The 2025 Ram 1500 marks a significant shift under the hood, trading its iconic V8 Hemi for a duo of potent straight-six Hurricane engines. While some may mourn the V8’s departure, the new engine lineup promises enhanced power and efficiency, proving that sometimes, fewer cylinders can indeed deliver more. This review dives into the details of the refreshed Ram 1500, exploring its performance, features, and overall appeal in a competitive truck market.
The heart of the 2025 Ram 1500 story lies in its engine bay. Ram has retired the beloved V8 Hemi, replacing it with two versions of the 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six engine. The base 3.6-liter V6 remains an option for certain trims, but the Hurricanes are undoubtedly the stars of this new generation. Available in standard-output and high-output configurations, both Hurricane engines surpass the outgoing Hemi V8 in power. While a slight dip in maximum towing capacity might be felt, the trade-off is exhilarating acceleration, a characteristic that most drivers will appreciate daily.
2025 ram 1500 review no hemi no cry
Ram offers a choice between the standard-output 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six and a more powerful high-output variant of the same engine. Both engines are paired with a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. Beyond the engine overhaul, the 2025 Ram 1500 receives interior and exterior styling updates. Notably, the addition of the luxurious Tungsten trim elevates the Ram 1500 into premium territory. The lineup now comprises seven trims, with the Tungsten reaching near six-figure prices. However, Ram anticipates the Bighorn trim with a crew cab and four-wheel drive to remain the most popular choice among buyers.
During a media event in Austin, Texas, journalists had the opportunity to test drive various Ram 1500 models both on paved roads and challenging off-road courses, as well as experience towing with the truck. While a towing test wasn’t personally conducted during this review, hands-on time was spent piloting both the off-road-focused Rebel trim and the high-end Tungsten trim. The driving experience immediately highlighted the increased power, particularly in the Tungsten model equipped with the high-output Hurricane engine. The robust power delivery was evident, capable of easily breaking rear tire traction from a standstill on dry pavement. Overtaking slower traffic on winding country roads was effortless, showcasing the engine’s responsiveness.
The standard-output Hurricane engine, while naturally less powerful than its high-output sibling, still provides ample performance for everyday driving and work tasks. It offers a balanced blend of capability and efficiency suitable for a wide range of truck owners.
2025 ram 1500 review no hemi no cry
In terms of handling, the 2025 Ram 1500 exhibits composed cornering for a vehicle of its size, although body roll and some on-center wander remind the driver they are indeed behind the wheel of a truck. This is especially pronounced in the Rebel trim with its all-terrain tires. Conversely, both the Tungsten and Rebel models delivered a comfortable ride quality on smooth road surfaces, with the Tungsten offering a refined yet not overly soft suspension feel. Off-road, the Rebel proved highly capable, navigating a demanding course with ease. A front-facing camera system aids in obstacle negotiation, while a hill descent control feature manages speed effectively on steep declines. The available adjustable air suspension offers two off-road modes, complementing the standard double-wishbone front and five-link solid rear axle suspension setup.
The Tungsten trim distinguishes itself with unique exterior and interior enhancements. These include a power tailgate, exclusive RAM badging, and distinctive LED taillight designs. Inside, the Tungsten cabin is bathed in an Indigo and Sea Salt color scheme, accented by metal trim with diamond knurling and suede wrapping on the headliner, pillars, and visors. The heated and cooled front seats are upholstered in Natura Plus leather and feature massage and lumbar support functions. Further Tungsten-specific elements include unique gauges, interior badging with a VIN plate, a crystal shifter knob, a 23-speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere audio system, dual wireless charging pads, and metal pedals.
The Tungsten’s interior presents a luxurious and well-appointed environment, with material quality befitting its price point. However, it was noted that the high-end Klipsch audio system could experience distortion with satellite radio at high volumes, potentially due to SiriusXM’s audio file compression. Audio quality improved significantly when using streaming services like Spotify. Each Ram 1500 trim level features its own unique interior accents and color schemes, catering to diverse tastes and preferences. The trim hierarchy ranges from the work-oriented Tradesman to the luxurious Tungsten, encompassing Big Horn (Lone Star in Texas), Laramie, Rebel, Limited Longhorn, and Limited trims in between.
2025 ram 1500 review no hemi no cry
The 3.6-liter V6 engine with mild-hybrid assist remains available in the Tradesman and Big Horn/Lone Star trims. The standard-output Hurricane engine is offered in Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, and Rebel models. For those seeking maximum power and a towing capacity of up to 11,580 pounds, the high-output Hurricane engine is available in the Limited Longhorn, Limited, and Tungsten trims.
The 2025 Ram 1500 offers a choice of 12-inch and 14.5-inch infotainment screens, both running the updated Uconnect 5 system, which Ram claims is significantly faster. The larger 14.5-inch screen supports reconfigurable split-screen displays for enhanced multitasking. Available technology features include a digital camera rearview mirror with a towing mode, a digital key, an onboard power inverter, and a head-up display.
Two levels of semi-autonomous driving assistance are available. Active Driving Assist provides hands-on-wheel assistance, while Hands-Free Driving Assist enables Level 2 autonomous driving on designated roadways, similar to Ford’s BlueCruise and GM’s Super Cruise systems. A comprehensive suite of standard and available safety and driver-assistance features includes automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, park assist, lane management, 360-degree camera, drowsiness detection, traffic sign recognition, trailer reverse steering control, adaptive cornering fog lamps, and more.
2025 ram 1500 review no hemi no cry
Comfort and convenience features abound, with options like a dual-pane sunroof, heated front seats and steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, RamBox storage system, bed extender, spray-in bedliner, skid plates, tow hooks, hill descent control, all-terrain tires, tow-specific navigation, and a rear electronic locking axle. The 2025 Ram 1500 is available in quad cab with a 6’4” bed, crew cab with a 5’7” bed, and crew cab with a 6’4” bed configurations.
Base pricing for the 2025 Ram 1500 starts at $40,275 for the Tradesman trim, ranging up to $87,155 for the Tungsten, excluding a $1,995 destination charge. As tested, a pre-production Tungsten model reached $90,535, while a Rebel model came in at $81,835. Official fuel economy figures are still pending, but initial tests yielded around 15.5 mpg in both tested models.
In conclusion, the 2025 Ram 1500 refines its already class-leading interior, introduces a new pinnacle of luxury with the Tungsten trim, and embraces a more modern engine strategy with the powerful and efficient Hurricane straight-six engines. While the V8 era concludes, the Ram 1500 remains a compelling and strong contender in the full-size truck segment, proving that innovation and refinement continue to drive the pickup truck forward. Sometimes, embracing change, even reducing cylinder count, truly can offer more.
