There’s no denying that the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is a massive, intimidating heavy-hitter. While Ram’s latest offering is a newcomer in the world of off-road trucks, its highly-anticipated debut all but guarantees success amongst off-roaders and truck enthusiasts alike. Let’s take a look at the specs:
- MSRP: $70,095
- Horsepower: 702
- Torque: 650 lb-ft
- 0-60 MPH time: 4.5 sec
Jam-packed with best-in-class technology features, an exclusive suspension system, and an interior that rivals many luxury cars, Ram’s latest pickup might be its best ever. The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is a culmination of years of ingenuity combined with Ram’s dedication to providing a pickup truck that performs like a workhorse and drives like a dream.
Performance and Handling
The brand describes the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX as “the most powerful production street-legal half-ton pickup ever built,” and the supercharged 6.2L Hemi V8 engine beneath the hood fully backs up their claim. With its twin-screw supercharger providing immediate torque with none of the lag found in a turbocharger, it can reach an impressive maximum speed of 14,600 rpm and can regulate boost pressure up to a whopping 11.0 psi. The enormous airbox provides an air induction system capable of filtering up to four times more debris than the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX’s leading rival, the Ford Raptor. Even more impressively, it takes in up to 32.9 liters of air per minute to increase the engine’s power.
The forged-steel crankshaft, which is encased in a cast-iron block, features induction-hardened bearings developed to hold up under the immense firing pressure of up to 1,595 psi. Despite its phenomenal horsepower and torque, the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX still offers a smooth ride and best-in-class control thanks to its TRX-exclusive Bilstein Black Hawk e2 shock system.
Features of the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX Packages
The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX currently offers four different packages, the base level, the TRX Level 1 Equipment Group, the TRX Level 2 Equipment Group, and the TRX Launch Edition. Let’s take a look at some of the incredible features standard across the lineup. The 12.0-inch Uconnect Display with navigation helps you seamlessly find your wait to your destination without the use of your smartphone. But if you do have your phone, then Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allow you to easily pair it with the infotainment system to use your smartphone hands-free so you can send text messages and make calls safely.
You’ll get SiriusXM Traffic Service and Travel Link Service, which gives you updated access to the most recent travel and traffic information while you drive. Integrated Voice Command with Bluetooth enables you to control your radio, navigation system, and connected devices using only your voice. The steering wheel-mounted audio controls allow you to adjust the volume without taking your hands off of the wheel, and multiple USB ports mean you’ll never run out of battery when you need it.
Level 1 Equipment Group Features
With this package, which will run you an additional $3,420, you’ll find everything available on the base trim, plus a rear window defroster and rain sensitive windshield wipers to help you keep a clear view of the road no matter the weather. The heated front seats and heated steering wheel allows you to warm up quickly – and stay warm – during the colder months. Leather-trimmed bucket seats add an even more luxurious feel to an already high-class pickup truck. A rear under-seat storage compartment gives you extra cargo space for the items you don’t want to store in your truck bed.
The instrument panel LED ambient light piping helps you read the instrument panel even when it’s pitch black outside. You’ll also find features like a universal garage door opener, sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors, power-adjustable pedals, 8-way power-adjustable driver and passenger seats, pickup box lighting, and more.
Level 2 Equipment Group Features
On the Level 2 Equipment Group, you’ll find the same valuable features offered by the packages with a few differences and several additions, like ventilated front and rear seats that allow air to flow through perforations in the fabric for maximum comfort no matter the outside temperature. A wireless charging pad charges your devices effortlessly without any charging cords, the rear 60/40 folding split recline seat maximizes your cargo space for additional storage, and heated second-row seats allow your passengers to ride in warmth and comfort.
You’ll be alerted to potential obstacles in your blind-spots to mitigate possible collisions with both blind-spot and cross-path detection while the surround-view camera shows you an overhead view of your vehicle’s position and any nearby objects so you can better navigate your way out of an awkward parking space. ParkSense front and rear park assist with an innovative stop feature provides alerts of impending collisions and applies the brakes to prevent them. The remote tailgate release enables you to lower the tailgate with the touch of a button, a great option if you have your hands full.
Other features available on the Level 2 package are a leather and suede flat-bottom steering wheel, luxury front door-trim panels, keyless entry, a trailer brake controller, and memory settings for the power-adjustable pedals, driver seat, mirrors, and radio. But while these are all great features, the Level 2 package will add a whopping $7,920 to the already hefty price tag of the Ram TRX.
TRX Launch Edition
As with many other models, the Ram 1500 TRX’s highest package, the Launch Edition, has its best features. That’s not to say the lower trims aren’t good trucks, but if you want the top of the line features such as a Harman Kardon sound system, you’ll have to spring for an incredibly expensive truck. It costs an extra $12,150 for the Launch Edition, which puts it solidly in the same price range as luxury cars.
That being said, you’ll gain access to some fun exterior add-ons like TRX exterior graphics and hood graphics, plus amazing features such as a 19-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system that provides the highest-quality sound available across the lineup. Lane keep assist gently corrects your course should your veer out of your lane while driving, while pedestrian emergency braking detects potential collisions with pedestrians and applies the brakes to prevent or mitigate a crash.
Additionally, the adaptive cruise control maintains your vehicle’s speed at a safe distance from vehicles ahead of you on the road. The heads-up display shows vital information on your windshield to keep your eyes where they belong – on the road. You’ll also get a deployable bed-step, a LED CHMSL lamp, real carbon fiber interior accents, a spray-in bedliner, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof that allows for an unobstructed view of the sky, a TRX Launch Edition console badge, red interior accents, and more. As we mentioned before, this is an expensive truck, but it’s one that offers superior performance and top-notch infotainment features.
Safety Features of the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX
While the higher trim levels have exclusive safety features, even the base model offers more than adequate protection. Some of the safety features you’ll find on the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX include hill-start assist, which helps maintain brake pressure as you start moving on an incline to prevent backsliding. Ram’s ParkView rear back-up camera enables you to see what’s behind you while you back out of a parking space, preventing potential collisions. Electronic roll mitigation helps you maintain control of your vehicle in circumstances where there is an increased risk of rolling.
You’ll also get Selec-Speed Control, which maintains vehicle speed while off-roading without engaging the brake, and traction control to prevent wheel slip in poor conditions. Electronic stability control aids traction control by improving your vehicle’s stability and preventing skidding. Another fantastic safety feature is full-speed forward collision warning plus, which brings your vehicle to a stop in the event of a detected imminent forward collision. Low beam daylight running headlamps enables other drivers to better see your vehicle’s approach while driving, which is especially useful during rain and fog.
The added security alarm alerts you to potential vehicle break-ins, and you’ll never have to worry about your tires with this model. This is because the tire fill alert and tire pressure monitoring display keeps tabs on tire pressure and alerts you when it dips below the manufacturer’s recommended level. For added stability, trailer sway damping detects swaying in towed cargo and minimizes it, so you remain in control of your vehicle.
Conclusion
The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is a powerhouse of a pickup truck, but it’s also a costly one, especially if you opt for the highest trim level. It offers a vast array of features you’d be hard-pressed to find on many high-end sedans, let alone a truck with extreme off-roading capabilities. While we ordinarily try to avoid recommending one of the highest trim levels due to the higher cost, the Level 2 Equipment Package offers truly astounding safety features, incredible infotainment, and is overall the best value for money.
