2025 Ram 1500 RHO: The Less Powerful, More Affordable Off-Road Beast
Introduction:
As Stellantis discontinues its Hemi V8 engines, including the TRX model, Ram is not backing down from producing intense off-road vehicles. The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO may not match the TRX’s power, but it offers several advantages and comes at a significantly lower price.
The Hurricane Heartbeat:
The key difference in the RHO lies in its engine. It adopts the high-output version of the Hurricane twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six from the main Ram 1500 and Jeep Wagoneer lines. While it produces the same 540 horsepower and 521 pound-feet of torque as its counterparts, it falls short of the TRX’s impressive 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet. However, it surpasses the standard F-150 Raptor’s 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet.
Despite the power difference, the RHO still demonstrates impressive speed. It can reach 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds, a mere 0.1 seconds slower than the TRX.
Weight Savings for Enhanced Performance:
In addition to performance, the RHO benefits from a weight advantage. Weighing 150 pounds less than the TRX, this weight reduction mainly affects the front of the truck. Consequently, the RHO boasts improved turn-in responsiveness compared to its predecessor. Moreover, the weight reduction contributes to enhanced towing and payload capacity. Towing capacity increases from 8,100 pounds in the TRX to 8,380 pounds in the RHO, while payload capacity increases from 1,310 pounds to 1,520 pounds. These figures surpass those of the standard F-150 Raptor.
Unchanged but Fine-Tuned Suspension:
While the RHO required some suspension retuning due to its reduced weight, its hardware remains unchanged from the TRX model. It features adaptive, remote-reservoir Bilstein shocks, forged front control arms, upgraded bump stops, and ample suspension travel. With 13 inches of travel up front and 14 inches at the rear, the RHO sits comfortably on its 35-inch tires. Although technically capable of accommodating 37-inch tires, using them would require additional modifications to prevent rubbing issues and fully utilize the suspension travel.
Styling and Features:
In terms of appearance, the RHO showcases a few updates inside and out. It receives refreshed LED lighting, a new grille and bumper, and badges and stickers denoting its RHO trim and Hurricane engine. Inside, the RHO aligns with the regular Ram’s updates, offering passengers the option of a passenger-side infotainment screen and a new full-color heads-up display (HUD). Additional features include multifunction switches for adding auxiliary lights, prominent RHO badges, optional Nappa leather or suede upholstery, carbon fiber trim, and red upholstery accents. Furthermore, it offers hands-free highway driving assist similar to other Ram models.
Affordability Advantage:
The most enticing aspect of the RHO package is its price. Starting at $71,990, it significantly undercuts the TRX’s six-figure price tag. More notably, it is also more affordable than its direct competitor, the F-150 Raptor, which starts at $80,325. Although lacking the TRX’s powerful engine, the RHO excels in almost every other aspect while providing customers with substantial savings.
Conclusion:
Despite bidding farewell to the TRX, Ram introduces the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO as an impressive off-road machine that doesn’t compromise on performance or features. With its Hurricane engine, weight reduction, retuned suspension, and attractive pricing, the RHO presents a compelling option for off-road enthusiasts. Ram proves that it has a real winner on its hands by offering a well-rounded package that outshines its competitors without breaking the bank.