US drivers love big trucks, and full-size pickups are always well represented in the top-ten selling vehicles in the country. The RAM 1500 is up there, just under the Ford F-series and the Chevy Silverado. It also competes with its seeming soulmate, the GMC Sierra 1500. Full-size pickups are the last motoring segment that the US Big Three still dominate, with Toyota and Honda filling in most of the gaps at the top with SUVs and even a couple of sedans. The RAM 1500 has been in the news when it dropped the iconic Hemi V8, lost a bunch of sales as a result, and decided to bring the eight-cylinder back.
- Base Trim Engine
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3.6L V6 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
305 hp
- Base Trim Torque
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269 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
- Fuel Economy
-
17/24-20/25 MPG
- Make
-
Ram
- Model
-
1500
- Segment
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Full-Size Pickup Truck
Despite all the background noise, the RAM truck is firmly embedded in the lore of US motoring; a pickup with a wide range that caters to everyone from the tradesman or farmer to the wealthy motorist for whom a big luxury truck is a lifestyle necessity. So what will happen if that wealthy lifestyle-seeking motorist decides to go the full hog and load the 2025 RAM 1500 with all the options that are available?
To provide the most accurate and up-to-date information, this article uses data sourced from various manufacturers and authoritative sources.
RAM 1500 Trim Levels: From Basic Worker To Off-Road Warrior
The 2025 RAM 1500 will be the only year without an option of the V8 Hemi mill, so that simplifies the range a bit. But there are still 10 trim levels to choose from, ranging from premium work truck price to good grief expensive. The three most affordable trim levels have a smaller quad cab and a bigger 6’4″ loadbed. It comes with a 3.6-liter V6 hybrid powertrain and a 4×2 drivetrain. The next seven levels have a bigger crew cab, a 5’7″ loadbed, and a 3.0-liter inline six Twin Turbo powertrain that gives 420 to 540 horsepower. There are both 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrains available. All RAM trucks use the excellent eight-speed automatic transmission.
2025 RAM 1500 Trims And Pricing
|
Tradesman 4×2 |
$40,275 |
|
Tradesman HFE 4×2 |
$41,060 |
|
Big Horn 4×2 |
$45,230 |
|
Warlock 4×4 |
$54,505 |
|
Laramie 4×2 |
$60,030 |
|
Rebel 4×4 |
$64,440 |
|
RHO 4×4 |
$69,995 |
|
Limited 4×4 |
$75,450 |
|
Limited Longhorn 4×4 |
$76,440 |
|
Tungsten 4×4 |
$87,320 |
Your Taste, Requirements, And Wallet Will Decide Which One To Choose
The first three trim levels are pretty basic working trucks, with everyday 4×2 drive, the bigger loadbed, and the less powerful but more efficient hybrid V6. The Tradesman and Big Horn offer a load of optional extras, while the Tradesman HFE does not — pretty much a basic truck.
The Warlock, Laramie, and Rebel trims start with the 3.0-liter V6 Twin Turbo and smaller load bed, as well as a substantial jump in price. The Rebel is the first of the RAM range to offer real off-roading options, and at $30,000 more than the basic Tradesman, it is firmly in the lifestyle bracket, or someone like a civil engineer who needs to get to the site in style. From there, the range goes uphill or downhill, depending on the wallet of the buyer.
What You Get With A Fully-Loaded Top-Trim Tungsten
Before one gets to start loading the truck, it is worth noting what features come standard. With the nearly-$90,000 Tungsten, those features are pretty comprehensive and mainly very impressive.
Performance And Exterior Standard Features
The Tungsten has the high-output 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six with 540 horsepower and 521 pound-feet of torque. The 4×4 drive is complemented by the four-corner air suspension that can lower and raise the body depending on the terrain and performance requirements.
The exterior design is elegant, but strangely understated. The front fascia matches the body color, and there are some badges to tell the world which truck this is, but it feels like an ‘if you know, you know’ kind of classy charm. One giveaway is the 22-inch aluminum wheels, LED headlamps, taillamps, fog lights, and DRL that do a disco thing when you unlock the truck. The large panoramic sunroof extends over both rows of seats.
Interior Features Really Bring Out The Upmarket Aspects
While the exterior of the RAM Tungsten is understated, the interior firmly expresses that this truck is not aimed at farmers or tradesmen. The first clues are the seats, upholstered in really nice leather, heated and ventilated front and back, with the front seats 24-way power adjustable and with a massage function as well.
The Tungsten elevates truck luxury to new heights. Up front, it includes 24-way adjustable massage seats wrapped in a special Indigo and Sea Salt Caramel leather.
– Jared Rosenholtz, CarBuzz journalist
The Klipsch audio system has 23 speakers, 1228 watts, and combines with a noise-canceling feature to bounce perfect sound off the suede, real wood, and carbon fiber interior fittings. The split rear seats and lockable caddies give the Tungsten loads of useful, secure storage space as well.
Tech Features Rival Top Luxury Brands
Screens in a car are the new walnut veneer, and in that regard, the RAM Tungsten beats even the biggest Benz with more than 50 inches of display real estate. This includes a 14.5-inch touchscreen in front, a 10.25-inch touchscreen in the back, a 12-inch digital gauge, complemented by a 10-inch head-up display. In addition to all the features like dual wireless charging and the full suite of driver assist, the Tungsten also helps with towing by providing an auto hitch assist feature for your trailer, as well as trailer reverse guidance.
Options That Really Push Up The Price
So what more can the buyer add to load the RAM Tungsten even more? That is really up to the buyer and the size of their wallet.
Let’s start with the MSRP of $87,320. The only certainty about this price is that the buyer will not pay exactly that. Destination fees, registration, and the like will add to it, while the dealer may offer a lower deal to start with. But one has to start somewhere.
Diamond Black Crystal-Pearl paint will set you back a mere $245, while the Billet Silver Metallic goes for $295. But why stop short? Ivory white Tri-coat Pearl-coat will cost a cool $795. Chrome power-fold trailer tow mirrors will be another $795, while the multi-function tailgate will cost $1,095. This adds 60/40 doors that swing out on either side for access in tight spots, and can be lowered like a normal tailgate as well.
The RAM tow assist kit, which is a D-ring, tow strap, a pair of gloves, a RAM storage bag, and instructions for use, is really affordable at $195. The engine block heater is a handy option, and affordable at only $95.
Optional Packages Offer More Comprehensive Upgrades
Some options come in packages and will be determined by the lifestyle needs of the buyer. But let’s load these as well.
- Bed utility group – $545 (includes four adjustable cargo tie-down hooks, a center deployable bed-step, and a truck bed cargo divider)
- Towing technology group – $1,045 (includes a 12-way/1-way trailer connector, digital auto-dimming rearview mirror, trailer hitch line-up assist, and trailer reverse guidance)
- Trailer tow group – $595 (includes a trailer brake controller, trailer light check, reverse steering control, and trailer tire pressure monitoring system)
- Off-road group – $1,245 (includes a 20-inch full-size aluminum spare wheel, 285/45R22XL BSW All-Terrain Tires, electronic locking rear axle, front extra-heavy-duty shock absorbers, fuel tank skid plate, full-size spare tire, and the essential ”Off-Road” decals)
The Off-Road group also includes a raised ride height, rear extra-heavy-duty shock absorbers, and select speed control, which takes over throttle and brakes during difficult off-road maneuvers, so the driver can concentrate on steering. Steering gear and transfer-case skid plates are also included in this group.
So after loading your RAM 1500 Tungsten with everything available, the price goes up from the MSRP of $87,320 to $94,575, a difference of $7,255. This is a 9.3% increase, which is not an excessive indulgence on a truck that was seriously expensive to start with.
Loading Up The Entry-Level RAM 1500
This exercise is fun to do, but it will make even more sense to fully load the entry-level RAM Tradesman and see where that brings us. The MSRP for this is $40,275. For starters, one can change the drive to a 4×4, and swap in a crew cab and 5’7″ loadbed, and that hikes the price to $46,975.
Fully loaded with features that range from the 3.0-liter Twin Turbo to the full off-road package, to rubber floormats, the Tradesman is now more of an executive at $55,848, an increase of $15,573, or 38.7 percent. But given that the bare-bones 4×4 Warlock trim starts at $54,505, perhaps not such a bad move. You might struggle to get your price when you sell it, though.
Why Pickup Buyers Choose A RAM 1500
The Ford F-150 Platinum starts at $74,905, while the massively powerful Raptor, with its 5.2-liter Supercharged V8, is under $80,000. The Silverado ZR2 starts at $74,295. Why not choose one of those? The answer is not so much in the truck, but in the brand. American pickup drivers are incredibly brand loyal, and someone who buys a new RAM truck will probably trade in their old RAM. This brand loyalty is generational, with RAM, Ford, or Chevy ownership running back to parents and grandparents.
Dodge RAM became RAM in 2010, and the loyalty continued until last year, when RAM dropped its iconic V8 Hemi in favor of the Hurricane inline-six turbo. Even though the new six made more power and torque, and had better fuel efficiency than the old V8, customers deserted the brand in droves, enough to make Stellantis hurriedly bring this engine back.
The visceral reaction to the change in engine shows the power of brand loyalty. Other brands make full-size pickups with big V8s, but for RAM people, the only engine is the RAM Hemi. They will buy a RAM, whatever they can afford, and if their only medicine is the fully loaded $94,000 Tungsten, that is what they will buy. Especially now that the Hemi is back in play.