RAM TRX SRT review

It’s the latest volley in the sport truck arms race, the RAM TRX SRT, a supercharged monster of a pickup designed to devour Raptors.

Hold on, didn’t this happen six years ago?

Indeed it did. In response to Ford’s F-150 Raptor sport truck, Ram plucked a 6.2-liter Hemi V8 from the Mopar supply bin, slapped a supercharger on it, and shoved it into a Ram 1500 pickup with an updated suspension.

Ah, so what’s the deal this time around?

Well… in response to Ford’s F-150 Raptor sport truck, Ram plucked a 6.2-liter Hemi V8 from the Mopar supply bin, slapped a supercharger on it, and shoved it into a Ram 1500 pickup with an updated suspension.

Point made. Care to elaborate a bit?

Absolutely. Ram’s new TRX is a bit of the old, a bit of the new. At first glance, you’d think it was just Ram reissuing the previous truck and engine again, which you’d be forgiven for as it still falls within the fifth generation of the 1500 pickup, and so, apart from a few new exterior elements, will look sort of the same as last time. Admittedly, there’s plenty of carryover, but it’s been updated in a number of ways, with some of the more substantial changes made to the supercharged V8.

Changes to the hardware and the software managing it has allowed for a 10 per cent power increase, hitting the output jackpot at 777 horsepower. Along with 680lb ft of torque, 40lb ft more than the previous version, it beats the Raptor R’s 720hp and 640lb ft output on the numbers sheet. All of this is fed through an eight-speed automatic transmission and a full-time transfer case for all-wheel drive action all the time. Be prepared to launch the TRX from 0 to 60mph in 3.5 seconds while on the way to its 118mph top speed.

When you do launch it, chances are you’re doing so towards a massive dirt ramp. If you’re living the TRX life the right way, at least. To facilitate this very practical and well-thought out behavior is a suspension fitted with an updated set of Bilstein Black Hawk e2 performance shocks that saw their debut on the equally nimble but not as shouty Ram RHO. These, a five-link coil system and Ram’s active terrain dynamics system translates into smoother landings than you’d expect from a full-sized pickup, a thing that traditionally does not fly.

When it’s on the ground, how does it drive?

It will surprise no one to hear that it’s very, very powerful. Even with all that truck to shift around, the TRX gets a move on quick but more impressively, easily. When you (attempt to) drive it casually, its springy undercarriage and sound-dampened cabin masks just how quickly it gets going. It may feel like you’re doing a nominal, legally-advisable speed, but a peek at the speedo will often reveal that you are indeed in danger of having an impromptu roadside chat with one of the locals.

When you do find an appropriate venue for spirited driving, you can take advantage of a number of driver settings to set the TRX for success depending on the terrain. Sport will firm up the steering and the suspension – to a degree, it’s still a big box on stilts – while upping the engine response as it loosens up the traction controls. With some effort and bravery, the TRX can be wrenched around corners fairly quickly, though similar to its blue-oval-wearing rival, the Baja mode is where it shines. This is sport mode but for dirt, leveraging all of its power and off-road capability for some good times beyond the pavement.

It’s important to note that while the Hemi power unit hogs the spotlight, it’s the suspension that makes it a superstar. Eating up a series of whoops (sequential dirt speed bumps) like it was nothing and catching this unit of a vehicle softly after a series of launches highlights the work rarely seen but is ever so important in a pickup like this.

Can you do truck stuff?

It’s still a Ram 1500, even if it’s outrageous. The 5ft 7in bed is one of the smaller ones the automaker offers, but it’s quite functional, if a little higher up than usual. It’s mostly a spacious crew cab that can seat five which means you can bring the family along for wild off-road adventures just as easily as you can take them to the supermarket. You might want to bring a couple helmets and secure your shopping, though.

What’s it like inside?

Get into the cabin and it’s got every single luxury and tech feature you could imagine and then a few more besides. Front and center is a 14.5-inch touchscreen working in tandem with a customizable 12.3-inch screen behind the steering wheel. In terms of other tech, the TRX features a level 2 hands-free drive assist, which is another raised digit to the Raptor which doesn’t include Ford’s equivalent, Blue Cruise.

How much does the Ram TRX cost?

It starts at $99,995, without destination fees and the other things that creep the price over the six-digit line. Prepare instead to pay closer to $108,000 for one. With its 12mpg combined fuel, er… efficiency, it’ll cost a high price to feed it, too.

The Ram TRX is a power junkie’s dream – huge engine, huge output and capable of huge leaps in the right settings. The big shouty truck is not subtle with what it is and what it can do, and Ram wouldn’t have it any other way.

It does come with a hefty price tag, though, and comparing it to the competition really comes down to brand loyalty, if anything. At the moment, the Ram TRX tops the Ford Raptor on the spec sheet, though history’s shown how fierce the battle for the top truck spot can be. If you want a truck that can do it all, the Ram TRX covers all the bases, which it does loudly and unapologetically.

Alternatives? By design, few trucks compare to the TRX outside of its direct competitor, the F-150 Raptor, though the Ram 1500 RHO remains a compelling choice from within the family line-up. Most of the suspension components are carry-overs while the 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 nets you 540hp and 521lb ft of torque. It’s not as sexy or shouty as the TRX’s V8 but it’s no slouch. The slightly more reasonable $73,795 price point sure helps the recommendation.