As the brand’s updated 2025 1500 pickup begins flowing into showrooms, Ram revealed a new performance/off-road variant of the popular ½-ton truck: The RHO. The Ram 1500 RHO features a number of mechanical and trim upgrades designed to enhance its off-pavement potential.
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
Brand management wants it understood that the RHO is not a direct replacement for the monster TRX, which has been discontinued. Instead, the RHO is a more mainstream offering, featuring a 6-cylinder engine instead of the TRX’s 702-horsepower supercharged V8. The RHO is also significantly less expensive.
For 2025, the RHO’s 3.0-liter “Hurricane” High-Output turbocharged 6-cylinder engine is rated at 540 horsepower, and, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, will accelerate from a standstill to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds according to Ram. That’s only slightly slower than the much more powerful TRX.
To accommodate its large off-road wheels and tires, the RHO stands a full 8 inches wider than standard Ram 1500 models.
The RHO also boasts hands-free semi-autonomous operation on approved roads. Ram said the system can “predictively slow the vehicle down in tight curves, automatically resume control after driver override, and verify that the driver is paying attention to the road.” Ram’s hands-free system is similar to Ford’s Blue Cruise and General Motor’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous products.
A 14.5-inch touchscreen is housed in the center console, while the front passenger has access to a 10.3-inch touchscreen that accesses the navigation system among other operations. The RHO also boasts a Harman Kardon audio system with 19 speakers and a 10-inch subwoofer.
Starting at $71,990, the Ram RHO is priced inline with the similar-mission Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 ($71,985), and below competitive trucks including the Ford F-150 Raptor ($80,970) GMC Sierra AT4X ($81,195), and Toyota Tundra TRD Pro ($73,980.)
Assembled in Sterling Heights, Michigan, the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO is scheduled to arrive in showrooms by the third quarter of 2024.
CG Says:
Call us old school, but we find it refreshing to see a new performance-oriented full-size truck model that isn’t entirely over the top, and absurdly priced. While we think $70,000 is still a lot of money to spend for a pickup, there is some value here, and the RHO’s fuel economy should be significantly better than that of the departed TRX.
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