Let’s not beat around the proverbial bush here: the 2025 Ram RHO is about as subtle as a marching band in a monastery. It’s not a vehicle you buy to quietly commute to the office or gently shuffle to the garden centre for a few bags of compost. No, this is the sort of truck you buy when you want your neighbours to look out their window every morning and mutter, “Oh good grief, not that again.” The big question is, is it a Raptor killer?
It’s a colossal slab of Americana with the road manners of a caffeinated bison and the charisma of an explosion. And I mean that in the nicest possible way. Because the RHO isn’t just a pickup; it’s an event. A moving, thundering reminder that life is short and sometimes you really do need to launch two and a half tons of Detroit steel over a sand dune, just to see if gravity still works.
The RHO is supposed to be the “sensible” desert racer—lighter, leaner, and more efficient. Which is a bit like saying you’ve bought a pet tiger because it doesn’t eat quite as many antelope as a lion. Anyway, today I’m going to test it and see if it’s a worthy successor to the TRX.
Parking it at the supermarket is an exercise in geometry and courage. The front grille alone looks like it’s about to inhale passing hatchbacks. And the tires—35-inch all-terrains—are so large they make Range Rovers look like Tonka toys.
But unlike some trucks, all this isn’t just for show. Those bulging arches and towering stance exist because the RHO is built for speed across terrain that would make a goat ask for a chairlift.
Under the Hood
And what a hood it is — you could land a light aircraft on it. Underneath lurks a 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six, producing somewhere around 540 horsepower. Yes, Ram has retired the old supercharged V8 for reasons involving the planet, polar bears, and probably accountants. But worry not — this new engine still makes a noise that suggests it’s swallowing galaxies for breakfast.
Press the throttle, and the RHO doesn’t so much accelerate as it erupts. The turbos spool, the exhaust bellows, and suddenly the scenery becomes a high-definition blur. You get that same delicious sense of occasion you used to get from the TRX, only now it comes with slightly fewer trips to the petrol station and slightly less chance of setting the ozone layer on fire.
It’s quick. Ridiculously so. 0–60 happens in about 4.5 seconds, which is absurd when you consider this thing weighs more than some small cottages and has the aerodynamic profile of a wardrobe wearing a cowboy hat.
Wheels, Tires, and Suspension
The RHO has 35-inch Wrangler Territory AT off-road tires on 18-inch wheels. They are suspended by Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive performance dampers, giving it 13 inches of front-wheel travel and 14 inches at the rear. It has reshaped forged-aluminum control arms, upper and lower, plus a longer trailing length in back for the five-link coil-spring layout. Overall, ground clearance is up to 11.8 inches, due to a 2.0-inch ride-height increase versus other Ram 1500 models. Bottom line: the faster you go, the smoother it is.
Off-Road Kit
The Ram 1500 RHO offers a total of nine drive modes to adapt to various conditions: Auto (Normal), Tow, Mud/Sand, Rock, Snow, Sport, Custom, Valet, and, of course, Baja Mode.
Baja Mode
In Baja mode, the RHO can send up to 75% of power to the rear wheels while controlling the stability control and active transfer case together. This allows the truck to go a lot more sideways and for you to discover your inner rally driver.
On-Road Behaviour
Here’s the thing, though: once you leave the wilderness and return to civilisation, the RHO doesn’t suddenly become a wallowing nightmare. In fact, it’s shockingly civilized. Ram has done something witchcraft-y with the chassis because this behemoth actually handles. The steering is light but direct, the brakes are big enough to stop a planet but do lack feel, and the body control is… well, present. Yes, it’s still wide enough to require planning permission every time you change lanes, but it no longer feels like you’re piloting a runaway shed.
Freeways are where it becomes bizarrely relaxing. You sit up high, surveying lesser vehicles like a monarch peering out from the balcony. The cabin is quiet — eerily so for something on 35-inch tyres — and the air suspension flattens potholes with a gentle shrug. It’s less “brutal off-road monster” and more “luxury express lounge that can leap canyons.”
On the road, it’s… fine. It does lean in corners, like a drunken uncle at a wedding, but it’s surprisingly civilized. The suspension, designed for leaping over boulders, somehow makes potholes vanish. It’s like riding a sofa with shock absorbers tuned by NASA.
Fuel economy? Don’t even ask. If you care about miles per gallon, you’ve bought the wrong vehicle. Go buy a Prius and enjoy crying in silence.
Off-Road Prowess
This is where the RHO stops being just silly and starts being impressive. Because while most trucks talk a big game about off-road ability, this thing was born in the dirt.
Ram has thrown the kitchen sink, the countertop, and possibly the entire kitchen at its suspension. Those aforementioned long-travel Bilstein shocks are the size of church pillars, beefy control arms, and enough ground clearance to drive over a medium-sized Labrador without ruffling its fur. It has locking differentials, terrain modes, and a Baja setting that basically says: “Hold my beer.”
Point it at a trail and it charges forward like an angry rhino on rocket skates. Rocks? It climbs them. Sand dunes? It surfs them. Mud? It barely notices. It’s like driving a moon buggy, except the moon has better Wi-Fi. And the best bit? It’s composed while doing it. There’s no crashing over bumps, no head-banging oscillations. Just a weirdly calm, floaty ride — as though the suspension is having a quiet cup of tea while the world beneath it tries to shake itself apart.
Interior & Technology
Inside, it’s all gone rather posh. The RHO’s cabin is a sort of leather-clad contradiction: rugged enough to hose out the sand, but plush enough to make German luxury sedans feel slightly underdressed.
You get acres of soft leather, thick stitching, and trim pieces that look like they’ve been hewn from the dashboard of a private jet. There’s a colossal central touchscreen the size of a kitchen tile, a fully digital instrument cluster, and an audio system so powerful it could probably summon whales.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wireless, obviously. There are cameras pointing at everything, including — I think — your soul. You can even get massaging seats, because nothing says “extreme off-roader” like having your lumbar gently prodded while you bomb across the Mojave at Mach 2.
And space? Oh yes. There’s room for five actual adults, plus enough cubbies to lose several small pets. The back seats recline, the centre console could double as a studio apartment, and the cupholders are large enough to store small planets.
Pricing
Base price is $69,995 so way cheaper than the TRX. This one has the Level 1 equipment group that includes things like, massaging seats, heated rear seats, a 19-speaker sound system, head up display, and a surround camera system.
Practicality
Of course, this is still technically a pickup, which means it has a bed at the back for… stuff. In truth, most owners will probably use it for nothing more strenuous than carrying camping gear or a mountain bike that costs more than their first car. But it’s nice to know you could haul paving slabs or tow a yacht the size of Belgium if you wanted to.
Payload is around 1,500 pounds, towing is 8,380 pounds (More than the TRX), and if you actually do tow something that heavy, the RHO will barely notice. It’s that sort of truck — one that treats monumental tasks as light cardio.
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Verdict
So the Ram RHO is not as outrageous as the TRX, but it’s smarter, sharper, and in many ways, better off-road. Yes, it’s still absurdly large, yes, it drinks fuel like a Viking at a local bar, and yes, your neighbors will think you’ve lost your mind. But climb in, point it at the wilderness, and suddenly none of that matters. Because this isn’t just a truck, it’s freedom, speed, and lunacy on four wheels. And that… makes it utterly brilliant.
2025 RAM RHO Numbers
BASE PRICE: $69,995
PRICE AS TESTED: $84,420
VEHICLE LAYOUT: Front-engine, 4WD, 5-passenger, 4-door truck
ENGINE: 3.0L Hurricane Straight six turbo High Output
POWER: 540 hp
TORQUE: 523 lb-ft
TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode
0-60 MPH: 4.5 sec
CURB WEIGHT: 6,283 lbs
MAX TOWING CAPACITY: 8,380 lbs
PAYLOAD: 1,520 lbs
FUEL ECONOMY: CITY/HWY/COMB: 14/16/15
OUR OBSERVED: 11.2 mpg
PROS: Hurricane 6 delivers on power and torque, Fantastic ride quality, great on and off-road
CONS: No Hemi V8
2025 Ram RHO Review: Is it a Raptor Killer?
