Preview: 2025 Ram 1500 and Ramcharger Pickup Trucks Pack High-Tech and Big Power

The Ram 1500 has long stood out for its livability. All modern trucks are highly capable, but none match the Ram for its ride quality, driver comfort, and intuitive controls. With the full-sized truck market going through a period of redesigns and launches of electric versions, Ram is poised to remain competitive with its power and features. We hope the other virtues continue, as well. 

It is a bold move to skip a traditional hybrid and instead go for an extended-range electric vehicle with an engine to recharge on the go. This seems like a pragmatic solution that eliminates range anxiety and facilitates towing, which is almost untenable with a full blown EV. Of course, if you’re using a truck to do trucky things, like haul hefty cargo or pull a sizable trailer, it will have a significant impact on range. Even if it dropped the range in half, that is still 345 miles. But the trick here is that the engine will be charging as the truck drives. We’ll be very interested to see how this works when we buy one to test. 

The truck is overflowing with clever technical features. We look forward to trying some of the innovations, like the passenger side infotainment screen and hands-free driving at all speeds (known as L2+). However, given the Ram’s massive size, we are surprised blind spot warning (BSW) is not standard.

Ram styling is evolutionary, with a reshaped, forward-leaning grille and LED headlamps being the most overt changes. If there is any doubt about the truck’s identity, the massive “RAM” badge on the front declares its name. A similar lack of subtlety is applied to the tailgate. There is now an available function to allow the tailgate to be lowered via the key fob—a welcomed convenience. The tailgate can open as a single piece or as two, split about two-thirds and one-third. This versatility can make loading the bed much easier in tight quarters or with certain trailers. 

The Ramcharger looks very much like the Ram 1500, with distinct taillights and badging. Clearly Ram is borrowing the script from Ford, who made its F-150 Lightning look like its popular F-150, rather than go wild like Tesla’s Cybertruck. 

The RamBox continues—lockable storage within the bed walls. This weatherproof space is a convenient way to store tools and emergency equipment. Following tradition, the bed has grooves to allow it to be divided, as well as cleats and a rail system for securing cargo. 

The Ram has an onboard power inverter, with two covered outlets in the bed for powering camping equipment and tools.

Drivers can gain access to the trucks using their phone as a key. As available on many new vehicles, an app can control many functions remotely, such as unlocking the doors and starting the engine. This gives owners more flexibility, especially when the key fob is not available. It is easy to imagine that this may have particular applications for commercial users, in case a key is misplaced or someone needs access to a truck at a job site. 

Once inside, it is clear that Ram has once again engaged in the infotainment screen wars. There is a digital driver’s instrument screen, naturally. 

The center screen can be had in 12 or 14.5 inches, and it houses the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. We have been UConnect fans, as the systems have been quite easy to use. However, UConnect 5 packs more features and customization options than ever, creating more of a learning curve. Hopefully, the implementation here, and the large screen, improve on current applications. 

One-upping the competitors, the Ram can be fitted with a 10.25-inch passenger touchscreen that can display entertainment, navigation, and exterior vehicle cameras. To reduce distraction, this screen is not visible to the driver, but is visible to the front seat passenger. There is an HDMI port for connecting devices, so the passenger can use the screen to surf the internet or watch a video. 

So the driver doesn’t feel left out, there is an available color head-up display that can show navigation directions, speed, speed limit, gear, and safety warnings on the windshield. 

Available dual wireless phone chargers can keep devices topped off when traveling. 

Full-sized trucks have long competed on the boasts of big numbers for horsepower, cargo capacity, and towing capability. The trend continues with the Ram.

The base engine is the familiar 305-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 found in the current truck, and many other recent Stellantis models, such as the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Jeep Wrangler. This has been a strong, smooth engine in its various applications. 

Replacing the former 5.7-liter V8 engine (say goodbye to the Hemi) is a new 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, shared with the Jeep Wagoneer. Here, it will produce 420 horsepower with 469 lb.-ft. of torque. 

And the top engine will be a 540-horsepower version of that inline-six, with 521 lb.-ft. of torque. Maximum tow capacity is 11,580 pounds, and the maximum payload capacity is 2,300 pounds—numbers that sound like they belong with heavy-duty trucks. 

All three engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, as before. 

But the big boasts belong to the Ramcharger, with 663 horsepower and 615 lb.-ft. of torque. No doubt, this will be a heavy truck, as it has both a 3.6-liter V6 and a 92-kWh battery pack, yet Ram claims a rapid 0 to 60 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds. More impressive, the automaker targets a range of up to 690 miles. The all-electric Ram Rev will also be sold alongside the Ramcharger, which features up to a 229-kWh battery and an estimated 350 to 500 miles of range.

The Ramcharger employs a trick seen on the BMW i3 and Chevrolet Volt; it is an electric vehicle, complete with the ability to use Level 1 (120-volt) and Level 2 (240-volt) AC chargers, as well as DC fast charging. And it can recharge itself with the onboard engine. The truck can be filled up like a regular gasoline-powered vehicle, but rather than the V6 spinning the axles with an electric assist, like in conventional hybrids, it instead just charges the battery. Those other prior examples used small, highly efficient engines. To keep this big truck running, it uses a version of the V6 that has been in Fiat Chrysler Automobile and Stellantis large cars and SUVs for more than a dozen years.

Stellantis is one of the few automakers that has not adapted Tesla’s NACS charging connector. The Ramcharger is shown with a CCS port.

The automaker claims the Ramcharger can tow up to 14,000 pounds and tote a payload of up to 2,625 pounds. Based on our experience towing with the Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T, rest assured, that you can have the range or the tow capacity—not both at the same time.

The Ram will have the traditional active safety features that are common today, such as automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning, in addition to driver-assist technology like adaptive cruise control, driver attention monitoring, and traffic sign recognition. 

Ram says adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, and active parking assist will be available. The trucks can be fitted with a digital rearview mirror to aid with towing, by using a remote camera to show what is behind a trailer. Ram will also offer hands-free automated driving that combines adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, facilitated by cameras and radar to ensure safe operation.