It should come as no surprise to anyone who has been following the truck industry over the past year that Ram’s fire-breathing Hellcat-powered TRX is extinct. Ram sold 4,000 TRX Final Edition vehicles, which were extremely expensive at $119,620, as a farewell gift. As soon as these vehicles entered dealer lots, eager purchasers snatched them up.
Fortunately, Ram was not completely abandoning the performance off-road truck market as a result of this revelation. With two key differences—a lower starting price and two less cylinders—the new 2025 Ram 1500 RHO is a near-perfect replica of the now-defunct TRX.
The Ram TRX and RHO differ most significantly beneath the hood. The RHO has a 3.0-liter high-output inline six-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine in instead of a 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V-8. The RHO is no slacker, even while the new mill’s 540 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque are less than the TRX’s 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft.
We tested the Ram RHO’s straight-line performance, and it reached 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. It finished the quarter-mile race in 13.2. Despite the RHO’s 162-hp (and 2.8 pound/hp) penalty, those track timings are quite similar to the TRX’s 3.9 and 12.5-second performances. Furthermore, it is still one full second faster than the next rival. In 5.6 seconds, Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 Raptor can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour. The 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten, the fastest six-cylinder truck we’ve ever tested, is just 0.2 seconds faster and 678 pounds lighter than RHO.
The Ram TRX has always been good at braking, and the RHO is no exception. The massive 6,638-pound truck slowed to a halt in 126 feet from 60 mph. The lighter, street-tired Tungsten model Ram traveled 133 feet to go the same distance as the departing TRX, which took 129 feet. It takes a staggering 148 feet for Ford’s Raptor to slow down from 60 mph. A performance off-road vehicle would benefit from the RHO’s brake pedal’s pleasant medium-to-long stroke, which is easy to modulate without being too boosted, according to our tests.
The TRX’s on-pavement handling was never one of its strongest points. In earlier testing, the TRX averaged 0.61 g and finished our figure-eight course in 28.4 seconds. The Ram RHO did not perform much better, completing a lap in 28.6 seconds at an average of 0.62 g. Naturally, these numbers are also exactly in line with the 28.4 at 0.58 g of the most current F-150 Raptor that we tested. Along with its big tires, long-travel suspension, and overall woodshed-like design, the RHO’s worst enemy is its tendency to understeer.
read more: Best Off-Road Vehicle Under $15,000
On paper at least, the smaller engine’s increased fuel efficiency is its greatest advantage. The blown V-8 engine in the TRX had a thirst of 10/14/12 mpg in the city, highway, and combined. With EPA estimates of 14/16/15 mpg city/highway/combined, RHO marginally outperforms that. The little increase results in an additional range of about 100 miles while using 33 gallons of premium fuel.
Pros
- Not lacking for power
- Interior comes packed with features
- Fabulous off-road hardware suite
Cons
- Missing that supercharger snarl
- Lacks a true 2WD mode
- Hardly more economical than the TRX
An Experience With Greater Dignity
There was something wild-child about the Ram TRX. It wanted everyone to know that it was full of rage and fire. The sensory feeling that the TRX offered contributed to its appeal. At starting, the Hellcat engine’s exhaust sound shook every window in earshot. Unavoidably, the supercharger whine was deafeningly loud. And everyone knew there was a TRX approaching from a great distance when the song was in complete. None of that comes with the new 2025 Ram RHO. Surprisingly, we don’t mind.
A new performance dual-exhaust system with 5-inch black-painted tips has been installed on the RHO by Ram. To reduce back pressure and enhance sound, this exhaust has a flow-activated valve that opens at wide-open throttle. As a result, when traveling at full speed, the exhaust tone is quite noticeable and nearly identical to that of a high-end European sports vehicle. The sound is familiar to you. Coming from a half-ton pickup, it seems odd at first, but we soon got used to it and started wanting more. In sharp contrast to its predecessor, the vehicle is incredibly quiet at both idle and cruising speeds.
Superior Technology and Elegance
The company’s new sixth-generation platform, which serves as the foundation for all of its updated 2025 1500 pickups, is the foundation of Ram’s new RHO. That includes the newest comfort and high-tech features.
With almost 50 inches of digital displays spread across four sections, Ram’s RHO is jam-packed. The instrument cluster is 12.3 inches in size and has around two dozen pieces of information that may be customized. Additionally included is a 10-inch head-up display that provides information on speed, rpm, gear selection, navigation data, and other topics. A brand-new 10.3-inch screen above the glove box is available to passengers. It may show off-road camera images, navigation data, or play media via the HDMI connector. Ram’s 14.5-inch infotainment screen, which is angled vertically, punctuates all of this.
Ram’s high-end Harman Kardon 19-speaker audio system provides the music. Included are bucket seats with leather accents. Ram’s class-exclusive reclining rear seats, which are both heated and cooled, ensure that passengers in the backseat are not left out in the cold either. Additionally, a widebody off-road vehicle is the first to offer hands-free driving assistance. A $9,995 option group includes the aforementioned.
Additionally, Ram provides its new digital key function for RHO, which enables owners to unlock and start the truck without using an Apple Watch or iPhone. Additionally, there are over 100 standard and optional safety and security systems, so entering the off-road-focused RHO is risk-free.
The Ram RHO weighed 62 pounds less than the previous TRX we tried, which was somewhat lighter due to the loss of two cylinders. Ram was able to boost both towing and payload by reducing weight and shifting additional weight under the front axle. The RHO can haul up to 8,380 pounds, which is 280 pounds more than the TRX, and carry up to 1,520 pounds, which is 210 pounds more than the TRX. These are both better than what Ford’s Raptor has to offer. It’s important to note that our fully loaded testing only provided 1,162 pounds of payload while having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 7,800 pounds. For this reason, children, it’s critical to understand your numbers.
Extreme Off-Road Equipment
Aside from the engine, the majority of the 2025 Ram RHO is a perfect replica of the now-defunct TRX. The vehicles have the similar dimensions, with the Ram RHO having 14.0 inches of rear suspension travel, 13.0 inches of front suspension travel, 11.8 inches of ground clearance, and 32.0 inches of water fording capability. In order to make room for the truck’s 35-inch all-terrain tires, which are mounted on 18-inch rims, the RHO rides two inches higher than a typical Ram 1500.
The RHO’s Bilstein Blackhawk e2 dampers are modified versions of the TRX’s. They have new mounting locations, new internals, and a new adaptive damping technique. These upgrades significantly improve the truck’s on-road ride in addition to providing improved off-road capabilities. The RHO has discovered the Goldilocks zone, when earlier we thought the TRX was a little too stiff for daily driving.
Similar to its predecessor, the TRX, the Ram RHO is more appropriate for broad deserts than for winding, narrow roads. The truck is a true master of its trade, though. The RHO has traction to overcome even the most difficult difficulties thanks to its automatic locking rear differential. Additionally, blasting through thick sand, silt, and muck is a breeze since the locking differential stays engaged at high speeds.
By shifting to the Baja driving mode (RHO has nine other modes), 75 percent of the available power is sent to the rear axle. This should, in theory, make it simpler to do endless donuts, slide around high-speed dirt bends, and basically let everyone’s inner 16-year-old win.
Is the TRX Actually Missed?
The tactile feeling that Ram’s TRX offered contributed to its appeal. And if we said that there wasn’t a part of us that was sad to see it leave, we would be lying. However, the complexity and elegance of the Ram RHO are as simple to notice.
Though it has grown up, the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO is still every bit the fierce off-road vehicle that the TRX was. A vehicle with the most cutting-edge technology, a peaceful and cozy cabin, and all the off-road and on-road capabilities you could desire is revealed when the flash and noise are removed. Everyone in the neighborhood will value your increased attentiveness, even if you’re not awakening the dead on every startup.
The best part is that the RHO is over $20,000 less costly than a standard TRX and $40,000 less expensive than the TRX Final Edition, beginning at only $71,990.
