MotorTrend has named the Ram 1500 as the publication’s 2025 Truck of the Year award winner. Evaluators praised the pickup’s turbocharged straight-six Hurricane engine, technology features, capability, and value. The Ram 1500 was the top pick among a slew of heavy-hitting competitors, including the Chevy Silverado EV, the GMC Sierra EV, the Ford Ranger, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, the Rivian R1T, the Tesla Cybertruck, and the Toyota Tacoma.
The 2025 Truck of the Year award was based on six evaluation criteria, including design (both interior and exterior), efficiency, engineering excellence, performance of intended function, safety, value.
When it comes to the 2025 Ram 1500, the biggest headline is what’s under the hood, where Stellantis replaced the traditional Hemi V8 with its new turbocharged straight-six Hurricane engine (SST). The standard-output SST delivers 420 horsepower, while the high-output version, featured in the performance-focused RHO and luxury Tungsten, boasts 540 horsepower. Compared to the outgoing V8s, the new six-cylinder engines are lighter, quicker, and more refined.
The 2025 Ram 1500 also introduces advanced tech features, such as Hands-Free Active Driving Assist, which is comparable to GM’s Super Cruise system. The Ram’s system is available on 125,000 miles of highways, and while the publication says, the system “is not perfect,” it does show promise. Screen offerings expand with a 10.3-inch passenger screen, alongside a 14.5-inch central display, digital cluster, and head-up unit. Ram also enhanced the towing features with reverse steering aids, automated trailer calibration, and improved handling while loaded.
On the capability front, the 2025 Ram 1500 performed well off-road, while also promising towing up to 11,600 pounds and hauling up to 2,360 pounds.
MotorTrend had a total of three trim levels at their disposal while testing, including the budget-conscious Warlock, the high-powered RHO off-roader, and the well-equipped and luxurious Tungsten. Most reviewers praised the Warlock as “the best truck per dollar here” when compared to the competition. The base price for the 2024 Ram 150 Warlock starts at $56,255, while the RHO is $71,990 and the H.O. Tungsten Crew Cab is $89,070.
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LOL! The Hurricane inline 6 is causing concern about melting catalytic converters. It also runs at relatively high psi for a stock engine. The RAM TRX is fantastic though.
I don't love the I6 even though the power is impressive. It seems to use the turbos plenty to get down the road and mileage is no better than a V8. Can't beat the V8 sound at startup. The technology and interior upgrades are impressive, however. The air suspension rides great, lowers down the highway, and makes hooking up a trailer easy. The vertical screen isn't great but the passenger screen is a novelty people seem to like along with massaging seats. The interior stitching and color options as well as exterior package options are something GM needs to take a hard look at. Less may be more for the bottom line but it certainly isn't for the customer.
The Ram Box is a nice feature for anyone wanting to store tools free from dust and elements. I'm hopeful GM will come up with something similar, even if it's inside the box.
G.M. Had it first in the Cadillac ext and Chevy avalanche. Don’t know why they got rid of that option.
Still should have kept the V8, updated it, and boosted it, along with a new hybrid version.
And their sales reflect they should have kept the 8. Also, not a fan of their Multilink rear suspension. Feels too loose for a truck. Also, Ram has gotten expensive! 🤮 Id take a Silverado custom over the ram trucks these days.
MotorTrend is a bunch of lightweights, anyways.
What they should do if Tim doesn’t bring back the gen 3 Hemi or make a 4th gen Hemi is make a straight 8 out of the hurricane for the trucks and “charger” I think that would be really cool and bring back a good chunk of alienated customers.
I think the hedge funds and WEF need to lighten the eff up and just let people have some choices instead of trying to FORCE EVs so quickly. Update the V8s and include some hybrid options.
Ram Junk ! What have we learned about the so called experts from Covid and the Biden admin . MT is like the biden admin
UGH, but at least it's not an EV, which they LOVE, being based in California. Taco deserved it more.
I will never buy a Chrysler product. I've worked on too many to know that they are junk!
So apparently build quality was NOT one of the criteria?
And rightly so! NO, repeat NO, EV is anywhere close to being ANYTHING of the year!