Back in 2009, RAM became its own stand-alone entity, splitting away from its one-time parent Dodge Division and beginning its next very successful automotive chapter. This allowed Dodge to focus upon spirited sedans, coupes and crossovers while RAM spearheaded body-on-frame trucks built for the daily work grind with a heavy emphasis upon versatility.
General Motors has its GMC truck division pumping out a variety of light and heavy-duty pickup trucks but also five-door crossovers. Think Ram in 2025 and selections narrow to versatile light and heavy-duty (HD) pickups (1500, 2500, 3500) and a variety of ProMaster cargo-type vans and chassis cabs. Dodge itself introduced the RAM name into its collection back in 1981.
Back in 2009 during the Dodge-Ram split, both nameplates sold under the Daimler-Chrysler Corporate umbrella since the 1998 merger between Chrysler Corp. and Daimler-Benz, but additional consolidations were on the horizon. Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram briefly folded into private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management in 2007 before a merger with Italian automaker Fiat in 2014 creating Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Seven years later, FCA merged with French automaker Peugeot to create Stellantis, whose Latin roots translates into English loosely as brighten with stars.
The Ram lineup of full-sized pickups includes a variety of build-a-bear opportunities combining together variable bed lengths, engine sizes, two-wheel drive vs four-wheel drive and cab configurations. News earlier in calendar year 2025 revolved around Ram finally returning a mid-size truck into the lineup projected to arrive in the 2027 model year and assembled at its huge Belvidere Assembly complex near Rockford along Interstate I-90 which ended Jeep Cherokee crossover production in 2023. The mid-size pickup segment continues growing in popularity among consumers and the sooner Ram rejoins, the better.
Before the long-anticipated mid-size truck debut, Ram has several mid-cycle updates for its 2025 Ram 1500 light duty pickup including a reworked engine package, new lighting elements, revised wheels, larger digital displays in the cabin and the introduction of an all-new trim and our transport this week, a RHO promising heighted performance and off-road capabilities combined with an aggressive exterior attitude. Our 2025 tester this week bases upon the highly refined fifth-generation platform introduced in 2019.
Nine 2025 trims dot the landscape: Tradesman, Warlock, Big Horn/Lonestar, Rebel, Laramie, Limited Longhorn and Limited plus two new 2025 entries: RHO and Tungsten.
The 2025 Ram motivates from three available engines beginning with a returning 3.6-liter, naturally-aspirated Pentastar V-6 featuring a mild hybrid electric booster, or as Ram markets it, etorque . A 48-volt 12-cell lithium-Ion battery produces 43 kilowatt hours and assists the engine and transmission but does not directly power the wheels.
Two all-new potent inline six power plants join Ram in 2025, part of the Hurricane Family of engines. A smooth-running, twin turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six SST (Straight Six Turbo) boosting 420 horses and 469 lb.-ft or torque. Our all-new RAM RHO receives the top-shelf, version in the form of a High Out (HO) variant of this SST generating 540 horsepower and 521 lb.-ft. of low-end torque. This High Output variant rates as the most powerful six banger in the 2025 light-duty 1500 class and according to Ram blasts RHO from zero to 60 miles per hour in a brief 4.2 seconds.
As was the case last year, the 3.6-liter Pentastar engine recommends regular, 87-octate fuel while the new 3.0-liter SST recommends higher grade 91-octane premium fuel and the High Output powertrain requires the 91-octane grade. Both Hurricane engines team with a torqueflite eight-speed automatic transmission (no manual transmissions available).
The new RHO trim and this week s tester arrived with the High Output inline six, Crew Cab body style (four standard-sized side doors), full-time four-wheel drive and shorter five-foot, seven-inch cargo bed. The RHO also boasts a unique audio engine tone compliments of a true dual exhaust system and mammoth five-inch visible end tips not available in any other Ram 2025 trim.
Gone but not forgotten, Ram s TRX 6.2-liter Supercharged V-8 and its 702-horsepower design which RHO now replaces as the high output go-to Ram battling such light-duty competitors as the Ford F-150 Raptor and Chevrolet Silverado ZR2. However, RHO retains a fortified frame and long travel suspension. The new inline six weighs 150 pounds less than the supercharged V-8 better distributing front-to-rear weight ratio obvious during an off-road adventure chronicled below.
Our Siver Metallic exterior RHO 4 x 4 Crew Cab included a $69,995 starting price prior to a sizeable list of extras starting with the exterior clear coat paint itself ($295). Other stand-alone extras includes a tri-folding tonneau cover ($695), RHO exterior graphics ($495), highly recommended Rock Rails ($995) and 18-inch lock-capable aluminum wheels ($1,895). Three packages included a trailer tow group with reverse steering control and tire pressure monitoring ($595), Bed utility group including a spray-in bed liner, 155-volt bed outlet and convenient deployable bed step ($945) and Level One equipment group featuring messaging and ventilated front passenger and driver seats, reclining second row 60/40 split seats, power tailgate, adjustable foot pedals, dual wireless charging pads and 19-speaker sound system ($9,995). With a $1,995 destination charge, the bottom line touched $87,900.
The RHO served as our ride up to Elkhart Lake Wisconsin to attend the annual Midwest Automotive Media Association s (MAMA) 2025 Spring Road Rally providing plenty of highway test miles. The independent front suspension with unique upper and lower super-sized control arms provided a surprisingly smooth experience. The all-coil suspension provides a less-bouncy experience and easier cornering thanks in part to the independent wheel movement/design compared with heavier, heavy-duty, layered-type leaf-type suspension popular for decades within this segment. Once ensconced at the Road America automotive theme park, Ram 1500 RHO got put through its muddy paces during an extra wet 20-minute off-road adventure.
Once engaging into four-wheel low after sliding the transmission into neutral and selecting available mud/sand mode (one of a dozen selectable drive modes) Ram RHO handled the extra rainy and slippery terrain effortlessly at speeds below nine miles per hour. A rock bed area necessitated an electronic switch to rock mode and traversed the uneven surface without ever bottoming out thanks in part to RHO s higher ground clearance (more than two inches extra from most other trims). Hill decent control once electronically activated with a push of a dashboard button slowed the vehicle through computer algorithms without ever utilizing the foot brake down a steep embankment into a waiting and growing water puddle below (RHO handles up to 32 inches of water fording). The only downside during the rain-soaked adventure; an unintended rear quarter panel kiss of a pesky, strategically-placed skinny tree during the last tight turn of the course.
Ram offers three off-road-style transfer case designs within its 4x4 lineup; part time, full time and on demand. The RHO includes the full time active version summoned via a convenient, dashboard-located electric push-button square promoting four interior push buttons. The 4WD auto choice makes the most sense when on-road as it delivers split-second decisions between 4WD high and 2WD high without driver input depending upon road circumstances.
The optional, flat tri-fold cover easily folds on/off once inside clamps engage/disengage from the frame. Ram also offers a tailgate that powers down and also up easing the process and preventing the annoying thud associated with an out-of-control manual gate. Power operation monitors through the on-gate cup-type release lever and inside with the push of a ceiling-high button near the rear-view mirror. Once folded or removed, entry to the bed area gets aided by a corner step square that retracts down slightly once foot weight/pressure gets added.
The supersized 33-gallon fuel tank helps extend range, especially traveling the highway. Expect 15 miles per gallon in city travel with the 4 x 4 pick and 21 mpg highway with the new high output SST, a noticeable improvement from the outgoing TRX s 12 mpg rating in combined city/highway expeditions. The hood includes a functional cold air intake keeping the inline six content and temperate.
Inside, the RHO comes standard with an all-black interior. The bright red start/stop dashboard electronic push button right of the steering column and conveniently includes illuminating run and off detailing visually when the engine is operational or not. As basic as it sounds, the extra hint helps when exiting the vehicle with your mind wandering as to the next task at hand.
The RHO trim includes two wireless Smartphone chargers (optional and a class exclusive) allowing Smartphones to stand at attention while tucked inside lower press holders allowing phones to be viewed easily by both driver and front-seat passengers. Both USB Type A and Type C plug outlets are available up front for those wishing to stay plugged.
Molded grab handles build into A and B pillars helping folks step inside with the assistance from optional and recommended lower side rails, when factoring in RHO s sizeable 11.8 inches of ground clearance. Expect stellar space in the back row, enough for three Manwich-sized riders. Seat cushions fold up next to seat backs when extra interior cargo room comes calling, which came in handy during an emergency room visit to Carol Stream and the Furniture Medic showroom to rescue a dining room chair in dire need of leg surgery. The chair stayed dry during a cloud burst inside the cabin in a prone position during the ride home from rehab.
Exterior side-view mirrors included a concaved outboard upper corner allowing a second perspective of outside activity. Inside, the rearview mirror also includes a second perspective via the digital option welcoming a streaming feed which, through photoshop slight of hand, bypasses any head or torso of Manwich-sized riders currently situated in the back row through a small camera lens that feeds an unobstructed motion picture into the rearview mirror space. Just a flip of a toggle-like switch below the frame converts the mirror into a motion picture experience (and back again to a normal perspective).
The portrait-style center stack, in-dash multi-function Uconnect 5 touch screen includes black framing with HVAC push buttons built into said framing. Monitor temperature settings by pushing iconed buttons along the vertical screen frame to select fan speed, direction and temperature. All these settings may also regulate through the screen itself. Our tester included the largest sized available, a 14.5-inch size up from the standard 12.0 version. The screen itself includes a well-designed, relatively easy to learn tutorial set up with large icons accompanied by actual words when digging deeper into the nesting.
Ram features one of the most user-friendly means when interacting with the sound system, secondary toggle buttons behind the steering wheel allowing fingers to control volume and select radio stations while simultaneously gripping the wheel. It s the safest and easiest way to change the audio mood when voice commands run amuck. Smartly, a pair of old-school twist dials frame the lower part of the screen, yet another choice when adjusting volume or station presets. Each side of the large screen gets flanked by sizeable manually-adjusting air vents.
Front seat passengers get treated to their own 10.3-inch touch screen above the glove box (optional with the equipment package) allowing the ability to watch videos and other Smartphone interactions in a larger format and also receive feeds from Ram s exterior cameras.
The Ram 1500 assembles in Michigan at the Steering Heights Assembly Plant located about 18 miles north of downtown Detroit which converted to pickup-truck assembly in 2018 to welcome the fifth-generation Ram 1500 quad and crew cab production thanks in part to a $1.48 billion investment. The facility produced its two millionth vehicle in April of calendar year 2025: a flame red Ram 1500 RHO. Chrysler Corp. began building cars at the plant in 1984 after purchasing the sprawling complex from Volkswagen.
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
Price as tested: $87,900
Engine: 3.0-liter, Twin Turbo, Inline Six Cylinder
Horsepower: 540
Wheelbase: 145.1 inches
Overall Length: 233.7 inches
Overall Height: 81.9 inches
Overall Width: 889.0 inches
Towing Capacity: 8,380 pounds
Powertrain warranty: Five years/ 60,000 miles
Fuel economy: 15 mpg City/21 mpg Highway
Assembly: Sterling Heights, Michigan
