2025 Ram 1500 review

American pick-up manufacturer Ram has come a long way since splashing onto the Aussie scene in 2017 promising to eat rival utes “for breakfast”. 

The original DS-generation Ram 1500 that first laid the foundations is now consigned to history, and so too is that model’s $80,000 starting price. Now, the DT-generation model available since 2021 has come in for a refresh. 

For 2025, Ram has parted ways with its beloved Hemi V8, introducing a ‘Hurricane’ twin-turbo straight-six petrol engine that it claims outmuscles its larger-displacement predecessor in every regard. 

The 2025 Ram 1500 lands in Australia amid a growing tussle between multiple brands, now competing with the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra. 

All of them are subject to localised right-hand drive remanufacturing and promise many of the same character traits. So does the Ram 1500 still stand out from the crowd like it once did? 

How much does the 2025 Ram 1500 cost?

Like many new large cars (including utes) in today’s market, the Ram 1500 isn’t particularly cheap.

There are two variants of the Ram 1500 available, with the Laramie Sport opening the account at $141,950 plus on-road costs, and the Limited driven for this review topping the range at $159,950 plus on-road costs.

For the Limited, that price represents a $3000 increase on the outgoing version, while at the other end of the scale there’s a $22,000 uptick in entry price from 2024. That’s because the predecessor Big Horn entry vehicle has no apparent replacement – yet. Ram is understood to be working on one.

Compared to rivals, the updated Ram lands somewhere in the middle on price. The Ford F-150 range opens at $106,950 plus on-road costs, while the Chevrolet Silverado starts at $130,500 plus on-road costs and the Toyota Tundra is $155,990 plus on-road costs.

If cross-shopped with the dual-cab ute set, the Ram entry price is about double that of a mid-level Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Triton and Isuzu D-Max – though it also offers a different level of load-lugging capability.

In between there’s the new Ford Ranger Super Duty, priced from $82,990 plus on-road costs. 

What is the 2025 Ram 1500 like inside?  

The humble pick-up may have started life as a tool of trade, but the 2025 Ram 1500 Limited feels like anything but inside its opulent leather-lined cabin.

Premium materials adorn the contact points, while a trio of screens is now laid out upon its sprawling dashboard.

Chief among them is a new portrait-oriented 14.4-inch infotainment screen which streamlines the interface between driver and car and neatly incorporates phone mirroring apps like Apple CarPlay. Happily, it is flanked by an arsenal of hard-wired buttons to ensure you’re not needlessly digging through sub-menus.

A separate digital instrument cluster offers bright resolution, legibility, and terrific customisation options for the layout.

The front passenger doesn’t miss out on the screen fanfare either, with access to a new 10.25-inch unit that can to a set of headphones – perfect for watching a movie during a long drive. Before you ask, the driver cannot watch said screen because of a reflector which makes it appear black from the other side of the cabin. 

This surfeit of tech is supported by no fewer than two wireless phone chargers and 10 charge ports (USB-A and USB-C) throughout the cabin, plus useful incidental storage everywhere you look.

We were particularly enamoured with the open cubbies available to the driver up front. Ram has seemingly thought of it all, with detailed nooks and crannies dotted around the door cards, transmission tunnel, centre fascia and console. The list includes a rather large bin in front of the centre armrest for drink bottles and larger items.

The other redeeming feature with the Ram 1500 Limited interior is that everything is either heated, cooled, electrified – or a combination of all three. It mirrors something as luxurious as the new GMC Yukon Denali for desirable appointments.

This same level of passenger amenity continues into the second row, with heated and cooled outboard seats and a level of space you’d struggle to match on even the biggest full-size family SUVs. Huge door apertures, an open glasshouse design, and three top-tether and three ISOFIX child-seat anchorages help seal this ‘tool of trade’ as a brilliant all-rounder.

Those second-row seat bases fold up to make a shed load of room for bags and other items, and as ever, there is a helpful mix of storage in the second row.

Moving on to the tray. We’re not particularly big fans of the RamBox concept being a non-negotiable, as it tends to impede tray width, paring the measurement back to 1270mm. For anyone wanting to carry dirt bikes or the like, it can be a limiting factor.

That said, the spray-in bed liner is a handy touch, as is the standard lighting and array of tie down points.   

What equipment does the 2025 Ram 1500 come with?

In a word, everything.

Ram Trucks Australia has effectively ticked every box within the Ram 1500 catalogue, unlike in its native US, where you have to optionally purchase many luxury ticket items.

Those standard items include electronic sidesteps which electronically deploy from behind the door sill upon opening the doors, an electric tailgate which assists in opening and closing, and Ram’s much-vaunted RamBoxes on the outer reaches of the tray, holding tools or ropes.

Standard equipment in the Limited extends to 22-inch wheels, leather seats with heating and ventilation (and massaging up front), a dual-pane sunroof, a 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system (one of the best in the business), 22-inch wheels, darkened exterior design highlights, a headlight animation, proximity-sensing puddle lamps and dual wireless phone chargers.

On the infotainment front there’s the aforementioned trio of screens, headlined by a new portrait-oriented 14.4-inch centre display. About the only thing missing is a head-up display.

The 2025 Ram 1500 update is designated visually by revised headlights, fascia, and front grille, plus redesigned taillights and alloy wheels.

Another handy and occasionally overlooked feature is standard fitment of integrated trailer brakes – an additional investment in many smaller utes.

About the only option here is premium metallic/pearlescent paint, which adds $950 to the purchase price.

That’s the good news. Less redeeming is Ram’s standard warranty and aftersales provisions in Australia. A three-year/100,000km warranty pales against most mainstream offerings, while the scheduled servicing of 12 months/12,000km is shy of the usual 15,000km spacing. Moreover, no capped price servicing is available.

How safe is the 2025 Ram 1500?

Although it hasn’t been tested locally (but watch this space, ANCAP is embarking on large ute tests later in the year), the Ram 1500 still comes fit with all the expected safety equipment at this price point.

The caveat is that Ram has been slightly selective about safety equipment between models. For example, only the Limited comes fully equipped with ADAS features like traffic sign recognition and a 360-degree camera.

Both models do get six airbags including side-curtains for both rows, forward collision warning and auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, trailer sway control and tyre pressure monitoring.

What powers the 2025 Ram 1500?

Here’s the big news for 2025: the Ram 1500 is no longer powered by the Hemi V8 engine. Instead, Ram has fitted its 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight six, codenamed ‘Hurricane’.

There are two tunes available. The Laramie Sport offers up 313kW and 635Nm, sending drive via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Meanwhile, the Limited employs an HO tune (or high output, not to be confused with handling option that many Aussies will remember) that enables 403kW/707Nm outputs. The increases come courtesy of additional fuel pumps, higher 26psi boost, and tweaked fuel and ignition calibrations.

Also differentiating the pair are the 4x4 system with dual-range transfer case (on-demand 4x4 in the Laramie Sport, full-time 4x4 in the Limited) and fuel configurations (the Laramie Sport gets a 98-litre tank but can take regular 91 RON fuel, while the Limited has a 125-litre tank and requires pricier premium fuel).

Towing capacity has also taken a hit. In the Limited you can now only tow a maximum of 4200kg (with a 70mm tow ball), down from the 4500kg capacity of the retired V8. The Laramie Sport is 4500kg braked.

The Laramie Sport also features an 863kg capacity payload, while the Limited comes in at 782.5kg – 20kg and 17.5kg more than before.

What is the 2025 Ram 1500 like to drive?

The Ram 1500 is like an old school Aussie bloke out on the road, bearing a gruff and tough exterior but surprisingly accommodating and thoughtful where it matters.

For all the 2025 model’s monstrous dimensions (think 5916mm long, 2057mm wide and 1971mm high), the Ram 1500 is a relative cinch to drive, with carefully weighted controls and ample surrounding technology designed to streamline the experience.

It means that, with some spatial awareness, you’ll soon be up to speed navigating it through tighter spaces. However, in city conditions there is never any escaping the sheer size and heft, especially where the 14.4-metre turning circle is concerned.

In ride and handling, the 2025 Ram 1500 extends the positive virtues of the DT-generation Ram 1500, with polished dynamics and a strong connection to the road. The occasional crashing and thudding over bumps felt in earlier Ram models makes way for a much more refined cabin experience, with faithful levels of body control and relatively responsive reactions to driver inputs. These traits are partially wrought from the four-corner air suspension, which does an excellent job in smoothing out bumps.

Now, the engine. Petrol enthusiasts might admonish the absence of the old Hemi V8, but even the most rusted-on fan would struggle to overlook the performance and efficiency benefits of the new Hurricane V6.

The petrol six is remarkably smooth upon pulling away, offering effortless torque that belies its smaller capacity. The two low-inertia turbos are tasked with feeding air into three cylinders respectively, ensuring more effective boost to the engine at lower revs than a solitary large turbo. We mention this because its peak torque figure is 14 per cent higher than in the V8 predecessor. 

Linking rather harmoniously with the engine is the eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission, which is smooth and well-timed in its shifts, and offers an ample spread of ratios. When all put together, there’s no escaping the efficacy of this combination – think a 0-100km/h time of 5.0 seconds in real-world testing. 

On a subjective note, yes the signature V8 grumble is gone – there’s no escaping that. But the Hurricane isn’t a bad imitation and should win over even the hardiest V8 enthusiast.

The other boon here is fuel use. Consumption is 12.8L/100km in a mix of conditions and as low as 8.8L/100km on a highway run, where the tacho needle rests blissfully at about 1500rpm.

The extent of load testing on this occasion was a mere 450kg in the tray of the Limited. As you’d expect, it barely put a dent in its performance, with continued strong damping and stability despite a load in the tray. In the future we hope to take on towing and report back. 

Open Road’s take on the 2025 Ram 1500

The Ram 1500 might have lost its signature V8 engine, but based on our first drive, it has only improved its appeal.

The new Hurricane inline six drivetrain and added specification make Ram’s popular pick-up feel part luxury SUV and part workhorse. 

The stumbling point for many will be getting past the eye-watering sticker prices – though it seems that’s the amount you have to pay for progress. 

What we liked

• Prodigious power and torque from Hurricane six-cylinder engine, polished road dynamics
• Leather-lined cabin and high level of standard kit
• Undeniable towing and load carrying specifications from out of the box 

What could be better?

• The standard Ram boxes heavily impede on tray width, Limited has a reduced towing capacity
• The price of entry for the Ram 1500 has climbed $50,000 in four years
• A three-year/100,000km warranty is heavily outdated, especially at this price point