The Ram 1500 is one of the most popular and award-winning pickup trucks in America, thanks to its blend of style, technology, capability, and comfort. But for the 2025 model year, Ram is making a bold move that could shake up the truck market: it's dropping the iconic Hemi V-8 engine and replacing it with a new family of twin-turbocharged straight-six engines called Hurricane.
Why Ram Chose the Hurricane Engine Family
The Hurricane engine family is a new development from Stellantis, the parent company of Ram, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, and many other brands. The Hurricane engines are designed to offer more power, more performance, and more fuel efficiency than the larger and heavier V-8 engines they replace.
The Hurricane engines are 3.0-liter straight-six units with aluminum blocks and heads, forged internals, and twin dual-scroll turbochargers. They come in two versions: a standard output (SO) version with 420 horsepower and 469 lb-ft of torque and a high output (HO) version with 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque. Both versions feature a start-stop system and are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
According to Ram, the Hurricane engines improve acceleration and fuel economy in all conditions, but the exact numbers have not been revealed yet. However, Ram claims that the Hurricane engines are up to 15 percent more efficient than the larger engines they replace.
The Hurricane engines are also designed to fit in the same space as the V-6 or V-8 engines, which means that Ram can use the same chassis and body for the 2025 Ram 1500. This also means that the Hurricane engines can be used in other Stellantis vehicles that share the same platform.
How Ram 1500 Compares to Its Rivals
The decision to drop the Hemi V-8 engine is a bold one, especially considering that the Ram 1500鈥檚 main rivals, the Ford F-150 and the Chevrolet Silverado, still offer V-8 options. However, Ram is not the only one to embrace turbocharged six-cylinder engines, as Ford has been using its EcoBoost V-6 engines for years, and Toyota has recently introduced a twin-turbo V-6 engine for its redesigned Tundra.
Here is a comparison table of the 2025 Ram 1500 and its competitors based on the available information:
| Model | Engine | Power | Torque | Transmission | Fuel Economy | Max Towing | Max Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Ram 1500 SO | 3.0L twin-turbo I-6 | 420 hp | 469 lb-ft | 8-speed automatic | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2025 Ram 1500 HO | 3.0L twin-turbo I-6 | 540 hp | 521 lb-ft | 8-speed automatic | N/A | 11,580 lbs | 2,300 lbs |
| Ford F-150 5.0L V-8 | 5.0L V-8 | 400 hp | 410 lb-ft | 10-speed automatic | 17/23 mpg | 13,000 lbs | 3,325 lbs |
| Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 | 3.5L twin-turbo V-6 | 400 hp | 500 lb-ft | 10-speed automatic | 18/24 mpg | 14,000 lbs | 3,250 lbs |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V-8 | 5.3L V-8 | 355 hp | 383 lb-ft | 8-speed automatic | 17/24 mpg | 11,500 lbs | 2,280 lbs |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 6.2L V-8 | 6.2L V-8 | 420 hp | 460 lb-ft | 10-speed automatic | 16/21 mpg | 13,300 lbs | 2,100 lbs |
| Toyota Tundra 3.5L V-6 | 3.5L twin-turbo V-6 | 389 hp | 479 lb-ft | 10-speed automatic | N/A | 12,000 lbs | 1,940 lbs |
| Toyota Tundra 3.5L Hybrid V-6 | 3.5L twin-turbo V-6 + electric motor | 437 hp | 583 lb-ft | 10-speed automatic | N/A | 12,000 lbs | 1,940 lbs |
As you can see, the 2025 Ram 1500 HO has the most power and torque of any six-cylinder engine in the segment, and it also beats the V-8 engines from Ford and Chevrolet. However, the Ram 1500 SO has power and torque similar to the Ford F-150 5.0L V-8 and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 6.2L V-8, which means that it may not have a significant advantage in terms of performance or efficiency.
The Ram 1500鈥檚 towing and payload capacities are also competitive but not class-leading. The Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 has the highest towing capacity of 14,000 lbs, while the Ford F-150 5.0L V-8 has the highest payload capacity of 3,325 lbs. The Ram 1500 HO has a respectable towing capacity of 11,580 lbs and a payload capacity of 2,300 lbs, but it falls short of the Ford F-150 and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The Ram 1500 SO鈥檚 towing and payload capacities have not been announced yet, but they are expected to be lower than the HO鈥檚.
The fuel economy ratings of the Ram 1500 are not available yet, but they are likely to be better than the V-8 engines from Ford and Chevrolet and comparable to the EcoBoost and hybrid engines from Ford and Toyota. However, the Ram 1500 will also face competition from the fully electric pickup trucks that are coming to the market, such as the Ford F-150 Lightning, the Chevrolet Silverado EV, the GMC Sierra EV, the Rivian R1T, and the Tesla Cybertruck. These electric trucks will offer zero-emission driving, instant torque, and lower operating costs, but they will also have challenges such as limited range, long charging times, and higher upfront prices.
What Else Is New for the 2025 Ram 1500
The 2025 Ram 1500 is not only about the new Hurricane engines, as it also offers a host of new features and updates that make it more attractive and advanced than ever. Some of the highlights include:
- A new Tungsten trim level that sits atop the lineup and offers the most luxurious and technologically advanced features, such as a 14.5-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch passenger screen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a digital rearview mirror, a head-up display, a dual wireless phone charging pad, a smartphone as a key technology, and a hands-free driving assist system that provides Level 2+ automated driving capability.
- An on-board power inverter that can produce up to two kilowatts and features two covered outlets located inside the bed that allow customers to power items such as lights, television, reciprocating saw, chainsaw, or fan.
- A new high-torque rear axle with a 25-mm-larger ring gear allows for the higher towing and payload capacities of the Hurricane HO engine.
- A redesigned exterior that features a more contemporary and aerodynamic look, with new LED headlights, taillights, and fog lights, a new grille, a new hood, new bumpers, new fender flares, and new wheel designs.
- A refreshed interior that features new materials, colors, and accents, as well as improved ergonomics, storage, and connectivity.
- A new Ram 1500 RHO model will join the lineup in the third quarter of 2024 and will feature the Hurricane HO engine, a sport-tuned suspension, a performance exhaust system, a unique exterior and interior styling, and a 0-60 mph time of less than five seconds.
How Much Does the 2025 Ram 1500 Cost
The 2025 Ram 1500 will be available in seven trim levels: Tradesman, Big Horn, Rebel, Laramie, Longhorn, Limited, and Tungsten. The pricing and availability of each trim level have not been announced yet, but they are expected to be similar to the current model year, which starts at $38,570 for the Tradesman and goes up to $62,070 for the Limited. The Tungsten trim level will likely be the most expensive one, while the RHO model will probably be priced somewhere between the Rebel and the Limited.
Conclusion
The 2025 Ram 1500 is a bold and innovative move from Ram, as it ditches the Hemi V-8 engine for a new family of twin-turbocharged straight-six engines called Hurricane.
The Hurricane engines offer more power, more performance, and more fuel efficiency than the larger and heavier V-8 engines they replace, and they also fit in the same space as the V-6 or V-8 engines, which means that Ram can use the same chassis and body for the 2025 Ram 1500.
The 2025 Ram 1500 also offers a host of new features and updates that make it more attractive and advanced than ever, such as a new Tungsten trim level, an on-board power inverter, a new high-torque rear axle, a redesigned exterior, a refreshed interior, and a new Ram 1500 RHO model. The 2025 Ram 1500 is a truck that aims to set new standards in the segment, and it will be interesting to see how the customers and the critics will react to it.
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