2025 Ram RHO First Drive Overview

Whereas the TRX paved the way in which and had extra energy, the RHO continues the game truck cost at Ram into 2025. Whereas much less noise and energy is on faucet, the 2025 Ram RHO does most issues higher and in additional consolation than the TRX may.

Sure, that is principally the identical truck with a brand new motor, but it surely’s actually fairly the evolution of the unique. Whereas there are just a few delicate visible clues to the variations, there may be much more happening beneath the pores and skin of this wild beast than you may suppose.

Ram closed down the Holly Oaks ORV space exterior of Detroit for a media first drive occasion for its newest sport truck. The ORV park/gravel pit/ski resort provided up a number of miles of windy dust, sand, and dirt roads with substantial elevation modifications. It additionally provided up a groomed bounce part that Ram constructed to point out that these large vehicles can fly.

In brief: The 2025 Ram RHO is extensive, sure-footed, enjoyable, succesful, a superb worth, and impressively luxurious. It sadly doesn’t make wonderful noises or immediately break traction if you lean into the thin pedal, however that truthfully all provides as much as a really usable and spectacular truck.

2025 Ram RHO Overview

The Dinosaur That Left the Room

In fact everybody, together with me, goes to first examine the RHO to the TRX. They give the impression of being just about the identical and are designed for related clients and use instances. Ram says the RHO isn’t the alternative for the TRX, however for now, not less than it’s the most succesful sport truck in its lineup.

So, let’s first dive into the variations earlier than transferring on to why the RHO is a powerful package deal and a worthy crown bearer within the Ram sport truck lineup in 2025.

First, the engine. The TRX had a 6.2L Hemi V8 beneath the hood, placing out 703 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. That was good for a 4.5-second 0-60 mph time. The RHO has a 3.0L I6 Hurricane HO engine placing out 540 horsepower and 521 pound-feet.

Whereas large energy loses, it’s solely 0.1 seconds slower to 60 mph. With that mentioned, I did discover the RHO to really feel significantly slower than the TRX — however that would simply be as a result of it doesn’t make the wonderful V8 sounds.

The RHO weighs in 150 kilos lower than the TRX — a couple of 2% discount in weight. All that weight comes off the entrance axle and strikes the burden stability backward on the truck. It for positive makes for a extra balanced truck. That is very true when flying by the air on this large machine.

The suspension has been reworked and tuned for this new weight distribution, and it features a new rear trailing hyperlink design and cast aluminum entrance management arms. The Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive efficiency shocks are a carryover from the TRX, however have been reworked with the newest software program calibrations.

Different modifications within the driving really feel come means of switch case tuning to permit for extra sliding in Baja mode, a reworked stability management system, and lighter steering. You get the identical 2-inch carry, 35-inch all-terrain tires, and 14 inches of rear suspension journey.

New Seems & Luxuries

In addition to some non-compulsory graphics and normal badging, it’s laborious to inform the 2 vehicles aside. The RHO will get a brand new grille, redesigned bumpers, new exhaust ideas, in addition to new LED headlights and taillights.

Inside, the vehicles are very related as nicely, however have a number of key variations. The RHO will get all types of large screens: 10-inch full-color HUD with animated shift indicator, non-compulsory 15-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a brand new class-exclusive 10.25-inch entrance passenger display. It additionally will get non-compulsory entrance therapeutic massage seats — that are a really luxurious improve.

Whereas there is no such thing as a sporty suede steering wheel within the RHO like there was within the TRX, there’s a purpose for the change. Suede doesn’t work for Stage 2+ cruise management — which RHO will get — so it was modified to leather-based.

There are new trim rings inside which are designed to imitate CNC vertical milling marks, giving the sensation of machined metallic. On the again of the entrance seats within the RHO are new Molle strips to securely fasten small objects.

Driving the 2025 Ram RHO

You possibly can drive this truck usually, not one thing you’ll be able to actually say concerning the TRX. This truck doesn’t beg to be pushed laborious just like the TRX does. I believe that principally comes all the way down to the dearth of super-pleasing engine and exhaust notes and squealing tires each time you blip the thin pedal. Whereas the RHO exhaust notice is okay, it’s not a growling HEMI V8.

I believe it might be argued that the facility within the RHO is about excellent for the chassis and many for 99% of drivers. And, it nonetheless chirps the massive 35-inch tires simply sufficient.

The RHO drives lighter than the TRX. It’s received a barely lighter steering really feel, and the burden stability of the truck simply makes it really feel lighter and creates much less nostril dive with aggressive maneuvers. Spectacular that shedding 150 kilos and a few recalibrated software program can change the texture this a lot.

There’s a little bit of throttle delay, even in Sport mode, however its means lower than most fashionable automobiles. There’s additionally noticeable turbo-lag, which suggests when driving this truck laborious it is advisable get on throttle early to extract probably the most efficiency. This takes some driver calibration to get dialed into extracting the truck’s full efficiency.

Baja mode is the enjoyable mode, and the mode I’d use more often than not — regardless that it’s for off-road driving solely. It holds at 4,400 rpm earlier than shifting, which helps hold you within the powerband. It additionally permits for two-foot and left-foot driving, which different modes don’t.

There’s nonetheless no 2WD model of this “new” truck. The reasoning that Ram gave me concerning the TRX not having selectable 2WD was the horsepower-damaging parts. That’s not a sound excuse with the RHO, however tuning has principally negated the necessity for 2WD — which might actually solely be for smoky dry pavement burnouts anyway.

Drive modes are the reply, with Baja mode sending as much as 75% of the facility to the rear wheels. In Auto mode, 60% is shipped to the rear, Snow is 55%, and Rock mode is a 50/50 break up.

The brakes are satisfactory throughout and the pedal really feel may be very controlable. However, I do suppose the brakes might be higher on such an enormous heavy and sporty truck. They might have extra preliminary chunk, which might increase the efficiency envelope a bit extra.

The Stage 2+ hands-free system labored very nicely within the restricted use I had with it. It did hug centerline greater than I’d have preferred, nevertheless. Total, it is vitally intuitive. It maxes out at 89 mph, however that’s not one thing I attempted. It is going to change lanes by itself in the event you use the flip sign.

Do notice that it is a very extensive truck! That may make it laborious to take care of every day and in city settings. It’s superior in wide-open terrain, however when the path will get tight, you may end up holding your breath, hoping it would match.

The Little Issues

Certain, you lose sound and energy over the TRX, however you additionally acquire some gasoline financial system. The RHO will get 17 mpg mixed, 15 metropolis, and 21 mpg freeway, the place the TRX received 12/10/14. As with the TRX, my guess is that you just’ll see a lot lower than these numbers, as you’ll wish to get pleasure from what the thin pedal delivers usually.

As with the TRX, the RHO has an amazing command driving place with spectacular visibility — it’s a tall truck. Whereas I’d want it if the driving force seat would go a bit decrease and bucket a bit extra, the brand new therapeutic massage function helped soothe my again and ergonomic woes. The adjustable pedal field can be an amazing function for shorter drivers, in addition to dialing your most well-liked seating place.

I discovered that the truck was very nicely put collectively, with no inside creeks or free components, even over very tough terrain repeatedly. You do discover the chilly air consumption hood flexes a bit when bouncing round off-road, although. On street, you do hear fairly a little bit of street noise from the tires within the cabin, however impressively, not a lot wind noise from the massive truck.

Whereas there aren’t any exterior hydraulic jounce shocks, there are inner stops within the entrance shocks (not rear) and foam/plastic jounce shocks mounted contained in the entrance springs. I examined these all out repeatedly with many large jumps of the truck.

A smoothish touchdown is just about assured, even in the event you come down a bit heavy on the nostril and hit the entrance bumper on the bottom. Sure, I did that (see the subsequent paragraph). Fortunately, the center decrease part of the entrance bumper is detachable and replaceable — and is the a part of the truck that hits the bottom first when leaping the truck, and tends to bend.

Within the speedo display on the driving force cluster (web page 1), one contact of the OK button modifications from mph to kph. This isn’t a problem except you’re making an attempt to hit a bounce at a selected velocity — which I used to be doing in testing.

I’m going to name this the Detroit operate, as they drive backwards and forwards throughout the bridge between the U.S. and Canada on a regular basis and would use this function. I believe it’s too straightforward to modify between the 2 settings, and there needs to be a affirmation second OK button push to alter it, however I additionally notice it’s a tiny fraction of a p.c of individuals that may be effected by this.

The RHO must also be a greater towing truck, because it has a 3.92 last drive ratio (versus TRX’s 2.55), a 205K torque converter with a better stall velocity (now round 4K rpm), and now has a novel suspension tune for the Tow drive mode. It additionally has a barely bigger towing capability, as much as 8,380 kilos.

I’m impressed after speaking to some Ram engineers concerning the endurance desert testing the corporate does. It does it at “race tempo” — end 1,000 miles in 20 hours, which is SCORE Baja 1000 completion time cutoff — principally round Johnson Valley and on the Parker 425 race course. The testing is all carried out throughout daylight and in about 250-mile chunks, meant to check simply the automobiles and never the drivers.

2025 Ram RHO: Pricing & Availability

When you can technically purchase a base 2025 RHO for $69,995 ($71,990 together with vacation spot cost), you’re more likely to get one with a window sticker of $80-90K. The primary purpose for that’s that you just’ll probably need the RHO Stage 1 Gear Bundle — and practically each truck that makes it to a seller lot can have this package deal.

The RHO Stage 1 Gear Bundle prices $9,995. It will get you the next: therapeutic massage and ventilated entrance seats, heated and ventilated and 60/40 split-folding and reclining rear seats, Fingers-Free Lively Driver Help, 240A alternator, HUD, 14.4-inch display, entrance passenger show, surround-view digital camera system, power-adjustable pedals, energy tailgate, twin wi-fi charging pads, leather-based inside therapies, 19-speaker Harmon Kardon premium sound, rain-sensing wipers, and extra …

The evaluation car I spent probably the most time in had a window sticker of $87,605. This included the Stage 1 Bundle, Mopar Rock Rails ($995), Tonneau ($695), RHO Graphics ($495), 18” x 9” bead-lock succesful alum wheels ($1,895), Trailer Tow Group ($595), and Mattress Utility Group ($945). Most of these choices are ones you’ll probably wish to take advantage of out of this truck.

The 2025 RHO simply began rolling into Ram sellers this month (October 2024).

2025 Ram RHO Overview Wrapup

Whereas not a direct alternative for the TRX, the 2025 RHO does fill the highest spot in Ram’s sport truck lineup. For 2025, the game truck lineup consists of the 1500 Warlock, 1500 Insurgent, 2500 HD Insurgent, Energy Wagon, and RHO.

The 2025 Ram RHO is a powerful truck that does issues only a few manufacturing facility pickups can do off-road. And, it’s loopy snug and feature-rich for all times on pavement. Certain, it’s large, not cheap, and nonetheless guzzles dino juice, but it surely’s one hell of a superb time.