• 2025 Ram 1500 RHO

  Base MSRP

  $69,995

  Engine

  3.0L Twin-Turbo Inline-6 Gas

  Horsepower

  540 hp

  Torque

  521 lb-ft

  Top Speed

  118 mph

  0-60 MPH

  4.6 Seconds

  Transmission

  8-Speed Automatic

  Drivetrain

  4WD

• 

  2024 Ram 1500 TRX

  Base MSRP

  $96,340

  Engine

  6.2L Supercharged V8 Gas

  Horsepower

  702 hp

  Torque

  650 lb-ft

  Top Speed

  118 mph

  0-60 MPH

  4.5 Seconds

  Transmission

  8-Speed Automatic

  Drivetrain

  4WD

Ram is adamant that the new 1500 RHO is not a replacement for the dearly departed TRX, but we thought it was still necessary to compare the old top-spec go-faster truck against the latest, fastest version of the heavily revised 1500 range to see just how different the two are.

The biggest difference between the two is obviously the cylinder count and the means of forced induction. The TRX used a 6.2-liter V8 engine with a supercharger bolted to the top, while the RHO is equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six. So, instead of just having a replacement for displacement on our hands, we also have turbocharging vs. supercharging, which we’ve luckily covered in great detail before.

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If this competition was based on which truck can jump the highest, the RHO has the TRX licked. The TRX’s original press pack shows the truck getting some decent air, but it’s hardly an image worthy of a poster. The guy behind the wheel of the RHO went full send, however. We’ve never seen a truck that high off the ground. Just look at the images below. The Ram RHO’s jump is mighty, and this one photograph makes it absolutely clear that it’s coming for the Ford F-150 Raptor’s crown. But before we get to that, let’s take a look at how the RHO stacks up against its (not) predecessor.

Power & Performance: It’s A One-Sided Battle

As you can see from the table above, the 1500 RHO is thoroughly trounced in the power department; the RHO is 162 horsepower and 129 lb-ft down compared to the TRX. Ram has effectively removed an entire Toyota Corolla Cross engine’s worth of power from its new truck. That makes the RHO a loser on paper. But hang on a minute… the less powerful RHO only takes a tenth of a second longer to reach 60 mph. A Formula 1 driver would be able to tell the difference, but you and I certainly wouldn’t be able to.

Still, there are independent tests out there that prove the TRX can do it in less than four seconds, and yet Ram doesn’t claim a lower figure. The reason it doesn’t is that it’s quite hard to match and beat the manufacturer’s claimed times. We have loads of experience with this and trust us when we say that it’s not something you’ll want to do to your truck on a regular basis.

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The quarter-mile times are also shockingly close. Considering the TRX’s power advantage, you’d expect the gap to be bigger. One poor launch and the RHO is going to spank your TRX hard, and no amount of V8 noises will cure that bruised ego. For the record, the Hurricane engine doesn’t sound terrible, but there is definite room for improvement. The good news is that the TRX name isn’t gone for good. Ram revealed that it will be shelved for now. How it will return is up for debate, but given all the hybrid technology Stellantis is working on, it will most likely be a plug-in hybrid of some sort, and our sources have indicated electrification is almost a certainty for its revival.

Off-Road Ability: The RHO Is A TRX Without The Power

When we first learned about the RHO’s existence, we thought its suspension setup would be nothing more than more robust dampers that allow for greater wheel articulation. As it turns out, the RHO is a serious bit of kit, on par with the TRX. It comes standard with air suspension, Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive performance shocks made of high-strength aluminum, and Dual Electronic Proportional Valves that constantly adjust the compression and rebound. The Bilstein dampers even come standard with a three-stage jounce control to keep them from bottoming out during the “most extreme events.” That’s PR speak for “jumping over stuff is totally cool.” At the rear, it has a Dana 60 axle with an electronic locker and an axle hop damper. The latter will keep the rear axle from bouncing over washboard gravel, for example. Not that the truck needs it because it has a full-time four-wheel drive system, so both axles are constantly getting a share of the power.

The TRX is also equipped with a permanent 4WD system, and most of the other goodies mentioned above. When it was new in 2021, those Bilstein dampers mentioned above were designed specifically for the TRX, and it’s nice to see the technology being carried over. Both cars also have model-specific driving modes tied to their 4WD systems, allowing even a noob to get the most out of these performance trucks. The torque split varies between these modes, with slow-speed off-roading modes giving you a 50:50 split, while the naughtier modes send up to 70% of the power to the rear wheels for obvious reasons.

The RHO is remarkably closely matched to the TRX’s off-road dimensions, with identical ground clearance, an identical turning diameter, and a breakover angle within a tenth of an inch. But it beats the TRX in two critical measures – 0.8 degrees better on its approach angle and 1.7 degrees better on its departure angle.

Visual Aggression: Both Have The Show To Match The Go

Let’s face it: these trucks need to have a presence because you don’t drive vehicles like them unless you want to get noticed. The good news is that the Ram RHO has carried over the large hood scoop, aggressive air vents, and blacked-out grille with “RAM” lettering. The main difference is that the 2025 model has all the latest updates, including new headlights, wheel designs, and an RHO sticker pack. We can only hope the RHO gets more interesting exterior color choices because the TRX’s five options weren’t good enough.

Because the RHO is based on the heavily revised Ram 1500, it gets a brand-new, much-improved interior with some model-specific bits. Highlights include a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.5-inch touchscreen display running Uconnect 5, a head-up display, and a 10.25-inch screen for the passenger. Safety features include lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. It even comes standard with 12-way power leather front seats with a massage function, memory settings, heating, and ventilation. Looking at the old and new interiors side-by-side, it’s clear which car is the winner.

The Ram TRX has an MSRP of roughly $97,000, and it will depart after the 2024 model year. As a result, dealers are making the most of the USA’s obsession with the V8 engine. The dealer markups across the country are currently sitting at $25,000, bringing the total plus destination to $125,000. The Ram RHO arrives in the third quarter (TRX production will be done by then), and it starts at $69,995. That’s a price difference of roughly $55k, provided dealers don’t try to make a quick buck on this too. Ram may have removed a Corolla Cross’ power from under the hood, but it’s an entire GR Corolla, plus a few options, cheaper.

To us, that’s not a bad deal considering the performance gaps aren’t as big as we thought they’d be. With that in mind, the RHO wins this comparison easily. It may lack the V8 noise, but in almost every other metric, it’s a step up or shows negligible difference, which leaves us wondering how epic a future iteration of the TRX might be.