I’m within the driver’s seat of the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO—the off-road-focused flagship of the Ram lineup—within the dust, and being invited to get as sideways as I really feel snug with.
Additional, I’m feeling stoked to be sampling its signature Baja drive mode on a course that Stellantis engineers say actually showcases this rig’s capabilities. The decommissioned gravel-pit-gone-wild is in Holly, Michigan, not removed from Ram’s Auburn Hills hive thoughts, and this “critical work surroundings,” as one in all Ram’s crew referred to as it contains rubble, small boulders, and plenty of whoop-dee-doos, amid stretches of extra-fine sand that I’ve a hunch would possibly slick up good within the rain.
Critically, it’s doubtless essentially the most excessive off-road terrain in Michigan south of the thumb—thus my passenger using shotgun, veteran Stellantis high-performance off-road automobile growth and validation engineer Toon Tan calmly ideas me to not grasp the tail out as we’re descending “Hollywood Hill,” smirk included.
That previous, we get to a sandy stretch. Tan advises me to certainly get on it and steer with the ability on the rear wheels, and he notes that in any other case off the ability it has “typical four-by-four” dynamics, such that “whenever you lock it up, you’ll understeer.”
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
In Baja, the RHO is biasing torque supply 75% to the rear wheels whereas controlling the soundness system and lively switch case collectively—principally permitting the truck to go much more sideways and opening up the dynamics. However I rapidly get the sense that the suspension’s the star of this present.
“It’s nearly just like the sooner we go, the smoother it’s,” says Tan, emboldening me to sure over some deep ruts, assuring me that I haven’t but gotten anyplace near pushing the RHO’s suspension capabilities or wheel journey. As a part of tuning and validating the RHO, Toon was among the many engineers collaborating in 1,000 miles of desert endurance “racing” in Southern California’s Johnson Valley.
At that time it begins to really feel a bit like a rally-car course, as I acquire extra confidence within the truck and its awe-inspiring brawn and functionality off-road.
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
Ram 1500 RHO is hard sufficient to…catch some air
However, it seems, the really enjoyable a part of the day is but to come back, and my sense of near-invincibility on this truck faces a brand new problem. Tan has me cease, and clearly lays out my goal speeds for the THREE JUMPS forward: 35, 45, and 45 mph. I’ve jumped a pair hatchbacks in blissful ignorance and a rally automobile with an teacher, and I do know the velocity is necessary not only for stability however for the way you come to the bottom, and never each automobile is born to even do that in any respect (I as soon as witnessed a crossover SUV totaled with a comparatively delicate dune leap).
I do precisely as he says and knock out a trio of wonderful jumps that may do Bo and Luke Duke proud—with first rate landings, too. I’m giddy to have pulled this off with out breaking myself, Tan, or the truck. And to suppose the truck will do that many instances over the course of the day.
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
What the RHO rides on is totally different than the rest within the 2025 Ram lineup—aside from the now-discontinued Ram 1500 TRX, which I’ll get to quickly. Basically, engineers began with the 1500 chassis and moved a number of the exhausting factors in order to really lengthen and stabilize wheel journey—with reshaped forged-aluminum management arms, higher and decrease, plus an extended trailing size in again for the five-link coil-spring structure. General, floor clearance is as much as 11.8 inches, as a result of a 2.0-inch ride-height improve versus different Ram 1500 fashions, and the 35-inch Wrangler Territory AT off-road tires additionally assist clear hazards.
In all, the Ram 1500 RHO has large wheel journey—13 inches within the entrance, 14 inches within the rear—permitting it to handle the vitality of the automobile at these factors the place the truck truly goes airborne or smacks into a kind of whoops at a excessive velocity.
And, it seems, the suspension truly primes the RHO for a steady touchdown. Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive efficiency dampers are made from inflexible aluminum and have their very own enhanced urethane jounce bumper to forestall bottoming out. They constantly modify damping forces for compression and rebound with digital proportioning valves and a nitrogen-charged distant reservoir and stainless-steel braided hose.
With millisecond-level response to inputs from the wheels and G-sensors, they’ll adapt to yaw, pitch, and roll to stabilize the physique and the habits is managed through drive modes—so it’s supercar-level chassis dynamics, for the messy stuff. And actually, the aim of the suspension is to actually handle that wheel journey, and ship full trip consolation whether or not on the street or on the path.
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
Not a Hellcat however a Hurricane underneath the hood
What’s underneath the hood of the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO is identical high-output Hurricane twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 that’s used elsewhere within the lineup—making the identical official 540 hp and 521 lb-ft of torque, solid pistons and all—however the RHO will get a recent air consumption, pushing denser air straight to the airbox, permitting optimum energy. On the exhaust facet, it has true duals all the way in which again, with a move management valve. As engineers identified, whereas the height hp and torque are technically the identical, the RHO’s engine makes extra efficiency in any respect the factors in between.
Ram 1500 TRX, which the RHO successfully replaces—for now—was powered by a 702-hp, 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine.
In accordance with Ram, the RHO can speed up to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, in accordance with Ram, or to 100 mph in 11.7 seconds. Quarter-mile instances roll in at 13.1 seconds and 105 mph, and its prime velocity is 118 mph. Formally, the TRX’s 0-60 mph time was 4.5 seconds, with the quarter-mile at 12.9 seconds and 108 mph, however a consensus {of professional} testing suggests it was fairly a bit faster than that.
The RHO works the engine, transmission, stability system, and suspension, in concord with its BorgWarner 48-13 full-time lively switch case, bringing a low vary of two.64:1.
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
Upon getting the RHO out on the street for a loop on the freeway and a few backroads, I discovered readability about what had been lacking within the RHO versus the TRX: The drama of it. Whereas the V-8 delivers a guttural shake—and a growl, and the whizzing of peaky assisted respiration—the HO engine at all times appears like an particularly civilized juxtaposition versus all the remainder of the indicators this truck is sending. The engine sounds good, however it’s a candy, cultured notice that may really feel simply as a lot at residence in a German sport-line luxurious convertible. Engineers confirmed there’s no sound supplementation happening within the cabin, with a slight “blat” merely a manipulation of spark timing because it approaches the shift.
My takeaways on the engine itself are lukewarm. Counting on a whopping 28 psi of turbo increase appears to have its draw back and provides it a pause that’s not in contrast to some diesels. Mash your proper foot to the ground, with sufficient traction obtainable in Sport mode, and it’s as if the engine torque had been left to a DJ working up the fader, cautious that the PA can take all of it. It’s very fast; it’s simply not instant.
Every mode modifications the drivetrain’s character a bit bit, although. Baja mode does change (and elevate) the shift factors at average throttle. Mud and Sand extra actively controls the wheel slip, together with a mode to work its manner via. Rock crawling offers a cut up nearer to 50/50. Snow mode splits torque 45/55 entrance/rear, whereas auto mode defaults to 40/60 entrance/rear.
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
Is the Ram 1500 RHO better-handling than TRX?
Shifting to the six signifies that the Ram 1500 RHO is 150 kilos lighter than the TRX general, with 180 kilos coming off the entrance wheel based mostly on a extra rearward heart of mass of the engine, leading to a significantly better weight distribution.
So whereas the RHO is basically carry-over from the TRX, every little thing has been retuned for the brand new weight and weight distribution, reiterated chief automobile synthesis supervisor Doug Killian. “Each valve within the shocks was retuned…the switch case, transmission, every little thing’s been retuned,” he summed.
That’s a degree to be underscored. For a considerably lighter, considerably extra nimble truck—by no means thoughts that “rhino” codename, I suppose—the RHO is a extra finely honed rally-racing software.
It prices lots much less, too. The RHO begins at $71,990 (together with the $1,995 vacation spot charge). Stellantis says it delivers essentially the most energy per greenback, and it claims the RHO to be one of the best efficiency off-road truck available on the market. To match, the TRX Last Version began at $119,620.
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
Choice highlights for the RHO embody a gaggle that for $9,995 provides 14.5-inch infotainment, 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio, L2 hands-free, passenger display screen, twin wi-fi chargers, leather-based seats, comfortable sprint supplies, heated and therapeutic massage entrance seats. A tow group and tow mirrors are supplied as standalone choices, in addition to a mattress utility group with a spray-in bedliner, plus cargo administration programs and a step. Mopar alternatives embody a bed-mounted tire provider, decal packages, off-road working boards, and rock rails.
Simply by its sheetmetal there’s extra of an “hourglass” physique design for the RHO, with cargo-box outers which can be wider than for different Ram 1500 fashions. With the fender flares, it’s 8.0 inches wider than these different fashions and has a 6.0-inch wider monitor width.
RHO Efficiency Pages carry to the instrument panel particular gauges, charts, and graphs, plus real-time shows to indicate the way you’re utilizing engine energy, lateral and longitudinal Gs, and extra. There’s a head-up show, too. RHO additionally provides paddle-shifters that may assist with shifts whereas going round corners.
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
RHO makes house for a TRX sequel
The issue could merely be that the Hellcat-V-8-powered TRX existed—and that there is a Ford F-150 Raptor R. The TRX brute-force dialed the components as much as 11. It had ripping cliche-busting, stump-pulling torque from low rpm, plus most or all of this capacity set. The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO would possibly do precisely what it must do, however what it’s emerged lacking is something near the TRX’s perspective.
That pesky downside already has an answer. Ram has teased {that a} new flagship Ram will slot above the 1500 RHO. After which it could develop into clear why, for this mannequin, Ram left room to dial it as much as 11 as soon as once more.
