The Ram 1500 RHO Is An Amazing Everyday Supertruck: Review

Motor 1

19-05-2025

Quick Specs
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
Engine
Twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Inline-Six
Transmission
Eight-Speed Automatic
Output
540 Horsepower / 521 Pound-Feet
Efficiency
14 City / 16 Highway / 15 Combined
As Tested Price
$88,100
Pros: Fast & Smooth, Rugged & Refined, Rides Like Buttered Memory Foam
Cons: Turbo Lag, Busy Interior, Poor Exhaust Tuning
Ram 1500 RHO: Don't Call It A TRX Lite
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
Let's clear the air. The
Ram 1500 RHO
is not a TRX. Yes, it looks largely the same, and it has the same bonkers jump-happy suspension, but the high-output, twin-turbocharged inline-six engine fused with the long-travel suspension gives this truck a personality all its own.
This is no TRX replacement, either. That truck with its Hemi Hellcat engine wanted to party all day and do keg stands every night. Meanwhile, the RHO is like a rock star out of rehab, trying to build a better life on the straight and narrow. Both trucks enjoy getting wild, but the RHO will take better care of you in the long run, so long as its demons are kept at bay.
Engine, Drivetrain, Horsepower: No Hemi? No Problem
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
Everyone knows about the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six engine by now. It makes 540 horsepower and 521 pound-feet of torque in the RHO—identical to other Ram 1500 trims that offer the high-output I-6. It certainly doesn't sound like the Hellcat-powered TRX, and with 162 fewer hp, it doesn't go like one either.
But the RHO isn't slow by any means. I managed to rip to 60 miles per hour in 5.1 seconds, according to the RHO's onboard Performance Pages. More importantly, I managed to make my 86-year-old mother nauseous from a hard launch. Though to be fair, she does suffer from vertigo. Sorry, Mom.
The eight-speed automatic transmission is a silent partner in the background, executing shifts without undue lag or haste. You can engage manual mode by pulling the shift stalk to the left, activating the steering wheel-mounted paddles, which are supremely easy to use. Moreover, the transmission won't automatically upshift if you get carried away on a dusty back road. It sends all power to all four wheels through an electronically managed four-wheel drive system.
Interior, Technology, Infotainment: Everything You Want & More
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
Ram doesn't skimp when it comes to tech in the RHO. You'll find a 12.0-inch portrait-oriented center touchscreen standard, with a 14.4-inch screen optional. No matter which you choose, they're brimming with apps, configurable widgets, and for the speed freaks out there, the RHO gets Performance Pages that track stuff like 60-foot times and quarter-mile speeds. A dedicated passenger display is also optional, but every truck has a 12.3-inch driver display. And yes, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay are included.
As you might imagine, the driver and center displays are widely customizable. It's all part of Ram's fifth-generation Uconnect system that manages everything from vehicle settings to navigation, over-the-air updates, and phone connectivity. And while there are all kinds of settings to flip through digitally, Ram still fills the 1500 (RHO included) with buttons and knobs for common-use items.
For highway traveling, the RHO is available with Ram's Hands-Free Active Driving Assist. Similar to Ford BlueCruise or GM's SuperCruise, it allows drivers to go hands-free on approved roads. Provided the left lane is clear, manually activating the turn signal will initiate a hands-free pass, and it's pretty intuitive. However, the RHO tended to wander between the lines while driving. And it monitors the driver like a hawk. If my gaze wandered for even a few seconds, the system buzzed and told me to face front.
Design: Satisfyingly Bold
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
The RHO could easily pass for a TRX if it didn't have RHO branding on the bed. It has the same wide stance with flared fenders—wide enough to require amber clearance lights mounted in the truck's sizable hood scoop. It bites the ground with 18-inch Goodyear all-terrain tires and a choice of standard aluminum or beadlock-capable wheels. You can only get the RHO as a Crew Cab truck with the short 5-foot 7-inch bed, which fills up surprisingly quickly when you're hauling something as simple as two 54-inch lawn mower decks.
All Rams received minor changes for 2025, largely related to revamped lights and slightly resized grilles. The RHO's front and rear fascias are trim-exclusive, and it all combines to exude a properly muscular vibe. Moreover, Ram pulls it off without looking silly or overdone. The truck's proportions are very satisfying, and you can even have the bold RHO branding on the bed removed if you so choose.
The tough exterior actually blends well with the RHO's upscale greenhouse. You'll find plenty of leather and soft-touch surfaces amid the digital screens. Alcantara and chrome are scattered about, but the interior is a very busy place. Between the litany of physical control and the pages of settings on the center screen, it can get pretty overwhelming. I still wasn't familiar with everything after a week and hundreds of miles behind the wheel. Managing Editor Jeff Perez felt the same way
after his stint in the truck
, and I couldn't agree more.
Driving Impressions: Awesome Everywhere All At Once
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
With all this in mind, I now present my thesis: The Ram 1500 RHO could be the best half-ton truck on the market right now. The big suspension (13.0 inches of travel in front, 14.0 inches at the rear) absorbs ruts, potholes, bumps, massive potholes, and miles of miserable patchwork on Michigan highways. Everything that works in the dirt makes this an even better daily driver.
And I didn't just goof around on some local two-lane roads near my house. The RHO's first mission in my care was a 400-mile round-trip to pick up a new 54-inch mower deck, all done at highway speeds. I wasn't the least bit fatigued after six hours of driving; the RHO's seats were supportive and cozy without being too stiff, and those knobby Goodyear tires weren't nearly as noisy as I expected.
Make no mistake, there is
some
tire noise at speed. But it's not remotely intrusive in the quiet cabin, even hustling along at Michigan's maximum 75-mph speed limit. And if it does become bothersome, it's easily masked by some low-volume music. Just don't play any Guns & Roses. This is a recovering rockstar, after all.
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
The suspension just sucks up everything. I used the Auto drive mode for the journey, which automatically adjusts settings depending on road and driving conditions. It kept the big truck remarkably poised through the sharp 45-mph corners on I-196 leaving Grand Rapids, and an hour later, it conquered broken stretches us US-31 with nary a shudder.
As for the engine, the Hurricane is pure butter. It doesn't shake the truck—not at start-up, or idle, or under throttle getting on the highway. It doesn't vibrate or reverberate through the cabin at speed. You don't feel it in the wheel or the floor. It just goes, and if you lay into the throttle, it
really
goes.
I would prefer a bit more low-end power. There's a bit of turbo lag, and it could benefit from better exhaust tuning. It's not bad, but Ram engineers try to make it sound like a deep V-8. The dual exhaust outlets are comically large for a 3.0-liter engine, even one with two turbochargers. When cold, this engine bellows with a noisy rattle that reminds me of a clapped-out 1990s Pontiac Grand Prix with a straight-piped 3800. At least the RHO settles into a decent six-pot rasp when it's warm, but it could be so much better if engineers stop trying to make it sound like a Hemi.
Fuel Economy: Don't Ask
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
Losing two cylinders over the TRX doesn't help at the pump. The RHO's official mileage rating is just 15 combined mpg, and after approximately 650 miles (most on the highway) I'm confident in saying that's accurate. I averaged right around 16 mpg during my week with the truck, including just a handful of full-throttle launches. And when it's time to tank up, the high-output engine needs expensive premium fuel.
Payload & Towing: An Acceptable Compromise
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
Having a longer bed option would make the RHO a bit more practical for a truck, but you can still do all kinds of truck stuff here. The bed is rated for 1,520 pounds—less than other
Ram 1500
trims, but that's the price you pay for a truck that can safely land after jumping three feet in the air. Towing capacity is also a bit less at 8,380 pounds, but that's still plenty for towing a modest boat or a 30-foot camper trailer.
Pricing & Verdict: Worth Selling A Kidney For
21
Source: Christopher Smith / Motor1
The Ram 1500 RHO pulls off something I never thought possible. I'm not a truck guy, but I absolutely want this one. It's comfortable to drive anywhere, and with the onboard cameras, it's easy to maneuver. The interior is spacious, more than enough for five adults. It can haul big stuff in the bed and tow bigger stuff with ease. Even the standard version is packed with tech. And when you want to listen to Guns & Roses, the RHO doesn't think twice about ditching rehab for an epic weekend romp.
It's also the cheapest way to get the high-output Hurricane in a Ram, with a starting price of $72,090. That's still a truckload of cash, but it's almost $10,000 less than the F-150 Raptor—a truck that has almost 100 fewer hp. And if you peruse dealerships right now, Ram's employee pricing initiative and other incentives have these starting temptingly close to $60,000.
Not that I've been checking RHO prices. Well, maybe a little.
Competitors:
Chevrolet Silverado ZR2
Ford F-150 Raptor
Toyota Tundra TRD Pro
2025 Ram 1500 RHO FAQs
Is the Ram 1500 RHO the same as the TRX?
The Ram 1500 RHO is nearly the same as the TRX, but there are some notable differences. The biggest is the engine, which is a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six instead of the Hellcat V-8 in the TRX. Both trucks have a wide stance with muscular styling and long-travel suspension, but the RHO is a bit lighter and the suspension has a bit more travel.
How much horsepower does the Ram 1500 RHO have?
The Ram 1500 RHO uses the high-output version of the twin-turbocharged Hurricane inline-six engine, making 540 horsepower.
How fast is the Ram 1500 RHO, 0-60 and in the quarter-mile?
According to Ram, the 1500 RHO can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds and turn a quarter-mile in 13.6 seconds.
Does the Ram 1500 RHO have a Hemi V-8?
No, the only engine offered in the Ram 1500 RHO is the twin-turbocharged, high-output 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six.
How Much Does The Ram 1500 RHO Cost?
The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO starts at $69,995, not including a $2,095 destination charge. That raises the starting price to $72,090.
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
Engine
Twin-Turbocharged 3.0-liter Inline-Six
Output
540 Horsepower / 521 Pound-Feet
Transmission
Eight-Speed Automatic
Drive Type
Four-Wheel Drive
Seating Capacity
5
Speed 0-60 MPH
4.6 Seconds
Efficiency
14 City / 16 Highway / 15 Combined
Weight
6,200 Pounds (est.)
Ground clearance
Ground Clearance
Towing
8,380 Pounds
Base Price
$72,090
As-Tested Price
$88,100
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