--- title: "2025 Ram 1500 RHO Review: 8,500 Miles, Later Haven’t Missed a V8?" url: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/09/2025-ram-1500-rho-review-8500-miles-later-havent-missed-a-v8/" publisher: "Pickup Truck + SUV Talk" content_signal: "search=yes, ai-input=yes, ai-train=no" author: "Tim Esterdahl" published: "2025-09-16T16:20:04+00:00" modified: "2026-08-19T16:33:49+00:00" image: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_4040.webp" --- # 2025 Ram 1500 RHO Review: 8,500 Miles, Later Haven’t Missed a V8? By Tim Esterdahl Published: 2025-09-16T16:20:04+00:00 Updated: 2026-08-19T16:33:49+00:00 ![Featured image]() More than 6 months since I drove home a brand-new 2025 Ram 1500 RHO and it is crazy how quickly I’ve forgotten about needing a V8 in a truck. As the first true “sport truck” I’ve ever purchased for my channel, it has been equal parts thrill ride and learning experience. From off-road, road trips to towing, the RHO has surprised me in ways I didn’t expect. Here’s how this truck has stacked up after six months of ownership. ## Powertrain: Hurricane Makes Hemi Forgettable ![2025 Ram 1500 RHO Review 2]() The Hurricane engine has better torque delivery and feels faster than the supercharged 6.2L V8 from the TRX plus it is more fuel efficient. (Photo by Tim Esterdahl) Under the hood sits the new high-output Hurricane 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six, making 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque. Compared to the outgoing TRX’s 6.2-liter supercharged V8, the Hurricane doesn’t deliver quite the same exhaust note, but it’s shockingly smooth and plenty ferocious. With 35-inch tires, launch control, and [Bilstein]() Blackhawk E2 shocks, this truck is built for serious fun. In fact, I’ve jumped a TRX before, and I’d argue the RHO feels quicker and more precise in certain dune conditions. Add in better fuel economy and a lower starting price now compared to last year’s TRX (not when the TRX came out), and it’s hard not to love this new setup. ## Living With It: Big, Bold, and Tall ![2025 Ram 1500 RHO Review 3]() Behind the wheel, I’ve seen plenty of beautiful sunrises and sunsets so far with the truck. (Photo by Tim Esterdahl) I’ll be honest—at 5’7″, this truck is about a foot too tall for me. Mopar’s running boards have been lifesavers, flexing with off-road use while keeping ice and dirt from building up in winter. Inside, the RHO combines performance touches with real comfort: supportive leather seats, a dual glove box, and yes, massaging seats that I’ve grown way too attached to. Passengers love the panoramic moonroof and clever storage bins, while I appreciate the sport shifter far more than Ram’s dial shifter. The cabin feels premium, roomy, and just a little indulgent—exactly what a sport truck should be. ## Upgrades, Accessories and Sponsors ![2025 Ram 1500 RHO Review 3]() It is a BIG truck, there’s no doubt about it, but I’ve gotten used to it. (Photo by Tim Esterdahl) This RHO has also been a rolling test bed for accessories. [XPEL]() applied paint protection film and ceramic coating, both of which have helped keep this hard-to-clean white truck looking sharp. [Mopar]() provided running boards and front floor mats, while [LasFit]()’s rear floor mats offer a one-piece mat I preferred for the rear. Then, I added a [ScreenProTech]() protective film on the 14.5 inch infotainment screen, the dash and around the start button to keep off scratches and smudges. The film also makes the screen more tacky making it easier to select icons while driving when you finger would more easily slide without the film. A Gator retractable tonneau cover and BedRug carpet bed liner both from [Realtruck]() transformed the bed into a surprisingly comfortable and practical space for camping gear, groceries, and golf clubs. Finally, [Keep’s secondary alarm system](), which monitors the truck from theft inside the truck using motion sensor and video recording, has been a smart addition for peace of mind when traveling. For complete protection, many owners now also integrate professional [GPS Trackers from TrackerShop](), as high-end pickups are increasingly targeted by thieves using advanced recovery-evading tactics. ![]() Gator retractable tonneau cover ![]() Bedrug carpet bed liner ![]() Mopar running boards ![]() XPEL paint protection film ![]() Lasfit floor mat ![]() Keep car alarm system ![]() ScreenProTech film on infotainment system ![]() ScreenProTech film on dash and infotainment screen ## Performance and Practicality ![2025 Ram 1500 RHO Review 5]() Typically a sport truck isn’t great at towing, but this RHO has been the opposite. (Photo by Tim Esterdahl) The RHO might be the least practical truck I’ve bought, but it has still handled real work impressively. I towed a 30-foot camper weighing around 7,000 pounds, and the RHO pulled it with diesel-like confidence—though fuel economy dropped to around 8 mpg. Unloaded, I typically see 16–18 mpg. It’s not a workhorse in the traditional sense (I won’t be hauling gravel in this), but as a camper hauler, road trip machine, and everyday driver, it has been smooth, stable, and a blast to drive. On longer trips, there’s always a bit of downtime too, perfect for killing a few minutes on your phone with something simple like [Agario]() game while you’re taking a break. It does hurt at the gas pump putting premium fuel into the 33 gallon tank. Got to pay to play. ## Quirks, Complaints and Final Thoughts ![2025 Ram 1500 RHO Review 7]() The Hurricane twin-turbo inline 6 cylinder engine has been a smooth, powerful engine and works great mated to the 8-speed automatic transmission. (Photo by Tim Esterdahl) Not everything is perfect. The passenger-side infotainment screen is mostly useless (takes a while to setup, sun glare renders it useless at times), and I’m still scratching my head over the lack of a dipstick in the Hurricane engine—though checking oil through the digital display has worked fine so far—even though [Ram’s reason for not having one]() does make some sense. Cleaning the white paint is a constant chore and finding some paint imperfections on the rear of the cabin from factory didn’t make me happy. Plus, the power tailgate doesn’t always work right. But these are minor gripes compared to the big picture: this truck makes me smile every time I drive it. At $72,000, after thousands in discounts thanks to [Mark Dodge Chrysler Jeep Dealership]() in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO has been worth every penny. It’s bold, over-the-top, and unapologetically fun—the kind of truck that turns skeptics into believers after a single drive. Six months in, I can confidently say it’s the most impractical, and most enjoyable, truck I’ve ever owned. > [@pickuptrucksuvtalk]() > > Did you know the 2025 @ramtrucks 1500 with the new inline 6 doesn’t have an engine oil dipstick? [#truck]() [#trucks]() > > [♬ original sound – PUTT]() ## Related vehicle coverage - [2025 Ram 1500]() ## Structured page information ~~~json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/09/2025-ram-1500-rho-review-8500-miles-later-havent-missed-a-v8/#article", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/09/2025-ram-1500-rho-review-8500-miles-later-havent-missed-a-v8/" }, "author": { "name": "Tim Esterdahl", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#/schema/person/82b06f99329f69a069a5ab6caed18593" }, "headline": "2025 Ram 1500 RHO Review: 8,500 Miles, Later Haven’t Missed a V8?", "datePublished": "2025-09-16T16:20:04+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-08-19T16:33:49+00:00", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/09/2025-ram-1500-rho-review-8500-miles-later-havent-missed-a-v8/" }, "wordCount": 1002, "commentCount": 0, "publisher": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#organization" }, "image": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/09/2025-ram-1500-rho-review-8500-miles-later-havent-missed-a-v8/#primaryimage" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_4040.webp", "keywords": [ "ram 1500", "Ram RHO", "ram trucks" ], "articleSection": [ "Featured on Home Page", "Reviews" ], "inLanguage": "en-US", "potentialAction": [ { "@type": "CommentAction", "name": "Comment", "target": [ "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/09/2025-ram-1500-rho-review-8500-miles-later-havent-missed-a-v8/#respond" ] } ] }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/09/2025-ram-1500-rho-review-8500-miles-later-havent-missed-a-v8/", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/09/2025-ram-1500-rho-review-8500-miles-later-havent-missed-a-v8/", "name": "2025 Ram 1500 RHO Review: 8,500 Miles, Later Haven't Missed a V8?", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#website" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/09/2025-ram-1500-rho-review-8500-miles-later-havent-missed-a-v8/#primaryimage" }, "image": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/09/2025-ram-1500-rho-review-8500-miles-later-havent-missed-a-v8/#primaryimage" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_4040.webp", "datePublished": "2025-09-16T16:20:04+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-08-19T16:33:49+00:00", "description": "More than 6 months since I drove home a brand-new 2025 Ram 1500 RHO and it is crazy how quickly I've forgotten about needing a V8 in a truck.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/09/2025-ram-1500-rho-review-8500-miles-later-havent-missed-a-v8/#breadcrumb" }, "inLanguage": "en-US", "potentialAction": [ { "@type": "ReadAction", "target": [ "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/09/2025-ram-1500-rho-review-8500-miles-later-havent-missed-a-v8/" ] } ] }, { "@type": "ImageObject", "inLanguage": "en-US", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/09/2025-ram-1500-rho-review-8500-miles-later-havent-missed-a-v8/#primaryimage", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_4040.webp", "contentUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_4040.webp", "width": 1200, "height": 1069, "caption": "After more than 6 months of ownership, the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO has been a great truck. 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