: kerb not measured, gross 2500 kg. Payload cannot be calculated.
- 5.9 MT: kerb 1800 kg, gross not measured. Payload cannot be calculated.
If you need a measured kerb-and-gross pair, only 5.2 MT supplies both. 5.9 MT matches the 1800 kg kerb of 5.2 MT but does not publish gross. 5.2 AT matches the 2500 kg gross of 5.2 MT but does not publish kerb.
Suspension is Independent, spring front and Independent, spring rear on all versions. Front brakes are Disc on all. Rear brakes split: Disc on 5.2 MT and 5.2 AT; Drum on 5.9 MT. That is a chassis difference tied to the 5.9, not to generation.
Generations: what year changes — and what it does not
1 generation (1974-01-01–1980-12-31): SUV 3-doors, three versions (5.2 MT, 5.2 AT, 5.9 MT). Calendar span from the dates: 1980 − 1974 + 1 = 7 years.
2 generation (1981-01-01–1996-12-31): same body, same three version names, same hp/Nm/displacement/gearbox/drive/tank/clearance as 1 generation. Calendar span: 1996 − 1981 + 1 = 16 years — the longest window, which is why year-specific searches (1984–1993 engines and horsepower) still land on these same three spec rows.
3 generation (1999-01-01–2001-12-31): again the same three versions and the same numbers. Calendar span: 2001 − 1999 + 1 = 3 years. Between 2 generation stop 1996-12-31 and 3 generation start 1999-01-01 the catalogue has no Ramcharger generation.
There is no restyling listed as a separate generation. There is no measured change in power, torque, tank, or clearance when you move from 1 generation to 2 generation to 3 generation for a given version name. Choosing a generation is therefore a year-and-body-era choice, not a spec upgrade in this source.
Which Dodge Ramcharger version to choose
Choose 5.2 MT if you want the only version with a complete measured weight pair (1800 kg kerb, 2500 kg gross, 700 kg arithmetic payload), rear Disc brakes, Manual 4, RWD, 172 hp / 353 Nm from 5210 cm³, and a measured top speed of 160 km/h. Specific output is the higher of the two engines (≈33.0 hp/l). Weight per horsepower is ≈10.5 kg/hp.
Choose 5.2 AT if the gearbox is the point: Automatic 3 on the same 172 hp / 353 Nm / 5210 cm³ Gasoline 8 V-shaped engine, same 129-litre tank, same 200 mm clearance, same 2500 kg gross, rear Disc. You give up a measured top speed, a measured kerb weight, and one gear (3 versus 4). You do not gain horsepower versus 5.2 MT.
Choose 5.9 MT if the extra engine is the point: +688 cm³, +21 hp, +15 kW, +43 Nm, torque peak at 2400 rpm instead of 2500, top speed 170 km/h instead of 160, same 1800 kg kerb as 5.2 MT where kerb is measured, so ≈9.3 kg/hp instead of ≈10.5. Gearbox is still Manual 4, drive still RWD. Trade-offs in the data: rear Drum instead of Disc, gross weight not measured, specific output slightly lower (≈32.7 hp/l).
Do not choose by generation if you are shopping for a different horsepower figure: 5.2 MT is 172 hp in 1 generation, 2 generation, and 3 generation; 5.9 MT is 193 hp in all three. Do not choose by mpg: not measured. Do not choose by 0–100: not measured. Do not choose a hybrid or a 2026/2027 catalogue row: those versions are not in this dataset. Parts and engine-bay questions are outside these numbers; the engine options that are in the numbers are only 5.2 MT, 5.2 AT, and 5.9 MT.