Special to The Washington Post The bottom line: The Ram 1500 Crew Cab SLT can 'do what a truck do.' But I wish it would do it with diesel instead of gasoline. Complaints: Other than fuel economy -- that is, the lack of it -- I have none. Ride, acceleration and handling: It rides and handles discernibly better than most of its genre. But gentility does not undermine its truck genetics. Acceleration is good. But you shove down that gas pedal at risk to your wallet. Head-turning quotient: Muscular to the max. It's intimidating. Body style/layout: The Ram 1500 Crew Cab SLT is a standard-size, front-engine pickup with four side doors and a short cargo bed (5 feet 6 inches). It is available with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. Engines/transmission: A 4.7-liter, 310-horsepower V-8 (330 foot-pounds of torque) is standard. The test model was equipped with the optional 5.7-liter, 390-horsepower V-8 (410 foot-pounds) and a five-speed automatic transmission. Tech option note: Those Ram Boxes! They have to be among the best, most useful pickup-truck options ever -- lockable saddle boxes embedded in the rear fenders, great for carrying tools, hunting and fishing gear -- or for picnics. Capacities: There are seats for six people. The Ram 1500 Crew Cab SLT can be equipped to carry a payload -- onboard weight -- of 1,430 pounds. It can tow a trailer weighing up to 8,550 pounds. Fuel capacity is 26 gallons. It can take regular gasoline, or 85 percent gasoline in available FlexFuel models. Mileage: In the tested model with four-wheel drive, using regular gasoline, I got 15 miles per gallon combined city-highway. Safety: Standard equipment includes ventilated front disc brakes, solid rear discs; four-wheel antilock brake protection; electronic braking assistance for added vehicle control in panic stops; electronic stability and traction control; and head air bags. Side air bags were not available at this writing. Price: The base price (2009 listing) on the Ram 1500 Crew Cab SLT with all-wheel drive is $32,945. Dealer's invoice price on that model is $29,497. Price as tested is $38,700, including $4,885 in options (5.7-liter V-8 engine, 20-inch wheels, auxiliary power outlet, heated/foldaway side mirrors; 'detonator yellow' exterior paint) and a $900 destination charge. Dealer's price as tested is $34,524. There are discounts aplenty. Prices are sourced from Chrysler, Edmunds.com and Cars.com, an affiliate of The Washington Post. 