2025 Ram 1500 RHO First Drive Review: An Off-Road Dream Truck

The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO is an all-new truck that stands out for all the proper causes. It arrives because the 1500 TRX disappears from the lineup to offer hardcore off-road lovers a brand new possibility. And after we say hardcore, we imply it. This isn’t only a truck that appears like it will possibly go off-road. It’s a truck that’s able to dealing with essentially the most difficult off-road terrain and tackling high-speed desert driving – and it’ll have you ever grinning like a child the entire time.

The RHO is part of Ram’s Core/Electrical/Sport technique that goals to supply a truck for each sort of purchaser. There’s a sturdy lineup of 1500 trims that vary from primary workhorse to the luxurious Tungsten as a part of the Core lineup. The upcoming Ram 1500 REV will fulfill those that need to make the transfer to electrical, though it has been delayed so when you’ll get your arms on that one is unclear. On the Sport entrance, there’s the Warlock, Insurgent, Energy Wagon, and the brand new RHO – and what these provide, because the title suggests, is certainly sporting.

First Drive occasions present our preliminary impressions of a car in a restricted atmosphere underneath sure time constraints. Keep watch over DrivingOnRoad for our complete Take a look at Drive evaluate which is able to comply with quickly.

Exterior: Off-Highway Fashion

The RHO simply competes as one of many best-looking off-roaders you should buy, standing out from the remainder of the vary with its burly styling and imposing stance. It options composite flares with 35-inch tires or out there 18-inch beadlock wheels. This truck doesn’t simply look greater.; it’s greater. Working eight inches wider than the remainder of the lineup with these composite fender flares permitting for a rise of six inches within the monitor width. There are additionally field outers made from metal which might be wider than the usual 1500 truck.

Up entrance, there’s a singular RAM badge that’s bigger and permits for higher airflow by way of the nostril. There’s additionally a singular grille, hood, skid plates, and metal bumpers to make sure the RHO can do what it’s meant to do. Customary premium LED headlamps gentle the way in which with LED clearance markers on the entrance bumper and hood scoop. An animated lighting sequence prompts when approaching or departing from the truck and engages when distant begin is activated.

Obtainable exterior enhancements embody full-length rock rails or off-road powder-coated aluminum operating boards. There are additionally graphics that may be added to the hood and physique aspect in order for you. Within the again, there’s a big RAM badge that spans the tailgate together with heart identification marker lights between the tailgate and rear bumper. Giant tow hooks at the back and front of the RHO assist get you or other people out of bother and there are five-inch twin exhaust ports to complete it off.

Inside: Rugged And Sturdy But Snug

The inside of the RHO balances consolation with the sturdiness to face as much as harsh situations. It has a premium appear and feel with out being delicate or fussy. Customary options embody 12-way energy entrance seats with therapeutic massage which might be each heated and ventilated with Natura Plus leather-based and perforated suede accents. The darkish inside will get added visible attraction although the out there Stage 1 Tools Group, which provides carbon fiber accents, whereas a pink accent bundle provides pops of coloration.

A crew cab is your solely possibility, with ample seating for 5 adults with closely bolstered entrance bucket seats and a rear bench seat. Supplies appear and feel premium from the seating surfaces to the dashboard trims. There’s nice adjustability for the driving force’s seat, which is particularly key for shorter drivers who want to have the ability to see over the RHO’s huge hood.

The bolstering is ideal for off-road eventualities, particularly high-speed driving. Taking fast turns or jumps, you gained’t slide out of your seat. As an alternative, you’ll be held properly in place so that you keep confidently in command of this truck regardless of the on-road or off-road situations. The disadvantage to that bolstering is that it could be an excessive amount of for many who are bigger or have broad shoulders.

Infotainment: Screens Galore

The inside of the Ram 1500 RHO is loaded with expertise that features over 50 inches of accessible digital screens. Entrance and heart is an out there 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen that options Uconnect 5. This delivers a noticeable efficiency enchancment over the prior era of the software program with processing speeds which might be 5 instances quicker. The touchscreen is responsive so you will not be jabbing at it in frustration and its massive dimension makes following sophisticated instructions simpler. There’s additionally wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a number of USB-A and USB-C charging ports, and a 900-watt, 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system that features a 10-inch subwoofer for an immersive sound expertise.

Wi-fi charging is obtainable for 2 gadgets and there’s a separate 10.25-inch touchscreen for the entrance passenger. This lets the passenger stream music or films with out being seen by the driving force. The motive force additionally will get a 12-inch digital instrument cluster that features start-up animation on a crisp display screen that retains key information simply inside view. A ten-inch configurable head-up show rounds out the system.

How It Drives: Powered By A Hurricane

The RHO is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder Hurricane excessive output engine paired to an eight-speed automated transmission. That’s quite a lot of phrases to explain quite a lot of engine. It delivers 540 horsepower with 521 lb-ft of torque and has some fairly spectacular efficiency specs. It takes 4.6 seconds to go from 0-60 mph or 11.7 seconds to hit 100 mph. It posts a 13.1-second quarter mile time at 105 mph and has a prime pace of 118 mph. If you happen to’re in search of a efficiency truck, the RHO ought to undoubtedly be in your radar.

All that energy makes getting as much as freeway speeds easy, however that’s not why you purchase an RHO. You purchase this truck since you plan to move off-road and have some critical enjoyable, so along with all that energy, if has the gear to deal with rugged terrain at pace.

The Items To Handle The Energy

4-wheel drive is commonplace with a drive mode selector providing Auto, Tow, Mud/Sand, Snow, Sport, Baja, Valet, and Customized modes and there’s even launch management. There’s a high-flow air induction system that features a hood duct that retains water and particles from moving into the engine. The high-capacity radial air filter is in an open-top air field, so it’s simple to wash on the go must you encounter particularly messy driving situations.

A BorgWarner 48-13 full-time energetic switch case makes it simple to deal with no matter comes your means off-road and makes driving in winter climate simpler. The switch case additionally will get upgraded elements to enhance its reliability. A low vary of two.64:1 permits for rock crawling and flat-towing in impartial.

Specifically Tuned From Suspension To Shocks

The suspension system will get critical consideration with an impartial entrance suspension that features energetic efficiency damping and high-strength aluminum. The entrance higher and decrease management arms are made from solid aluminum and the caster and camber angles had been rigorously thought-about throughout suspension biking to permit for added wheel journey. Engineers retuned the spring charges, jounce bumper, and damping management all within the title of excessive efficiency.

There are Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive efficiency shocks that stability dealing with on-road and off-road. They characteristic three-stage progressive hydraulic jounce management to handle bottom-out and excessive compression. Out again, there’s a Dana 60 rear axle with an axle hop damper for higher management and a rear digital locking differential. Floor clearance of 11.8 inches – which is 2 inches greater than the remainder of the lineup – makes scaling uneven terrain easy. Mixed with 35-inch tires, the RHO extra simply clears obstacles at excessive speeds. There’s quite a lot of tech and engineering within the RHO all designed to ship on the promise of creating this an off-road succesful efficiency truck.

When the journey requires carrying cargo, the RHO is prepared. It has a most payload ranking of 1,520 kilos with an ordinary 5’7″ field. It may well additionally tow as much as 8,380 kilos of extra cargo including to its versatility.

Drive Impressions: Get Prepared For Some Severe Enjoyable

We had the prospect to take the Ram 1500 RHO off-road within the desert close to Joshua Tree, California. Our driving time included a number of eventualities designed to showcase this vans functionality, however Ram did not design an enormous course. As an alternative, a lot of what we drove was the sort of off-road terrain a typical proprietor would possibly expertise.

That included a while in Baja mode driving throughout a lake mattress at excessive pace and kicking up ridiculous quantities of mud. The floor was arduous on prime, however softer beneath, making for an amazing check of simply how nicely the RHO handles at pace within the dust.

We additionally drove up alongside a rocky hillside the place this very massive truck proved simple to navigate by way of tight turns and throughout free rock surfaces. The best way again to base camp had us driving down an enormous sand dune at excessive pace. It was sensible. We additionally took it again up that dune, which was very uneven after the busy Thanksgiving weekend, however the RHO powered by way of to the highest.

Trip and Dealing with

In each state of affairs, the RHO carried out fantastically. It dealt with nicely on quite a lot of off-road surfaces and saved its composure. Letting free, it was simple and downright enjoyable driving this truck. It is a confidence-inspiring experience that lets specialists rpush to the bounds of their abilities. You do not, nonetheless, must be an skilled to off-road within the RHO. It really works with you, not towards you, to profit from the off-roading expertise.

Gas Financial system

This can be a efficiency truck, so unsurprisingly, it has fairly a thirsty engine. The Ram RHO will get an EPA-estimated 15/21/17 mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed, which is about what you’d count on for the section.

Verdict & Pricing: Extra Horsepower For Your Greenback

The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO has a beginning value of $69,995 not together with $1,995 vacation spot charge. Based on Ram, that works out to $129.60 per horsepower, which is best than another truck. That is a enjoyable metric, and it does assist show the RHO’s price, however that is nonetheless a premium providing with a premium value.

Although not for everybody, for many who love the thought of off-roading on the weekend, the RHO is a implausible purchase. It is not outrageously priced for a sport efficiency truck, has all of the options you’ll want to handle difficult terrain, and there is loads of energy. If you happen to like getting soiled, the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO is a wonderful approach to do it.