The Motor1.com staff has always been able to “set the story straight” quickly for any new or gently used car model! They took a close look at the 2025 Ram 1500 last week and first were inclined to talk about its lack of a Hemi motor. They adamantly claimed that anyone whose only argument against the truck is that it doesn’t have a Hemi will find themselves sorely missing out! Their expert writer Chris Smith spent a week with the half-ton Ram and its high-output 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six and loved every minute.
Performance in the 1500 Crew Cab Limited here at Landmark Dodge of Morrow is plentiful, as it’s a hulking 19-foot rig that is very comfortable for five adults. The cabin is spacious, and the solid-axle suspension offers a compliant ride. It offers extreme comfort features such as massaging seats yet is quite capable of doing all the “proper truck stuff.” The first thing Chris noticed was how smooth the engine runs, with the Hurricane giving the Ram 1500 a very intense advantage over fellow half-ton competitors.
Just as things get going it comes to life with a whisper, with its massive 540 horsepower and modern twin-turbos somewhat under wraps. As you’re doing the everyday stuff around town, the performance and overall movement seem effortless. When it’s time to take on the open highway, the Ram’s turbos roar nicely to life as the miles go by! The off-road-ready RHO model rockets competently up to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds, and the acceleration has a pleasantly brisk quality.
Even with the admirably high-speed factor, this group loved that the truck still fully acts like a pickup. The maximum towing capacity is 9,920 lbs. Chris was lugging 2,000 lbs of fresh dirt behind, and he couldn’t even feel a minor pinch. Hooking up the trailer is simple thanks to the assortment of rear-facing cameras, and the handy UConnect software launches a test mode as soon as the trailer lights are plugged in. The Trailer Reverse Steering Control offers a much smaller control knob for anyone new to the task.
The Multifunction Tailgate has a cool offset barn-door feature that makes it simple to fit a pallet directly into the bed. This crew had a quick Lowe’s run to pick up cement patio blocks for a project, with their to-do list calling for 100. They easily loaded 1,300 pounds of bricks in just 10 minutes, and still could hardly tell they were there. Hands-Free Active Driving Assist is new for 2025, which kicks on during highway driving and tidily keeps you in your lane. Numerous hands-on assists are now standard for all 2025 Ram trims, with random noises and vibrations grabbing your attention if you do happen to take your hands off the wheel for a few.
Since the 14.5-inch center touchscreen can be quite dazzling, there are a few more chimes and buzzes you’ll notice if you keep your eyes on it for too long! The Motor Trend team praised the new 1500 for its “powerful and smooth engine, excellent transmission, and interior loaded with features.” Sport mode allows you to override the stability control and traction system, and this is where the quickest lap times are laid down. The 2025 Ram 1500 is smooth riding and delightfully full-sized, while also being a true luxury truck that makes any long drive feel effortless.
