After seeing sales numbers for its Ram truck brand drop three years running, Stellantis decided the time had come to revamp its 2500 and 3500 series pickup trucks. On January 7, they unveiled the first major facelift to the Ram Heavy Duty since the fifth generation launched in 2019. Although officially still part of the same generation, people visiting a Ram dealer will find major changes to the powertrain, exterior, and interior waiting for them.
The manufacturer is hoping the new Ram Heavy Duty, combined with the redesigned Ram 1500, which came out last summer, will narrow the widened gap to its major rivals. As recently as 2022, the Ram was second in pickup sales and seemingly within reach of the Ford F-Series. But in 2024, annual sales were down nearly 200,000 units from 2022, numbering less than half of the F-Series and well behind the Chevy Silverado to boot. As Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis succinctly put it to CNBC, “We’ve been getting our [butt] kicked.”
Will the new Ram Heavy Duty make the impact the automaker is hoping for? If it’s a good truck, it certainly has a chance. With that in mind, I’ve found what truck buyers need to know before deciding whether to take the plunge.
The HEMI’s Still Here, But the Diesel Is Even Bigger
Perhaps one of the biggest pieces of news is something that hasn’t changed on the Ram Heavy Duty. After the launch of the new Ram 1500 can sans the company’s legendary HEMI engine, speculation immediately began that the same would happen to the three-quarter and full-ton versions. Those fears were put to rest at the official announcement when Ram confirmed the 6.4L V8 HEMI would remain in the lineup. Making 405 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque, it’s a strong power plant that connects to the Ram’s storied history.
But while the HEMI is basically unchanged, the more popular diesel engine received an overhaul as part of the refresh. The high-output version of the 6.7L inline-six Cummins turbo-diesel was tweaked to increase horsepower to 430 hp; torque remains the same at a mind-boggling 1,075 lb-ft. Furthermore, the 370-hp diesel version has been dropped altogether. As this was previously the only diesel option on the Ram 2500, this three-quarter-ton will finally get the high-output diesel people were clamoring for.
The secret ingredient, though, appears to be the beefed-up eight-speed automatic transmission, which now mates with both the HEMI and diesel engines. Known as the TorqueFlite HD, Ram claims it can handle the maximum torque from the diesel in first gear and will self-detect whether the truck is loaded. The combo quickens the 0-to-60 mph sprint from 8 to 6.9 seconds with the smoothest possible shifts. Towing capacity has fallen by 480 lbs, but this is mainly due to replacing the 4.10 rear axle ratio with a 3.42; this will keep engine revs at a safer level and boost fuel efficiency as part of the Dare Forward 2030 initiative. And at a 36,610-lb gooseneck rating with the diesel and a 7,590-pound max payload with the HEMI, the Ram Heavy Duty can still carry plenty.
Looking Like a New Truck Inside and Out
The updates to the Ram Heavy Duty aren’t just hidden out of sight. Several new body design elements make the truck stand out. The new front grille and fascia give the truck a bigger, more aggressive appearance. This is accentuated by split-tier headlights, which use four individual LEDs (now a standard feature) and separate daytime running lights. Different trims have different grille accents, such as the alternating bars on the Rebel and the chrome finish on the Laramie and Limited Longhorn; there are new trim-exclusive wheel designs, too.
Below each grille is the black rectangular radar unit that supports new Level 2 and Level 3 driver assistance features (I’ll talk more about these shortly). On the rear, the taillight design has also been updated, and you can upgrade them to C-shaped LEDs, which enable blind spot monitoring. Here’s the kicker: perhaps inspired by the success of Ford’s Pro Power Onboard, Ram now offers a power inverter in the truck bed with two covered outlets. It can draw up to 2.4 kW of power to run tools, movie projectors, portable electric grills, and everything in between.
Updated Interior Tech and Finishings
Ram Heavy Duty trucks have always been known for their excellent technology and sophisticated feel compared to other pickups. Stellantis must have felt the competition narrowing its biggest advantage, though, because they went back to work and delivered even more on both fronts. The 12-inch infotainment touchscreen that was once the biggest of three options is now the bare minimum on all trims; you can expand it to a best-in-class 14.5-inch screen that feels like a giant tablet. There is also a 10.3-inch front passenger screen—the only HD truck to offer such an amenity—so they can comfortably take control of maps, music, and more.
All the existing entertainment options carry over, but they’re operated through the new Uconnect 5 software, making everything faster and more intuitive. Available add-ons now include dual wireless charging pads to replenish devices and a new digital rearview mirror; the latter has a tow mode, and you can add a trailer reverse steering function to further improve maneuverability.
This brings me to the biggest list of new features, which belongs in the safety and driver assistance fields. Functions like Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control, which were previously electives, are now included on every Ram Heavy Duty. The aforementioned radar unit facilitates a host of new add-ons as well, including parking sensors, Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Keep Assist, and a 360-degree high-definition camera system.
Regarding the rest of the interior, the dimensions are unchanged, but the detailing is fine-tuned to make it even more luxurious, especially on the higher trims. Each truck has clean lines that look contemporary and make it easier to navigate the cab. They also have Active Noise Cancellation and acoustically-insulated glass to keep road noise out. Premium materials like leather upholstery and wood trims are available on the higher-level trucks, as is a large multilevel center console. With seven official trims from the entry-level Tradesman to the off-road-tuned Power Wagon to the fully loaded Limited—not to mention the returning three cab and two bed options—drivers can find one with the right interior appearance, furnishings, and tech goodies for their heavy-duty purposes.
A Major Upgrade to a Classic Pickup
When the fifth-gen Ram Heavy Duty came out, it was a top-of-the-line steed, winning the 2020 MotorTrend “Truck of the Year” Award for its all-around design (It previously won in 2010 and 2003, too). After five years, though, Stellantis recognized the need for big changes. The facelifted 2025 Ram Heavy Duty borders on a soft reboot with its retuned diesel, robust transmission, revised infotainment, safety tech, and other ways to challenge the Ford and Chevy dominance. Even the relatively barebones HD trims like the Tradesman and Big Horn (renamed the Lone Star in the Texas market) still come through with huge improvements over preceding model years.
It’s fair to say the 2025 Ram Heavy Duty is a much-needed shot in the arm that builds on the Ram 1500 revitalization. The changes are so substantial and positive that I wouldn’t be surprised if the truck takes home the nameplate’s fourth MotorTrend “Truck of the Year” Award. Stellantis said at the unveiling that deliveries would begin sometime in the first quarter of 2025, so the new Ram Heavy Duty may already be available at dealerships, letting everyone see how far forward it has leaped.
