2025 Ram 1500: The New Hurricane Engine is Stirring Up a Storm
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The Ram 1500 hasn’t played the "best in the category" and multiple engine game with its Ford and GMC rivals in a while. But its popularity has always earned it a decent place in terms of sales. A smooth ride, superior interior assembly quality and cutting-edge technologies are just some of the factors that set it apart from the popular F-150 and Silverado/Sierra.
Another distinguishing feature of the Ram 1500 is its iconic HEMI engine, which has forged the truck's reputation for good reliability and appreciable power. At least until today.
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In addition to receiving cosmetic changes inside and out, a new electrical architecture and a few modifications to its chassis components, the Ram 1500 is going all out by sending the beloved HEMI into retirement. Its replacement: a turbocharged 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder engine called Hurricane, available in two versions.
Elevated Pressure, Gradual Wind Factor
The HEMI is gone. But the 3.6 L naturally aspirated Pentastar V6 remains as a base engine with 305 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. It is followed by the first Hurricane 3.0 L turbocharged in-line six-cylinder with an output of 420 hp and 468 lb-ft of torque. At the top, the High Output (HO) version of the same engine delivers 540 hp and 521 lb-ft of torque.
Regardless of the version of the new engine, the duo serves up higher peak performance than the HEMI, and that's thanks in part to its twin turbochargers that push 22 psi into the intake manifold of the base version, and 28 psi in the HO variant with forged aluminum pistons.
At 90 pounds lighter than the HEMI, the Hurricane engine could bring weight savings to the table. Alas, while we don't have exact weight specs for the Ram 2025, it's highly likely that the pickup has recouped this mass elsewhere.
As for maximum towing capacity, this has dropped from 12,750 lbs to 11,550 lbs. And that's with the base version of the Hurricane engine, not the High Output.
On the road, the new engine's superior performance is clear, but as we expected, there's a slight delay in torque delivery compared to the HEMI at low rpm. After that, the storm breaks and the engine performs in exemplary fashion, with notable linearity even during high-speed accelerations and pickups. The High Output variant can rivet occupants to their seats in a sports car fashion.
The Ram signature is once again evident in terms of ride comfort, where the driver and passengers enjoy a supple ride on all road surfaces as well as long distances. Even the off-road Rebel variant, with its aggressive tires and trail-calibrated suspension, does better on the highway and in everyday driving than the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2, for example. We must mention, however, that the ridiculously oversized rearview mirrors on the Rebel variant can hamper the driver's vision in certain situations.
As for fuel consumption ratings, our short trip, which varied mainly between off-road and highway (with several variations of the truck), didn't allow us to gather reliable data. An eventual test under everyday driving conditions will enable us to validate how efficient the new engine is compared with the HEMI in terms of fuel consumption.
Comfortable Interior, Improved Technologies
The Ram 1500's interior also keeps its renowned comfortable and well-appointed character. A few changes have been made to the screens and colour choices have been added in some variants, but everything remains essentially the same. The base model now has an 8.4-inch screen, while a new 14.5-inch screen is available. The centre screen can now be paired with a screen for the passenger, allowing him or her to consume media, navigatio and images broadcasted by the various cameras on the vehicle.
In addition, Ram has given its 1500 an all-new electrical architecture that facilitates "over-the-air" upgrades, as well as adding new technologies. These include an emergency braking system that can perform evasive maneuvers when safe and possible. The Ram 1500 is also equipped with a "Level 2+" semi-autonomous driving system, which enables the vehicle to drive autonomously on a predetermined network of roads in North America, thanks in particular to a camera aimed at the driver to monitor his or her attention. Unfortunately, the network of eligible roads is much more limited than that of GM's SuperCruise.
Enter the Very Grand (And Very Expensive) Tungsten Variant
Ram has also taken advantage of the 2025 vintage to introduce a new variant: the Tungsten. This is the crown jewel of the range which aims to rival GMC's Sierra Denali Ultimate. Heavily decorated with chrome, this truck boasts a more prominent grille and Ram logos, more powerful projector LED headlights and an even more luxurious cabin. The interior features its own amalgam of materials and textures along with incredibly comfortable Natura Plus quilted leather upholstery. The list of standard equipment for this model is long, and it is priced accordingly. With a starting price of $106,945, it is reserved for truck enthusiasts with deep pockets.
Still on the subject of pricing, the range starts at $59,445 for the Tradesman variant, with $74,945 for a Sport model and $93,945 for the Limited, plus shipping and delivery charges of $2,195. Since Ram has upgraded the base equipment list for 2025, variants like the Sport and Rebel are less expensive (when identically equipped) than in 2024.
Of course, advances in turbocharging and electrification continue to invalidate the old saying there's no replacement for displacement. And whether you believe that’s true or not, every segment will get a taste of this engine downsizing.
Apart from compromises on torque delivery at very low rpm, exhaust sound and, perhaps, the more belligerent character of a V8 - the recipe seems to be working, with stunningly superior performance and, hopefully, savings at the pump. But reliability will be the key to the Hurricane’s success over the years in order to keep Ram fans coming back and attract new ones.
