This week's test drive was a combination of polar opposites into one vehicle. You may have seen the ads regarding a truck that swallowed a luxury vehicle. Well, that's pretty much what I drove this last week. In other words, the 2009 Dodge ram will let you tow your boat to the lake while enjoying ventilated front seats. Or fast-forward a couple of months, and you can tow someone out of a snow bank while your hands heat up with a steering wheel warmer, a first in any Chrysler vehicle.

Although luxury features are not new in the automotive industry, it sure was a nice addition to the Dodge Ram the folks at Michigan loaned me. However don't get too excited, all of it will come at a steep price. $50,475 to be exact. A number that can weigh extremely heavy in consumer's pockets, especially in economic times like these.

However, as the old adage says quality will come at a price. And all the bells and whistles on this truck were meticulously thought out to enhance driver and passenger experiences. For example, if you have small kids, they can ride in the back while watching satellite TV. An offering that brings three channels from Sirius TV; offering Disney, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. the driver and front seat passenger can also watch TV, but only when the truck is in park and the emergency brake is engaged.

Now Dodge's bread-and-butter truck offers other unique settings. Head to the back of the 2009 Dodge Ram and you will find cargo boxes incorporated with the bed. It's an industry-first that Dodge calls RamBox. It is a cargo management system (crew-size cab) that includes versatile, weatherproof, lockable, illuminated and drainable storage bins built into bed rails; pickup bed divider/2-foot bed extender; and cargo rail system with four sliding, adjustable cleats. The RamBox bins hold up to 10 cases of 12-ounce beverages--that's about 120 cans--or other gear for work or leisure.

Take a look under the hood and you will find a new generation 5.7L Hemi engine producing 390 hp and 407 lb.-ft. of torque. The truck has the capacity to kill up to 9100 pounds. The folks at Dodge however have been working hard on a new offering for the 2010 model. As announced earlier this month, the next year model Dodge Ram will be able to tow approximately around 14,000 pounds with the right configuration, making this a stronger workhorse truck.

Another new segment-first innovation for the 2009 Dodge Ram Crew 1500 is a pair of "store in the floor" bins with removable liners that offer even more versatile storage--large enough for ten 12-ounce beverages and ice.

There are many other convenient storage locations throughout the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram including a large upper glove box, map pockets in door panels and a configurable center console. All in all, there are nearly twice as many storage locations (38) in the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram than were in the previous model.

Technically sophisticated, yet simple-to-navigate electronic and infotainment choices include MyGIG Multimedia Infotainment System with 30-gigabyte hard drive, navigation system, and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system available in the Quad Cab and crew cab.

On the safety and security front, the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram offers more than 30 active and passive safety features, including standard front and rear side-curtain air bags with enhanced accident response system, knee bolsters, seat-belt pre-tensioners, ABS, BeltAlert System, and electronic stability control; and available

adjustable pedals, rear parking sensors and rear back-up camera.

Expect 13 mpg for in city driving and around 18 mpg for the highway.

Base Price - $35,100

Price as tested - $50,475

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Daniel Souza can be reached at yourcarczar@gmail.com