The large headline right here ought to be: The V8 is useless. Ram’s now legendary “Hemi” V8, part of the Dodge/Ram pickup-truck engine household since 2003, is being retired for 2025. Extra on that in a second…
There are many extra headlines, too. Considerably up to date for 2025, the Ram 1500 lineup boasts new tech options, a brand new prime trim stage, and new styling. And, because of the adjustments below the hood, the Ram TRX, a hyper-powerful off-road-ready model of the truck, retires after the 2024 mannequin yr.
New to the Ram for 2025 are two variations of the Stellantis “Hurricane” twin-turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine. Already in service below the hood of the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, the Hurricane engine displaces 3.0-liters, and boasts some spectacular energy numbers.
And whereas some dyed-in-the-wool V8 adherents might decry the absence of an 8-cylinder engine within the Ram 1500 lineup, understand that Ford has been promoting turbocharged “EcoBoost” V6 engines within the model’s F-150 pickup for greater than a decade.
By the numbers, the Excessive Output (a standard-output variant can be provided) inline-6 Hurricane engine delivers 145 extra horsepower and 111 pound-feet extra torque than the outgoing 5.7-liter Hemi. So, is the Hurricane a greater truck engine than the Hemi? Sure. And no.
The Hurricane’s torque output actually helps critical towing. That stated, most Ram towing capability for 2025 falls to 11,580 kilos, considerably wanting the 12,750 ranking of final yr’s Ram. After all, there’s extra to towing-capacity scores than simply the engine. However, the Hurricane powerplant is topic to a situation the outdated Hemi by no means fell prey to: turbo lag.
2023 Detroit Auto Present: 2024 Ford F-150
For these not within the know, turbo lag is a quick delay in energy supply. As a result of turbocharged engines depend on air compressed by a turbine within the exhaust system, they could be topic to a interval of low energy supply induced by the point it takes compressed air to journey from the turbine to the engine itself. The delay is normally transient, however can hinder acceleration, with the outcome being less-than-satisfactory throttle response.
We discovered the Ram’s around-town acceleration—even from a cease—simply nice, with loads of energy for fast getaways. The place we observed lag was underway. For instance, after we have been touring 55 mph and wanted to succeed in 70 mph with a view to go slow-moving visitors, we took notice of a protracted pause between the second we “hit the fuel,” and when the engine lastly responded to our request for extra energy.
We discovered this attention-grabbing as Alan Falkowski, director of the Propulsion Part Product Launch Middle for Ram, made it some extent to say throughout his press presentation that every turbocharger is fed by three cylinders. This splits the work between the 2 turbos, thereby eliminating turbo lag.
It’s doable Ram engineers are nonetheless tweaking the engine, and this was an aberration distinctive to pre-production fashions. So, in the event you’re fearful about turbo lag, and also you’re fascinated about a 2025 Ram 1500, ensure you do some freeway passing/acceleration runs throughout your take a look at drive, and see for your self the way it feels.
Along with the 540-horsepower, Excessive Output Hurricane, the 2025 Ram 1500 is obtainable with two different powerplants: the tried-and-true 3.6-liter “Pentastar” V6 (which options Ram’s eTorque mild-hybrid system), and the usual Hurricane—additionally a 3.0-liter inline 6–that delivers 420 horsepower and 469 pound-feet of torque.
With the largest elephant within the room out of the best way, what else is new for Ram’s widespread pickup?
Check Drive: 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2
Effectively-heeled customers will probably be to study that for 2025, the Ram mannequin vary is capped by an all-new topline Tungsten trim stage. Slotted above the earlier top-tier, and nonetheless obtainable, Restricted within the Ram secure, the Tungsten options an much more luxurious cabin, and a fair longer roster of ordinary options.
Suppose giant luxurious sedan, and also you’ll be near what the Tungsten is all about. The brand new extra-regal Ram contains such premium touches as a suede headliner, 24-way massaging energy entrance seats, a 14.5-inch infotainment display, and an ultra-premium 23-speaker Klipsch-brand audio system. For probably the most half, the Tungsten seems prime notch, however there are a pair misses that make us query the $12,000 improve over the already luxurious Restricted.
First up, the one inside colour choice is an Indigo/Sea Salt mixture that appears pretty, however we fear that the Sea Salt seat bottoms will shortly develop into dingy with put on. And, in the event you’ve bought any spillers in your loved ones, neglect about it.
We have been additionally dissatisfied by among the dashboard supplies. Whereas in combination the cabin seems incredible, some items of the sprint have been disappointingly frequent trying, and less than our almost $100,000 expectations. Be aware that for 2025, the Tungsten will probably be provided solely in crew-cab configuration, and comes solely with a 5-foot, 7-inch “quick mattress.”
That stated, there’s plenty of actually cool new know-how available on the 2025 Ram 1500. In the course of the media preview, we drove solely Restricted and Tungsten fashions, and had the chance to mess around with the newly obtainable 10.25-inch passenger-side display that accesses leisure, navigation, and digicam performance. The secondary touchscreen shouldn’t be seen to the driving force, however is completely sized and positioned to be used by the front-seat passenger.
2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger: First Look
New to the 2025 1500 is Ram’s semi-autonomous Arms-Free Lively Driving Help function. Whereas it’s not as sturdy as Basic Motors’ Tremendous Cruise system (no computerized lane-change function), it felt extra secure than Ford’s Blue Cruise, which tends to bobble the car between the lane strains.
Additionally new for 2025 is a twin wi-fi telephone charger, a quicker Uconnect 5 infotainment working system, a digital inside rear-camera mirror, and an enormous 10-inch configurable head-up show. And within the mattress, 110-volt shops which offer as much as 2 kW of energy.
I do know what you’re pondering: That’s plenty of tech for a truck. I’ve heard plenty of complaints on social media these days about pickup-truck pricing, and the way the common truck man is being squeezed out of the market. Why, some guys have requested, can’t there be a base truck with crank home windows and no infotainment system? I hear you, however it appears that evidently ship has sailed, my buddies.
The common transaction worth of a brand new car in 2024 is about $47,000, and whereas there are nonetheless two fashions within the 2025 Ram lineup that are available in below that determine, they’ll be extra tech ahead than some truck guys need. We have been in a position to do a stroll round of the value-oriented Ram 1500 Large Horn, for instance, and whereas it’s fitted with every-man fabric seats, it was outfitted with an obtainable 12-inch vertical infotainment display, and a small digital driver-information show between the analog speedometer and tachometer. Kinda techy for an entry-level pickup. Each the Tradesman and Large Horn come commonplace with an 8.4-inch information display–however it’s nonetheless a display. And, no, there aren’t any hand crank home windows wherever.
OK, so we’ve plenty of tech, the TRX is useless, and also you solely have two trim ranges that fall under the common transaction worth of a brand new car. What’s the 2025 Ram 1500 lineup, and the way does it worth out? Together with the $1,995 vacation spot charges, it seems like this:
Tradesman: $42,270
Large Horn/Lone Star: $46,930
Laramie: $62,025
Insurgent: $66,190
Restricted: $77,150
Restricted Longhorn: $77,645
Tungsten: $89,150
Total, the 2025 Ram 1500 stays a terrific truck. It’s comfy on the freeway, and the tech options work the best way they need to. Be aware, we did take a brief drive off street within the ruggedly outfitted Insurgent, which appears as prepared as ever to depart the pavement. We anticipate to spend extra time with the Insurgent at a later date.
What’s the F-150 Lobo?
As a petite driver, I did have some forward-facing visibility points, however that’s par for the course with a full-size truck. There are nonetheless some extra fundamental choices obtainable, however the high-end lux-level Tungsten trim is a delight, with its seat massagers and extremely adjustable headrests.
With Ram’s improved reliability scores–it at the moment tops Shopper Stories’ predicted-reliability checklist for full-size vehicles–the 2025 Ram 1500 simply is likely to be the truck to purchase this yr.
Be aware: The up to date Ram 1500 is simply a part of the Ram pickup information for 2025. Within the works, and due moderately quickly, are the RAM 1500 REV all-electric pickup, and the 1500 Ramcharger plug-in hybrid electrical pickup. Keep tuned!
Large-Rig Model: What If Semi-Truck Makers Constructed Pickups?
2025 Ram 1500 Gallery
(Click on under for enlarged pictures)
Son of Slant Six: Meet the Stellantis Hurricane Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Shopper Information Automotive Stuff Podcast Episode 206: Ionna Saves Public Charging, Better of the Chicago Auto Present, The Way forward for Jeep
