1998 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 Quad Cab The first 4-door pickup that's not a crew cab. By Jim McCraw, New Car Test Drive .com

Dodge has been playing the pickup game beautifully ever since it introduced the Ram in 1994. With this year's introduction of a 4-door extended-cab pickup truck, Dodge has fired yet another shot across the bow of Ford, Chevy and GMC, which offer only three doors on their extended-cabs. The new Dodge Quad Cab, as it is called, is an option on all 1500 and 2500 extended cab trucks and it's standard on the big 3500 models.

That one major product advantage is backed up by a host of other significant changes for 1998 from one end of the Ram family to the other. Interiors have been given a thorough makeover for the new year. A passenger-side air bag that can be switched off is now available.

For 1998, buyers will be able to get either a V10 gasoline engine or the Cummins turbodiesel in a 2500 series truck.