Preview: The Mighty 2025 Ram 1500 RHO
Last year, Ram fans everywhere wept at the announcement that the 1500 TRX was being discontinued after the 2024 model year. The retirement of the supercharged HEMI V8 was a dark day for MOPAR diehards, but as it turns out, Ram was already lining up a suitable replacement, complete with a brand-new motor and a whole lot of moxie.
Ladies and gentlemen, we give you the 2025 Ram RHO. Here are all the rip-roaring details.
Ram 1500 RHO Specs: Uncompromising Power
At the heart of the RHO, it’s rocking a motor that’s brand-new to the Ram lineup: a 3.0-liter Hurricane High Output turbo straight-six, which is rated for 540 ponies and 521 pound-feet of torque. Current estimates say that it’ll be able to do a zero-to-sixty run in just 4.6 seconds and have a top speed of about 118 miles per hour. The engine is optimized for maximum efficiency and value; Ram says that the RHO offers “more horsepower per dollar than any other off-road truck.”
Despite having less size and horsepower compared to the outgoing TRX (702 HP), Ram is adamant about the fact that the RHO isn’t intended to be a direct replacement. Still, it’s hard not to draw comparisons, and it’s looking like the RHO is going to hold its own remarkably, with nearly identical acceleration and massively improved fuel economy.
The engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that guarantees smooth gear changes on or off the pavement, and the powertrain is about 150 pounds lighter than the performance truck of yesteryear. The decreased weight allows for a more even distribution of pounds and superior agility.
Of course, it also has plenty of other fortifications to match its ballistic powerplant. Both the front and rear suspension systems are shored up with extra durable materials. In the front, we find a set of Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive performance shocks with hydraulic jounce control. The Dana 60 rear axle features a locking diff and floating shafts, which allows for over 40% more rear wheel travel than standard Ram 1500 models. All of this is operated in tandem with the Active Terrain Dynamics system to ensure a smooth-as-silk ride and the highest possible level of control.
The 2025 Ram RHO rocks a set of 35-inch tires and boasts 11.8 inches of total ground clearance, a full 2 inches greater than the regular Ram, and this allows 32 inches of water fording. It also has some seriously solid capability as a trail rescue truck—1,520 pounds of payload, and 8,380 pounds of towing capacity.
Ram 1500 RHO Exterior: Dashing Good Looks
Seen from the front and rear, it’s immediately apparent that the RHO’s stance is altogether more intimidating. It’s about 8 inches wider than other light-duty models and features an extra 6 inches of track.
The high-strength composite fender flares protect the body and mechanical components from any on-trail hazards and impart an athletic hourglass shape to the overall body design. Powder-coated running boards are standard, but buyers will also have the option to upgrade to full-length rock rails.
Everything about the exterior design screams aggressive off-road capability. The scooped hood sits front and center, allowing for improved airflow. Below that, the blacked-out grille features a large “RAM” logo, and on either side, premium LED headlamps are standard to guarantee improved visibility in all conditions.
From the back, one of the most striking features is the double 5-inch exhaust tips, which are painted black to match the menacing vibe of the front. It also has a power tailgate, and the bed features two available 110-volt power outlets to provide juice to critical appliances while camping and overlanding.
Topping things off, we have the available 18-inch beadlock-capable wheels.
Ram 1500 RHO Interior: The Most Techy Truck Yet
The RHO isn’t just meant to be another spartan truck with off-road chops; step inside, and you might think you entered a legit luxury vehicle.
It’s designed to be “the most technologically advanced pickup ever,” with a class-leading amount of infotainment features available—over 50 inches of screens combined. At the center of it all, the 14.5-inch touchscreen display runs the latest Uconnect 5 operating system for a seamless experience that’s free of lags or glitches. Situated right next door, is a class-exclusive 10.25-inch passenger touch screen, which is only visible from the shotgun seat and facilitates a second-to-none copilot experience with a featured HDMI plug. Rounding things out, there’s a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with available full-color heads-up display.
Auxiliary features abound as well. There’s available dual-device wireless phone charging, and speakerheads will delight at the option for the 19-speaker premium Harmon Kardon sound system.
The RHO has plenty of smart features and ADAS to go around too, including adaptive cruise control, active driving assist, lane keeping assist, digital rearview mirror, and Hands-Free Driving Assist, which allows for automated driving on the highway.
The Ram 1500 RHO: Coming to Kansas City Soon
The RHO is slated to start arriving at dealerships sometime in the latter half of 2024, and it wears a current MSRP starting at $69,995. If you want to know more about the best off-road trucks available, give us a call at (816) 272-8846, and be sure to ask us about our new vehicle specials for the best deals on a Ram truck in Lee’s Summit.