18-03-2025
2025 Ram Heavy Duty Streamlines the Order Sheet in Conquest Bid
The 2025 Ram HD line of trucks gets a new Cummins 6.7-liter six-cylinder turbocharged diesel that sends 430 hp and 1,075 lb-ft of torque through a similarly new eight-speed transmission.
The 6.4-liter Hemi remains as the base powertrain and sends 405 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed transmission.
Ram pivoted back to a standard column-mounted electronic shifter for 2025.
Three-quarter-ton and one-ton pickups are like ice cream: everyone has a favorite flavor, and it's hard to bring pistachio fans over to chocolate chip. But if that truck's new spec sheet is compelling enough, well, brand loyalty can come into question.
It seems like the Detroit brands making these diesel-burning trucks are all looking for conquest opportunities, as seen by the latest evolution of Ram's 2500 and 3500 trucks. Gone is the middle-weight Cummins, with a new version of the high-output diesel as the only Cummins available, which poses a 1,075-lb-ft question to Ram shoppers.
Of course, powering the base-model Ram heavy-duty trucks is still the 6.4-liter Hemi. This Hemi is effectively carried over and shoves 405 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. This gasoline engine is available in both 2500 and 3500 trucks in case you or your fleet are limited on available fuel.
In 3500 guise the Hemi performed its motionly duties without too much hitch in its giddy up. Power delivery is linear; you get to hear the siren song of the Hemi burble through the exhaust; and it has a lighter sticker weight. That said, for some, there could be a major downside: towing.
The most tow-friendly Hemi-powered Ram 3500 4x4 can tug an impressive 17,760 pounds with a regular cab and an eight-foot bed. With the new Cummins, that same truck is rated to tow 36,610 pounds. You can also shuttle as low as 14,630 pounds in the Cummins-powered 2500 Mega Cab Laramie, or 10,530 pounds in Hemi Power Wagon trim.
The latest 6.7-liter Cummins mill lives up to the name's expectation and is a torque monster. The 430 hp figure might as well be ignored because the 1,075 lb-ft of torque can literally deliver the goods. This new Cummins engine features a revised block that can help it manage the stress from this much power.
While the engine itself is a nice touch, the true star of this updated powertrain is the eight-speed automatic mated to the improved Cummins. This eight-speed gives you more flexibility with power delivery but also shifts smoothly without jostling your trailer or cabin too much.
Towing a single-car trailer that was topped with a Dodge Ram SRT-10, to the tune of around 8,000 pounds, felt like light work for the updated Cummins powertrain. Towing the SRT-10 up the Davis Dam run in Arizona felt almost like shuffling a diesel-burning Ram limousine. Sure, it was harder to manage because the effective wheelbase was stretched, but the Cummins didn't bat an eye.
Unladen, the Cummins-powered Ram is deceptively quick, without too much drama. Tire chirping unladen might be on the menu for some, but just rolling into the throttle, feeling the surge from the turbochargers, and rolling to highway speeds happens quicker than you'd expect from a big diesel truck.
Despite the powertrain, the updated Ram steers effortlessly with a heavily boosted power steering system. The road feel is more akin to a '60s land yacht than what you'd expect from a diesel-powered workhorse. If this is your daily office, the light steering will be a welcomed part of your workday grind.
That workplace also wildly depends on how far up the trim walk your wallet can afford to take you. The standard issue has cloth-covered seats that are comfortable and supportive enough.
The standard 8.4-inch media screen wasn't available to test, but the 12-inch Uconnect screen keeps some essential buttons like your exhaust brake on real switches. The large 14.5-inch screen basically bails on physical buttons, which some shoppers might not appreciate.
There was a minor hiccup with a Uconnect screen inside a Ram Power Wagon, where the off-road controls, which are baked into a sub-menu inside of the screen, wouldn't load. Rebooting the screen and changing drive profiles fixed the issue.
If so inclined, you can add a front passenger display to keep your co-worker or co-pilot happy while you're chewing up the miles.
Ram's HD off-roader—the Power Wagon—is limited in power to just the 6.4-liter Hemi. Forging ahead without Cummins diesel power, the Ram Power Wagon still delivers pretty potent off-road hardware.
A front sway bar disconnect helps maximize articulation, and specially tuned Bilstein dampers handle the hard work of managing the bumps. Goodyear Wranglers wrap a set of 17-inch alloy wheels to help you navigate loose surfaces, and a 12,000-pound winch can help your friends get out of trouble.
As surprising as it might seem to take the Power Wagon on a trail, it does work well. The suspension might not be as soft as your side-by-side, so washboards are annoying, but the large rig works well while climbing over obstacles and taking in the scene.
If you want the most opulent, if not most comfortable, interior Ram has to offer, you'll find that stuffed inside the Laramie Longhorn. This wild interior features leather appointments almost everywhere but is accented by pinstripe stitchwork and bronze bezels. It may be on the overwrought side of the spectrum, but it might help you stomach the hefty asking price.
That is the major hangup with all of these high-end haulers: the price. True, the gas-powered, entry-level Ram 2500 starts at a reasonable $47,660. The diesel will add another $12,595 to the bottom line.
However, if you want to see a six-figure price on the bottom of your new truck's window sticker, you can get that without too much help from the option sheet. Ram says these trucks are available for purchase now and are made at the company's factory in Saltillo, Mexico.
Do you think the new Ram Heavy Duty is worth the cost? Tell us your thoughts below.
