RAM 1500 review

It’s the Ram 1500, the pickup truck with its horns ever locked with Ford’s F-150 over which truck is the most truck in all of truckdom.

So… it’s a truck.

Yes indeed. And there’s a reason why this one is perpetually at odds with its blue-oval-branded rival: it’s pretty good.

As you’d expect, there are multiple versions of the 1500 to meet a potential buyer’s work and/or play needs, plus several trims to satisfy even the most persnickety rambler. There’s also a special performance truck that goes above and beyond for those looking for over-the-top thrills.

Is this the so-called ‘Raptor killer’?

Sort of. Ford’s F-150 Raptor became the sport truck superstar when it was introduced 15 or so years ago, staking a claim in its territory with a big stinkin’ 6.2-liter V8 before downsizing to a supposedly more sensible ecoboost V6 for its second generation.

In that time, Ram saw a chance to fill the V8 power vacuum, storming in with the TRX, a version of the 1500 with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 of its own and 702hp and springy ‘jump all the things’ suspension.

Ford got the hint and effectively reclaimed its kingdom with the Raptor R, which brought back the V8 and 720hp along with it to kick the TRX’s tailgate on its way out of production.

That left the Dodge 1500 RHO, the current ‘fun’ truck with 3.0-liter turbo inline-six whipping up 540hp.

Life finds a way, huh?

The 1500 story is starting to sound familiar, for sure. Even more so now that the TRX will be resurrected, Jurassic Park-style later this year.

The TRX is coming back?!

Yep. The good-ole Hemi V8 is slated to make its return very soon, though the RHO seems keen to cohabitate with the ‘T-Rex’, at least for a while.

What about the 1500 for normies?

Also good! While the big, showy trucks duke it out, the 1500 dutifully fulfills its role as a daily utility vehicle for all jobs great or small. Available models are a mix of quad-or-crew cabs sporting either the shorter 5ft 7in bed or the longer 6ft 4in box.

Three engines are available: the carry-over 305hp 3.6-liter V6, and two versions of a new 3.0-liter turbo straight-six, with one whipping up 420hp and the other managing 540hp. All are joined to an eight-speed automatic gearbox through which power is sent to two or four wheels contingent on which model you go for.

Once it makes its return, the 5.7-liter V8 Hemi will produce the same 395hp and 410 lb-ft of torque it did for years before it was shelved. For the time being, this will slot it above the base V6 and below the two turbocharged power units.

In its supercharged form, the 6.2-liter Hemi will produce 777hp and deliver 680 lb ft of torque for the returning TRX, which is 57hp more than the Raptor R for those keeping a tally.

How does it drive?

There are various configurations that affect the ride quality, but it’s safe to say that they all drive and ride as well as you could expect. Particularly when it comes to the RHO, the heavy hitter of the 1500 line-up doesn’t let the lack of V8 keep it from performing like the badass everyone hoped it would be. Though lighter on the horsepower, the RHO does just about everything the old TRX did, only with more composure.

On the highway or off, the 1500 is a comfortable place to spend time in between work runs or journeys into the wilderness thanks to its high quality interior, if not for the tech amenities then for the well put-together cabin that’s as rugged and functional as the rest of the vehicle. As such, it’s a high-utility tool for a wide spectrum of users.

The battle between Ram and Ford, and to a lesser extent every other pickup manufacturer, means that shoppers benefit from having top-tier choices such as the 1500. It’s about as solid as trucks come, with enough configurations available for buyers to find the right tool that fits their lifestyle, be it a bare-bones work beater or an inviting family hauler for weekends at the lake.

In terms of off-road fun, the 1500 has the chops to handle things off the pavement, for play or otherwise, particularly with the RHO. Perhaps it’s not as off the wall as the shouty TRX, but it retains that vehicle’s capabilities, jumps and all.

As it’s so comparable to its competitors, picking one boils down to personal preference and budget rather than capability, and with an array of trims, customers are, if anything, spoiled for choice. We guess that’s a good problem to have.