2025 Ram 1500 RHO First Drive: Finally, a True Raptor Fighter

For years now, we wondered why Ram hadn’t built a proper answer to the Ford F-150 Raptor, the undisputed, king-of-the-hill off-road pickup that brought Baja-racer-style capability to a showroom-stock pickup. The Ram 1500 TRX was awesome, but its supercharged Hellcat V-8 and $100,000 sticker price put it up against the equally crazy F-150 Raptor R, not the basic six-cylinder Raptor. Well, finally, for 2025, we have our Raptor fighter: the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO. The formula is pretty simple: Take the TRX’s super-trick off-road goodies, including the Bilstein Black Hawk e2 electronically controlled shock absorbers and unique suspension components, and put them on the updated ‘25 1500. That means it comes with the high-output version of the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Hurricane straight-six engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission, as well as a starting price of just about $72,000 (including destination) — several thousand dollars less than an F-150 Raptor!

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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:45 Off-Road in the new RHO
2:15 Go ahead, jump!
2:55 A canyon carver on-road? Really?
3:40 All about that hurricane
6:43 Trim and options
7:54 Screens and buttons
10:04 Better than the Raptor?

Editorial mission:

[tensecondtwoii]

WTH ? The Raptor "can't make a claim to performance machine Off road AND ON road" ???? Is this guy completely high? The base Raptor with the 35" tires is the GOAT in both too. Add the 37" package to the Raptor and now it rides even smoother on and off road, but at the expense of sporty handling ON road due to more sidewall flex of the taller 37's. A Raptor with 37 pkg is the smoothest riding vehicle period. Rides smoother than even a Cadillac. Why? 37" tire on a 17" rim = lots of sidewall to absorb anything PLUS Fox Live-valve shocks. Do have to give RAM credit, the RAM still has the most luxurious interiors.

[chadd]

So Ram RHO beats tge Raptor in all facets hands down. Raptor who? More power, better interior, better looks, more comfortable. RHO beats the Raptor in the specific areas the Raptor was engineered to dominate. Amazing.

[billyrowland]

Rotary shifter on dash is what’s keeping me going buying a Ram totally useless on a truck in my opinion at least make it an option for a actual shifter

[scarroll]

We are witnessing Stellantis murder the Ram brand

[Goated]

This is a review of the Ram RHO fighting the Raptor not the Raptor R. Also this is a review of the Ram RHO fighting the Raptor not the Raptor R. I would also like to point out that this is a review of the Ram RHO fighting the Raptor not the Raptor R.

[Link-weso]

Why would you buy this if you were worried about how smooth the engine was?

[versus]

Raptor has an 37 tire options witch i like

[stevenhanna]

The RAPTOR still is the better engineered better

[stevenhanna]

Y'all reviews is miss leading its not 7 grand less its about the same price

[ubeuonly]

Anyone who drives a 19 or newer ram and a fird will Instantly see the difference. So naturally. The RHO IS BETTER AND FASTER. the raptor R was in response to the trx blowing the raptor away. Fir 39k more money. This truck does 0 to 60 in 5 seconds

[MacWorthVintageATVs]

As the saying goes, 'plagiarism is the greatest form of flattery'. RAM has essentially copied Ford's Raptor almost exactly. Good to see RAM has at least come to the table as GM has not but for RAM to claim it has created anything unique or special falls so far short of Raptors 15-year heritage. For me, I'll keep my Ford Raptor, not RAM's carbon copy.

[ballien]

The lower trim of the RHO doesn't get anything fancy for $72k???? The Raptor has nearly every single option as "base"

[Pantovinator]

Regular raptor fighter just doesnt sound as sexy

[B]

I love how tax payers paid for this park so auto makers can test their cars there on tax payers $ lol what a joke

[SER]

Stellantis is a complete mess. Brands like Dodge and Ram may not even exist in 2 years… who in their right mind would buy anything from them right now?

[aaronx]

please stop lying to us sir. There is no way that that piece of shit hurricane can deliver speed and power like a hemi! this is the problem with some of these journalist, we could never really be sure if they actually believe some of the bullshit they say or they’re just saying it because they want to keep a good relationship with the manufacturer. But I can’t think of one person that would take a hurricane over a hemi.🤷🏾‍♂️