Swapping a Rhino for the TRX, the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO has been unveiled with the new high-output Hurricane engine and a substantially lower price for the top-of-the lineup off-road truck.
The new Ram 1500 RHO will start at a surprisingly low starting price of $71,990 (with $1,995 destination fee) considering the outgoing alpha dog Ram 1500 TRX started at $96,340. That’s a substantial price drop for buying the coolest off-road truck Ram offers.
Let’s be clear though, the RHO isn’t a TRX replacement. It is a new offering with the TRX going away due to the Stellantis ending production of the 6.4-liter Hemi V8. However, it is hard not to draw similarities.
Incredible Performance
First, let’s start with the performance.
Under the hood of the Ram 1500 RHO will be the new high-output Hurricane engine producing 540 horsepower and 521 pound-feet of torque. It is a 3.0-liter inline 6 engine and made its debut on the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs.
With its twin-turbo setup and inline-six configuration, it should be similar in quickness to the 6.4-liter supercharged V-8 found in the TRX and will feel smoother thanks to the inherently balanced nature of an inline 6.
Granted it won’t have the same exhaust growl, however, Ram says a new exhaust system will help it sound better.
Ram says it will do:
- 0-60 miles per hour (mph) in 4.6 seconds; 0-100 mph in 11.7 seconds
- Quarter mile in 13.1 seconds at 105 mph
- Top speed of 118 mph
It will also have a maximum payload of 1,520 pounds, maximum towing of 8,380 pounds and can ford water up to 32” deep.
Also, a new high-flow air induction system should bring even more air into the turbos allowing them to perform better at higher temperatures.
This engine will be mated to the 8-speed transmission used throughout the lineup.
Finally, the suspension will be tuned for full speed off-road driving with an independent front suspension and will use a BorgWarner full-time active transfer case.
It will also make use of the Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive performance shocks and a Dana 60 rear axle.
There will also be dual electronic proportional valves that continuously adjust damping forces with a nitrogen-charged remote reservoir with a hot-formed, zero-leak tube enclosure.
Like other Ram 1500’s it will use a 5-link coil suspension.
It will ride on 35-inch tires and have 11.8 inches of ground clearance. The rear axle travel of 14-inches is 40% more than the rest of the Ram 1500 lineup.
Yes, you can catch air with the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO! (Photo courtesy Ram Trucks)
Exterior
The Ram 1500 RHO will take the same design path the TRX used by using a stock 1500 and amplifying it with wider stance, graphics and new interior design cues and features.
Starting with the exterior, it is clear this is much more trophy-truck looking than a stock 1500. Its wider stance with composite fender flares stretch outward over the larger tires. It creates an hourglass like design from the front.
The front grille sees a repositioning of the R-A-M badge to stand out better along with a unique hood and steel bumpers.
On the back, it gets a similar treatment with the R-A-M badge standing out like found on the Rebel trim. Also, there are marker lights, like those on Ram heavy-duty trucks, tucked between the tailgate and the rear bumper.
There are also integrated 5-inch dual exhaust ports built into the bumper.
Finally, oversized tow hooks, just in case you somehow send it a bit too hard, are found on the front and rear.
2025 Ram 1500 RHO Interior design
Once again, the Ram interior design team brings it with a great looking interior. (Photo courtesy Ram Trucks)
Inside the cabin, Ram’s design team rocks it once again.
The cabin looks premium with Natura Plus leather with perforated suede accents covering the front 12-way heated and cooled bucket and rear bench seats. A cast metal console-mounted shifter (replaces the dial in other Ram 1500 trucks) is wrapped with leather as well. There are also aluminum paddle shifters to give the driver more precise control of shifting.
There is also the center-console mounted badge Ram has used in other high-end trucks with your truck’s VIN, build date and a Rhino graphic on it.
Technology
The new Ram 1500 RHO gets the full assortment of new technology offered by the brand.
For example, it gets the top-of-the-line 14.5-inch touchscreen with the well regarded Uconnect 5 system and the new 10.25-inch passenger screen built into the outer part of the glove box.
Ram is also putting in the 900-watt Harman Kardon audio system, full-color Head-Up Display as well as hands-free driving assist. This lets you jam out to your music while sitting back and letting the truck handle the boring driving until you get to dirt.
Pricing and availability
As mentioned above, pricing will start at $71,990.
There will be a few different packages and an upcharge for the hands-free driving putting a fully-loaded RHO into the mid $80,000 price range.
It will be built in the Sterling Heights, Michigan plant and should arrive in the third quarter of 2024. Order banks are now open for the truck at your local Ram dealer.
The bottom line
With nearly everything getting more expensive, a lower starting price point is a welcome relief.
It is a bit shocking to type this, but the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO seems like a bargain even fully loaded especially when you consider the competition prices.
The Ford F-150 Raptor at $80,970, GMC Sierra AT4X at $81,195 and Toyota Tundra TRD Pro at $73,980. Only the Chevy Silverado 1500 ZR2 has a similar price point at $71,985. All prices include destination fees.
I suspect though there will be very few of the base model RHO’s sold. Instead, I’d load it up. Go big or go home as they say.
