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Overview

Combining capability and comfort is the Ram 1500’s specialty, and this full-size pickup gets a host of upgrades for 2025 to keep it dominant in its segment. In fact, the 1500 has been so consistently dominant that it has earned a spot on our 10Best Trucks list seven years in a row, including 2025. It offers a choice of six-cylinder engines: a base V-6 or a twin-turbo inline-six in two different output levels. The latter replaces the old Hemi V-8 and makes up to 540 horsepower. A Rebel model provides more off-road prowess, but the half-ton Ram is best when configured for luxury. High-end trims such as the Limited and new top-of-the-line Tungsten do their best impression of class-above vehicles while still delivering workhorse skills. The Ram can’t tow as much as rivals such as the Ford F-150 and the Chevy Silverado, but its maximum capacity is still high enough that most buyers won’t complain. As one of our favourites in its segment, the Ram 1500 has also earned a spot on our Editors’ Choice list for 2025.

Power and Performance

This is the big news for 2025, and it’s a twister, or more precisely, a Hurricane. The standard-output version delivers 420 horsepower and 469 lb-ft of torque, while the high-output variant cranks out 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft. Both are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

2025 Ram 1500 | Photo: Matt St-Pierre

Inline-6-cylinder engines are known for their smooth operation, and despite its stormy name, the Hurricane is seamless. The power is delivered with faultless efficiency. The thrust is instantaneous and sustained but with little more than a low even hum even under wide-open-throttle. And this is a shame but very far from being a deal-breaker. In fact, so quiet is the Hurricane that some passengers asked if the Ram 1500 was electric.

Driving the Ram 1500 feels like nothing short of piloting a luxury SUV with a touch of brute force.

Fuel economy, however, remains a weak spot. After a week of mixed driving, I averaged around 17.5 L/100 km—no better than the outgoing HEMI. But with all that power, it’s hard to complain too much. If only it rumbled more…

2025 Ram 1500 | Photo: Matt St-Pierre

One of the must-have features is the optional air suspension. Up to 10.7 inches of ground clearance is ideal for off-road adventures and traversing treacherous mall parking lots. At its lowest setting, it’s equally helpful for loading cargo or hooking up a trailer. Thanks to it, the ride is buttery even over rough roads, and the truck maintains excellent composure at all speeds.

Bold Looks with Premium Touches

A quick glance at the 2025 Ram 1500, and it’s clear this truck isn’t just about doing truck stuff—it’s about style, too. Whether you opt for the entry-level Tradesman or the top-of-the-line Tungsten trim, Ram’s design gives it a premium aura unmatched in the segment. Chrome accents, massive 20-inch wheels, and sleek LED lighting make it one of the sharpest trucks on the market.

Inside, the Tungsten trim rivals luxury SUVs. Real wood trim, quilted leather seats, and massaging functions make this cabin feel more like a first-class lounge than a work truck. With a 12-inch touchscreen (optional 14-inch), a 10.25-inch passenger display, and a massive centre console for storage, there’s no shortage of tech, convenience, or comfort.

2025 Ram 1500 | Photo: Matt St-Pierre

Rear passengers aren’t left out either—there’s plenty of legroom, heated seats, and multiple USB ports. The optional Ram Boxes provide additional storage built into the bed’s sides, but they do eat into cargo space slightly.

Performance

Ram replaces its V-8 and turbodiesel engines this year with a twin-turbocharged inline-6, and it’s stronger and smoother for the swap. It retains the coil-sprung suspension and available air springs that set it apart, too. It earns a 7 for performance here, with a point for ride quality and one for off-road and towing ability.

Is the Ram 1500 4WD?

It can be. Ram offers a simple part-time setup on lower-end models, while costlier trim levels feature a convenient automatic mode that can be used on any kind of terrain. High-output versions have a variable torque split that biases power to the rear—as much as 75 percent to the rear in a Baja drive mode.

In addition, the Ram 1500 Rebel comes with 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler tires, a raised ride height of about an inch, and a lifted suspension that incorporates Bilstein shocks.

How fast is the Ram 1500?

The base versions are acceptably quick. The carried-over 3.6-liter V-6 has a larger battery and a mild-hybrid starter-generator to reduce the electrical needs on the go. With 305 hp, this V-6 has been around for a while, but its ample 271 lb-ft of torque serves fleet duty well—and it only requires regular unleaded. It’s standard on Tradesman and Big Horn/Lone Star models, and unavailable on other versions.

On other Ram 1500s, a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-6 fits where Ram’s old Hemi used to sit (with lots of space left over). In lower tune, it’s rated at 420 hp and 469 lb-ft. Outfitted with dual 3.0-inch exhausts, the new engine sounds fantastic and has a buttery smooth demeanor that’s almost un-truck-like. It’s an option on Tradesman and Bighorn/Lone Star, standard on Rebel and Laramie—and a better choice than the V-6 thanks to great off-the-line surge. There’s more of that on tap in Rams with the high-output turbo-6. Longhorn, Limited, and Tungsten trucks come with the same engine with turbos tweaked to 28 psi—which means a soaring 540 hp and 521 lb-ft and admirably strong and smooth power that delivers a luxury punch.

All models get an assortment of drive modes (Normal, Tow, Snow, Sport, and Off-Road) and shift through an 8-speed automatic that’s unbothered by dramatic asks of the gas pedal, though the transmission can get startled awake by the stop/start function and by big stabs of gas at low speeds. An electronic locking differential comes with the Rebel and can be fitted to all other versions, while axle ratios range from 3.21 on low-spec trucks to a 3.92 axle ratio on the Rebel and the Limited, Longhorn, and Tungsten.

Ram hasn’t broken out all the numbers, but V-6 1500s can carry a payload of up to 2,300 pounds, while lower-output turbo-6 trucks can tow up to 11,560 pounds when configured with the right bed and tow package.

How does the Ram 1500 handle?

Ram became the first truck maker to fit its full-sizer with rear coil springs versus leaf springs, and it still sets the 1500 apart in its class. The ride’s more tame and more tolerant of scrabbly pavement than the more usual setup, and the truck feels more planted on the road and off-road as a result.

Air springs are widely available to soften its ride as curb weight and speeds increase. They’re optional on Big Horn/Lone Star, Rebel, and Laramie, and standard on the Longhorn, Limited, and Tungsten. We’d opt for them in most cases unless low cost and simplicity are a priority: They extend the truck’s usable off-road range and can shave off fractions of miles per gallon by lowering the truck at highway speeds. They can generate more low-speed jounce over broken pavement, too, but it’s not much of a loss compared to the steel-suspension truck. Entry mode gives the Ram 1500 6.1 inches of ground clearance when fitted with a skid plate, and up to 10.7 inches of clearance in its higher off-road mode when it isn’t.

The range of 18- to 22-inch wheels and tires absorb ride impacts well enough. The Ram’s relaxed but accurate steering make off-roading and towing simpler—no torture of a thousand corrections, just to stay on the path—and even in base editions, the Ram has more limited body lean.

Conclusion: The Dawn of an Electric Legend

As the automotive world transitions into an electrified future, the 2025 GMC Hummer EV emerges as an electrifying legend reborn. With its comprehensive redesign, uncompromising performance, and innovative features, the Hummer EV stands as a beacon of innovation. This is more than just a vehicle; it’s a statement that luxury, power, and sustainability can coexist harmoniously. As we eagerly anticipate its arrival, there’s no doubt that the 2025 GMC Hummer EV will become an iconic symbol of the electric revolution.

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