The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO's inline-six Hurricane is the star of the show – reviews

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Porsche has long lived by the philosophy that its 911 can be tracked on Sunday and driven to the office on Monday. Ram appears to have adopted a similar strategy with its 2025 Ram 1500 RHO, a pickup that can be beaten nearly to death on an off-road trail on Sunday and then driven to Costco for groceries the next day.

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That may be a bit of an exaggeration, of course, but how could we have jumped over that truck several times – I mean, physically sent it flying almost three feet into the air above the dirt – and then drove smoothly and smoothly on the highway as if there were none of this would have happened this hooliganism ever happened? And not only did we abandon the RHO to NASA more than once, we really tried not to break anything on a track so bumpy, rutted, and ugly that even an ATV would have hated to break anything. At times the course felt like it had the potential to completely destroy a regular Ram 1500. And maybe it would have been, for these were the ruts, rocks, washboards and bumps that pulled and warped at every seam and seam of this truck as it sped through the countryside far too fast for its own good.

Like Porsche, Ram is not afraid to have its vehicles tested by the media to demonstrate a vehicle's true capabilities. What the ultimate limits of that capability are is impossible to know on this day, but it was a glimpse of what the RHO can do if given the chance. In Baja mode (one of nine modes), which loosens up stability and traction control while adding rear wheel preload, the RHO's suspension takes a few pages from the TRX manual (and its ethos) to create a truck that can seemingly absorb almost anything the Earth can throw at it, and does so with relative ease.

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Forged aluminum upper and lower front control arms with increased wheel travel absorb ugly terrain with ease. The rear axle travel of 14 inches makes bottoming out more difficult. A ground clearance of 11.2 inches makes getting in and out difficult without running boards, but the height is appreciated when the RHO faces 32 inches of water and can traverse that depth without getting the carpet wet.

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Standard 35-inch tires on optional beadlock wheels carry the RHO over rocks with a high degree of ease and a decent level of comfort. Of course, this is helped by the Bilstein Black Hawk e2 shock absorbers with electronic proportional valves and remote reservoirs that work with the truck's electronics to signal what is happening with the truck and the selected drive mode. For example, when the shock absorbers are fully extended (e.g. during a jump), they prepare for a hard landing and stabilize the fronts for impact. It also helps that they're made of aluminum to dissipate heat and that they use stainless steel tubing and a stone guard to prevent leaks and damage. An electronically locking Dana 60 rear axle with floating axle shafts is standard equipment.

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In the sand and dirt, a BorgWarner always-active transfer case comes to life with a 4Auto setting, allowing the driver to focus on any challenges up front rather than stressing over the torque split, which can vary between 40/60 front/rear Auto, but up to 25/75 in Baja mode. You can customize Baja Mode even further via the screen settings, e.g. B. to lock the paddle shifters to prevent accidental shifting while rocking around, or to adjust steering feel, etc.

What powers the Ram 1500 RHO?

And while all that suspension power is impressive, the star of the RHO show is undoubtedly the powerful inline-six Hurricane under the sculpted hood (which also has LED lights in the scoop to match those in the fender panels, aka Raptor- Style). . The RHO increases power over the standard Hurricane engine in the Sport, Rebel and Laramie trim levels, producing 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque. This 3.0 liter engine is sensationally smooth and sounds absolutely great at high revs. He is really impressive. Yes, there's a hint of lag when you're racing through a gravel corner and flooring the accelerator, but with both turbos fired up the engine makes a strong and powerful statement, with no noise, vibration or harshness. No wonder Ram uses it in several vehicles in its fleet.

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Of course, premium fuel is required, but in all eight gears of the TorqueFlite automatic transmission, the inline-six combines so much creamy smoothness with performance that it could be the epitome of grace under pressure. There's more than enough power under hard throttle, coupled with impressive speed, allowing the RHO to reach 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and 100 mph in 11.7 seconds – and that's for a half-ton truck. Launch control is standard. On the highway, the 325/65R18 Goodyear Wrangler Territory AT tires make some noise, as expected, but it's not terrible and they feel quite comfortable with this suspension. Steering and braking felt very good. Some wind noise was noted at higher speeds.

Outside, the RHO definitely wears its off-road qualities well. With a width of 203 mm (8 inches) than a regular Ram and a 152 mm (6 inches) wider track, a larger Ram grille, unique LED headlights and exhaust tips, and powder-coated steel bumpers, the RHO might be a bit for some to “Brother,” but it has an unmistakable, easily recognizable presence. However, the RHO is just a short box type with double cab doors and seating. The maximum towing capacity is 3,801 kilograms (8,380 pounds) and the maximum payload is 689 kilograms (1,519 pounds).

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Inside, the RHO sets another high-water mark for truck interiors as it receives a refresh along with all Ram interiors, with the RHO receiving most new features as standard or optional. The 12-way leather front seats are quite comfortable. Luckily, the RHO resists the onslaught of fully digital touchscreens and continues to rely on a combination of rich and colorful graphics with lots of buttons and switches. These may include a 14.5-inch center touchscreen, a 10-inch full-color HUD, heated and cool massage seats, and a 10.25-inch passenger touchscreen that can assist with co-pilot duties . A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster displays nearly two dozen different menus. Of all the trucks on the market today, the RHO's interior is by far the most sophisticated. Hands-Free Driving Assist, similar to GM's Super Cruise, is also available.

How much does the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO cost in Canada?

Pricing for the Michigan-built RHO starts at $112,945 and is available to order now, just in time for a proper Sunday drive – wherever that may be.

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