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

The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO is an all-new truck that stands out for all the right reasons. It arrives as the 1500 TRX disappears from the lineup to give hardcore off-road enthusiasts a new option. And when we say hardcore, we mean it. This isn’t just a truck that looks like it can go off-road. It’s a truck that is capable of handling the most challenging off-road terrain and tackling high-speed desert driving – and it will have you grinning like a kid the whole time.

The RHO is a part of Ram’s Core/Electric/Sport strategy that aims to offer a truck for every kind of buyer. There’s a robust lineup of 1500 trims that range from basic workhorse to the luxurious Tungsten as part of the Core lineup. The upcoming Ram 1500 REV will satisfy those who want to make the move to electric, although it has been delayed so when you’ll be able to get your hands on that one is unclear. On the Sport front, there’s the Warlock, Rebel, Power Wagon, and the new RHO – and what those offer, as the name suggests, is indeed sporting.

First Drive events provide our initial impressions of a vehicle in a restricted environment under certain time constraints. Keep an eye on DrivingOnRoad for our comprehensive Test Drive review which will follow soon.

Exterior: Off-Road Style

The RHO easily competes as one of the best-looking off-roaders you can buy, standing out from the rest of the range with its burly styling and imposing stance. It features composite flares with 35-inch tires or available 18-inch beadlock wheels. This truck doesn’t just look bigger.; it is bigger. Running eight inches wider than the rest of the lineup with those composite fender flares allowing for an increase of six inches in the track width. There are also box outers made of steel that are wider than the standard 1500 truck.

Up front, there’s a unique RAM badge that’s larger and allows for better airflow through the nose. There’s also a unique grille, hood, skid plates, and steel bumpers to ensure the RHO can do what it’s meant to do. Standard premium LED headlamps light the way with LED clearance markers on the front bumper and hood scoop. An animated lighting sequence activates when approaching or departing from the truck and engages when remote start is activated.

Available exterior enhancements include full-length rock rails or off-road powder-coated aluminum running boards. There are also graphics that can be added to the hood and body side if you want. In the back, there’s a large RAM badge that spans the tailgate along with center identification marker lights between the tailgate and rear bumper. Large tow hooks at the front and back of the RHO help get you or other folks out of trouble and there are five-inch dual exhaust ports to finish it off.

Interior: Rugged And Durable Yet Comfortable

The interior of the RHO balances comfort with the durability to stand up to harsh conditions. It has a premium look and feel without being delicate or fussy. Standard features include 12-way power front seats with massage that are both heated and ventilated with Natura Plus leather and perforated suede accents. The dark interior gets added visual appeal though the available Level 1 Equipment Group, which adds carbon fiber accents, while a red accent package adds pops of color.

A crew cab is your only option, with ample seating for five adults with heavily bolstered front bucket seats and a rear bench seat. Materials look and feel premium from the seating surfaces to the dashboard trims. There’s great adjustability for the driver’s seat, which is especially key for shorter drivers who need to be able to see over the RHO’s massive hood.

The bolstering is perfect for off-road scenarios, especially high-speed driving. Taking quick turns or jumps, you won’t slide out of your seat. Instead, you’ll be held nicely in place so you stay confidently in control of this truck no matter the on-road or off-road conditions. The drawback to that bolstering is that it may be too much for those who are larger or have broad shoulders.

Infotainment: Screens Galore

The interior of the Ram 1500 RHO is loaded with technology that includes over 50 inches of available digital screens. Front and center is an available 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen that features Uconnect 5. This delivers a noticeable performance improvement over the prior generation of the software with processing speeds that are five times faster. The touchscreen is responsive so you won’t be jabbing at it in frustration and its large size makes following complicated directions easier. There’s also wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, multiple USB-A and USB-C charging ports, and a 900-watt, 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system that includes a 10-inch subwoofer for an immersive sound experience.

Wireless charging is available for two devices and there’s a separate 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger. This lets the passenger stream music or movies without being visible by the driver. The driver also gets a 12-inch digital instrument cluster that includes start-up animation on a crisp screen that keeps key info easily within view. A 10-inch configurable head-up display rounds out the system.

How It Drives: Powered By A Hurricane

The RHO is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder Hurricane high output engine paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. That’s a lot of words to describe a lot of engine. It delivers 540 horsepower with 521 lb-ft of torque and has some pretty impressive performance 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 top speed of 118 mph. If you’re looking for a performance truck, the RHO should definitely be on your radar.

All that power makes getting up to highway speeds effortless, but that’s not why you buy an RHO. You buy this truck because you plan to head off-road and have some serious fun, so in addition to all that power, if has the equipment to handle rugged terrain at speed.

The Goods To Manage The Power

Four-wheel drive is standard with a drive mode selector offering Auto, Tow, Mud/Sand, Snow, Sport, Baja, Valet, and Custom modes and there’s even launch control. There’s a high-flow air induction system that includes a hood duct that keeps water and debris from getting into the engine. The high-capacity radial air filter is in an open-top air box, so it’s easy to clean on the go should you encounter especially messy driving conditions.

A BorgWarner 48-13 full-time active transfer case makes it easy to handle whatever comes your way off-road and makes driving in winter weather easier. The transfer case also gets upgraded components to improve its reliability. A low range of 2.64:1 allows for rock crawling and flat-towing in neutral.

Specially Tuned From Suspension To Shocks

The suspension system gets serious attention with an independent front suspension that includes active performance damping and high-strength aluminum. The front upper and lower control arms are made of forged aluminum and the caster and camber angles were carefully considered during suspension cycling to allow for added wheel travel. Engineers retuned the spring rates, jounce bumper, and damping control all in the name of high performance.

There are Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive performance shocks that balance handling on-road and off-road. They feature three-stage progressive hydraulic jounce control to manage bottom-out and extreme compression. Out back, there’s a Dana 60 rear axle with an axle hop damper for better control and a rear electronic locking differential. Ground clearance of 11.8 inches – which is two inches more than the rest of the lineup – makes scaling uneven terrain effortless. Combined with 35-inch tires, the RHO more easily clears obstacles at high speeds. There’s a lot of tech and engineering in the RHO all designed to deliver on the promise of making this an off-road capable performance truck.

When the adventure calls for carrying cargo, the RHO is ready. It has a maximum payload rating of 1,520 pounds with a standard 5’7″ box. It can also tow up to 8,380 pounds of additional cargo adding to its versatility.

Drive Impressions: Get Ready For Some Serious Fun

We had the chance to take the Ram 1500 RHO off-road in the desert near Joshua Tree, California. Our driving time included multiple scenarios designed to showcase this trucks capability, but Ram didn’t design a giant course. Instead, much of what we drove was the kind of off-road terrain a typical owner might experience.

That included some time in Baja mode driving across a lake bed at high speed and kicking up ridiculous amounts of dust. The surface was hard on top, but softer underneath, making for a great test of just how well the RHO handles at speed in the dirt.

We also drove up along a rocky hillside where this very large truck proved easy to navigate through tight turns and across loose rock surfaces. The way back to base camp had us driving down a massive sand dune at high speed. It was brilliant. We also took it back up that dune, which was very choppy after the busy Thanksgiving weekend, but the RHO powered through to the top.

Ride and Handling

In every scenario, the RHO performed beautifully. It handled well on a variety of off-road surfaces and kept its composure. Letting loose, it was easy and downright fun driving this truck. It’s a confidence-inspiring ride that lets experts rpush to the limits of their skills. You don’t, however, need to be an expert to off-road in the RHO. It works with you, not against you, to make the most of the off-roading experience.

Fuel Economy

This is a performance truck, so unsurprisingly, it has quite a thirsty engine. The Ram RHO gets an EPA-estimated 15/21/17 mpg city/highway/combined, which is about what you’d expect for the segment.

Verdict & Pricing: More Horsepower For Your Dollar

The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO has a starting price of $69,995 not including $1,995 destination fee. According to Ram, that works out to $129.60 per horsepower, which is better than any other truck. That’s a fun metric, and it does help prove the RHO’s worth, but this is still a premium offering with a premium price.

Though not for everyone, for those who love the idea of off-roading on the weekend, the RHO is a fantastic buy. It’s not outrageously priced for a sport performance truck, has all the features you need to manage challenging terrain, and there’s plenty of power. If you like getting dirty, the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO is a fabulous way to do it.