There was a time when the current generation Ram 1500 managed to outshine both the Chevrolet Silverado and the Ford F-150 especially, in interior technology. However, the segment is rapidly evolving and Stellantis and Ram found themselves once again behind the pack in several categories. In a bid to re-establish itself in the segment, the company has formally unveiled the 2025 Ram 1500 which hopes to inject fresh sales into Stellantis’s bottom line.
Familiarity Dominates Refreshed Ram Exterior
The exterior styling of the 2025 Ram 1500 builds on familiarity and at first glance, the core shape appears to be carried over from the outgoing model. However, the front grille is bigger and it’s flanked by redesigned headlights with the whole front end leaning further forward than what we have seen in the past.
The side profile gets a sleek character line and the taillights have also been reworked slightly. The Ram badge is also more prominent but in a curious move it’s not mounted in the center of the grille with Ram designers moving the iconic lettering up a bit to just above center. Ram reps that we have spoken with in the past confirm that the Ram 1500 has a large pool of loyal buyers and the company knew that rocking the boat too much in this department could possibly scare some of them off so we understand why they were cautious with this update. Go for the range-topping (Tungsten model and you’ll get bigger wheels a different front grille as well as higher amounts of chrome trim. The Tungsten model is a new variant for 2025 and we first saw it on the Ram 1500 REV both at the New York and Detroit Auto Shows.
Higher Quality Materials And Luxury Sharpen Ram 1500 Interior
Slip inside the 2025 Ram 1500 and buyers will notice the enhanced interior quality and luxury that Ram designers have injected into the cabin which is an upgrade on the already impressive trappings in the current one. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is now standard while a larger Uconnect 5-equipped infotainment system is also along for the ride too, with buyers having the ability to upgrade to a 14.5-inch screen in certain trim levels. The 2025 Ram 15oo also follows the lead of several Jeep models and will now give passengers a small 10.25-inch touchscreen to interact with.
A heads-up display and a rear camera mirror are also available but Ram chose to save their boldest feature for the task of charging phones with the Ram being equipped with dual wireless phone charging pads which are dubbed the Ramcharger system. The interior appointments are enhanced as you climb up the trim ladder with the Tungsten model getting 24-way Natura Plus leather seats with built-in massaging feature as well as the ability to be heated or cooled. Suede trim is also used to cover the headliner and the A-and B-pillars with the center console lid featuring a small plaque that shows the Tungsten nameplate as well as a VIN number. Audiophiles will also love the 23-speaker Klipsch premium audio system that’s available on the Tungsten.
Ram 1500 Makes More Power With Less Cylinders
While the updates to the exterior and the interior are nothing to sneeze at, the brand chose to make their biggest gamble in performance hardware with the truck bringing a number of major changes to consumers. A prominent one that will definitely be noticed by many is the axing of the long-running 5.7 and 6.4-liter Hemi V8 families. The Hemi has been an enduring presence in the Ram 1500 for several decades in one shape or form and has always been a popular option with consumers. That said, it was also a very thirsty offering and Ram was having a hard time making the Hemi and all of its derivatives comply with tightening fuel regulations.
In its place is a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six that Ram says is the strongest engine ever offered in the truck. While it’s two cylinders less than the V8, it makes up for it by being offered in two different outputs. The standard tune makes 420 horsepower and 469 lb-ft of torque and will be the volume-focused inline-six while the high output variant makes 540-hp and 521 lb-ft of torque. The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 (another enduring symbol from the past) will continue to be offered for 2025 as the base engine choice. The lack of a V8 in the full-size truck segment is nothing new with the Toyota Tundra being a prominent example of this downsizing in action. However, this is the first time that we have seen the Detroit Big 3 engage in this action and the Ram’s lack of a V8 is a gamble especially when you consider that GM and Ford still offer V8s in their respective engine lineups. This move also coincides with the utterly bonkers TRX variant being shelved for 2025.
The V6 also plays a prominent role in the all-new 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger. The Ramcharger will be the second EV pickup offering in the Ram 1500 ranks but unlike the all-electric REV, the Ramcharger uses the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that serves as an on-board generator to charge the 95-kWh battery pack when the truck is in motion. The Ramcharger is not a formal plug-in hybrid but it’s an attempt by Ram to expand range with the brand targeting a maximum driving figure of 690 miles between the battery and the charging system with a 27-gallon fuel tank powering the V6. The Ramcharger comes with two electric-drive modules with both EDMs working together to produce a combined system output of 663-hp. This allows the truck to make the sprint to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and the Ramcharger will share the same STLA platform that also underpins the REV. In addition to its fast performance, the Ramcharger can also tow up to 14,000 lbs. An eight-speed automatic will continue to be offered and will be used on all the engine offerings.
The exterior styling here doesn’t change too much, but the Ramcharger gets the futuristic “RAM” lettering that we saw on the REV and the front lettering has a feature that allows it to pulse while charging with full charge being indicated by a solid light.
When Can I Buy A 2025 Ram 1500?
Ram is not ready to reveal pricing for the lineup just yet, but did confirm the rest of the trim ladder which includes the Big Horn, Tradesman, Lone Star, Laramie, Rebel, Limited Longhorn and the Limited Trim. Those trims will appear at launch but buyers willing to wait a bit will be able to get the performance-focused RHO model in the middle of 2024 with the REV and the Ramcharger appearing towards the end of next year. We look forward to hearing more about pricing for the REV in particular to see where it sits in the broader pecking order in the EV truck segment.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.