Some people fear change, others embrace it. I, on the other hand, am somewhere in between. If something is changing, it better have a decent reason to do so, or at the least, provide an outcome that makes you understand the change more than question it further. Innovation is something that constantly raises its head in the automotive industry, and sometimes, things have to change when there are breakthroughs that can provide better performance, a lower price, better efficiency, and more. Such is the case with the discontinuation of the Ram TRX and its replacement with the Ram RHO for the 2025 model year. If you want to know more about the RHO and how it fits in among the other Ram trucks for sale, you’ve come to the right place, so let’s get started.
Doing Some Things Differently
The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO isn’t attempting to replicate the TRX, and as a result, there are some interesting changes under the hood. When many people think about Ram trucks, they think about the HEMI V8 engines, which provide exceptional performance, albeit usually at the cost of fuel efficiency. The 2025 RHO is an off-roading machine like the outgoing TRX, but the RHO is powered by a new twin-turbo 3.0L I-6 engine, which replaces the gargantuan supercharged 6.2L V8 engine inside the TRX.
Ram gave plenty of warning to TRX fans because the 2024 TRX was dubbed the Final Edition. Ram believes it’s time to move forward and think about the future of performance, and it may be right. With that said, the RHO isn’t slated to outperform the TRX, and the change in engine tech––not to mention a displacement difference of 3.2L––means the horsepower and torque are considerably lower even though the rest of the performance features have actually seen upgrades.
The 6.2L supercharged V8 engine in the 2024 Ram 1500 TRX Final Edition outputs 702 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The RHO’s engine creates 540 hp and 521 lb-ft of torque, so there’s a notable difference––this may upset some drivers, but to say you’ll still feel incredible power emanating from under the hood is an understatement. In fact, the RHO is nearly as fast as the TRX. While the TRX accelerated from zero to 60 mph in a mere 4.5 seconds, the RHO can do it in 4.6 seconds, so you’ll be pleased with the acceleration and might not even notice the difference.
Without the Hellcat V8 engine, the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO has a decent uptick in fuel efficiency. Like the TRX, the RHO comes standard with four-wheel drive because it’s slated for off-roading. It’s not uncommon for four-wheel drive vehicles to be less fuel efficient, but the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO impresses with an estimated 15 MPG in the city and 21 MPG on the highway (17 MPG combined) compared to the 10 MPG in the city and 14 MPG on the highway (12 MPG combined) the 2024 TRX achieved. This large difference in fuel consumption not only saves you money at the pump, but allows Ram to keep producing powerful trucks while complying with tightening government regulations.
Payload and towing capacities have also been improved between the TRX and the RHO. The 2024 TRX can tow up to 8,220 lbs and support a 1,350 lb payload, but the 2025 RHO increases the towing and payload capacities to 10,740 lbs and 1,370 lbs, respectively. To put the upgrade into perspective, the RHO has a 30% improvement in the weight it can tow, which makes it a much more practical pick for anyone who wants a truck that can do truck stuff as well as tear up the dunes.
Most importantly, the price of the RHO is significantly lower than that of the TRX. While the 2024 TRX rang in at a hefty $96,585, the 2025 RHO starts at a much more attainable $69,995. However, given some of the cutbacks to the RHO––most notably the engine––it’s not surprising. Even if turbocharged engines tend to be a bit pricier to produce, it likely pales in comparison to the cost of continuing production of the supercharged V8 engine. Put into perspective, paying less money for an off-roading machine with better fuel efficiency and a greater towing capacity at the expense of horsepower and torque probably sounds like a win to many drivers.
Doing Some Things the Same
The TRX was a fantastic truck, so the thought of losing it is a hard pill to swallow for Ram enthusiasts. However, the RHO will make you feel at home with its familiar technological features compared to the TRX. The 2024 Ram 1500 saved its 12-inch infotainment center for the top-end trims, while cheaper versions would come with either a five-inch or 8.4-inch screen. However, with the 2025 model, the base trims are treated to the 12-inch screen that only came with top-end 2024 Ram 1500 trims, while the top trims have a 14.5-inch display.
Ram uses a Uconnect system in the 2025 RHO, much like the TRX. This infotainment center has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for smartphone integration. Thanks to the large screen and the versatility of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, you can have your music library and turn-by-turn navigation displayed simultaneously. You can also use the 12-inch Driver Information Digital Cluster Display to show turn-by-turn directions while continuing to show vehicle information like your speed, engine temperatures, and more. You can customize this screen to do many things, and it is both sleek and stylish.
Something I’ve always found exciting is the use of a Head-Up Display. The first time I ever experienced a Head-Up Display was when driving a 2012 Camaro SS––not just any Camaro SS, but one that looked like Bumblebee from Transformers––a story for another day. Regardless, a Head-Up Display feels like something out of a sci-fi film. As much as looking down at your gauges is second nature, there’s something neat about seeing your speed projected onto the windshield in a way that doesn’t interfere with your visibility.
The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO also offers a digital rearview mirror. Instead of regular reflective glass, it’s a screen that displays crisp footage from the back of your truck. This can provide better visibility because you won’t see any of your vehicle’s interior when looking in the mirror. Features like these aren’t exclusive to the RHO, nor were they for the TRX, but they are great accommodations for your off-roading life.
Is It a Fresh Start?
Is it fair to say the Ram 1500 RHO is a fresh start? Not quite, and that’s because it’s clear it’s succeeding an outgoing truck but aiming to do things differently. It’ll take some convincing to turn TRX drivers into RHO shoppers, but the changes made, not only to the RHO but to the 2025 Ram 1500 generally, are a great argument for why the RHO may be the more forward-looking truck. For TRX drivers who aren’t pleased with the switch, Ram has already hinted that something even more powerful is coming. Until then, however, the RHO is the off-roading option going forward, and I believe it’s a viable solution for lowering the price while retaining the TRX’s versatility.
