Ram’s latest creation has been engineered to tackle the great outdoors, head-on.

When Stellantis introduced the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO to the world in late 2024, Tim Kuniskis, Ram Brand CEO summed up expectations rather nicely when he said, “The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO is the latest result of a relentless pursuit to engineer, design and deliver a truck that charges into the segment head down and horns up.”

That sounds about right, especially when you consider what this truck can do. For starters, it’s powered by a potent and all-new 3.0-litre Hurricane High Output (H/O) Straight-Six Turbo (SST) engine from the Stellantis Hurricane Twin-turbo family that’s rated at 540 horsepower and 521 lb.-ft. of torque.

Then you have to consider what the RHO can do with a maximum towing capacity of 3,801 kilograms (8,380 pounds), a maximum payload of 689 kilograms (1,520 pounds) and the ability to ford 813 millimetres (32 inches) of water. It also has a 0-100 km/hr of 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 190 km/hr.

To help it tackle the great outdoors, it’s equipped with a BorgWarner 48-13 full-time active transfer case, a low range of 2.64:1 for rock crawling, rear axle travel of up to 14 inches, and a ground clearance of almost 12 inches.

“All that we’ve learned from developing every truck in Ram’s legendary lineup has led us to the most capable light-duty pick-up truck offering,” Kuniskis added at the debut of the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO.

Another key feature is the RHO’s ability to handle off-road extremes, and then get back onto paved roads and serve as a daily driver. “You get all the performance truck aspects for [$113,945 in Canada], and then drive it to work,” says Brant Combs, Director, Ram North America Sales Operations at Stellantis. “It’s truly a well-rounded machine, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Combs explains that the RHO has many personalities, thanks in part to the nine different drive modes including Auto, Tow, Mud/Sand, Rock, Snow, Sport, Baja, Custom, as well as a Valet mode. “The real fun is Baja, which is when you’re letting it rip off-road. With the instant torque and incredible responsiveness, you’re getting a bit of air, and that’s where it really shines,” he adds.

Suspension secrets

According to Combs, the secret to the RHO’s impressive performance capabilities is the fact that this truck rides on Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive performance shocks that have been tuned to deliver both on-road handling and class-leading off-road capability.

“Everyone wants to talk about about the most horsepower per dollar and how fast this truck is, but what really makes this truck so special is the off-road suspension system,” Combs says. “These Bilstein e2 shocks are continuously adapting to your speed, throttle input, braking, torque and steering input. The computer is putting all that information into the shock system to maintain optimum body control in every scenario on and off road.”

Typical buyers

Combs says that the truck is priced well for the type of consumers Ram hopes to attract. “There’s a big piece of the pick-up truck subsegment that wants an off-road truck, and they’re getting a lot for their money,” he adds.

While Ram offers a number of pick-up truck models, including some with a higher level of luxury, Combs says that the RHO is the model of choice for consumers who prioritize off-road prowess.

Mopar ‘25 Ram 1500 RHO

Consumers who want a more exclusive RHO experience can opt to purchase one of the limited-edition Mopar ‘25 Ram 1500 RHO models, available this spring.

This exclusive model is part of Mopar’s annual factory-vehicle customization program, and the total production run is limited to 250 units: 25 for Canada, 225 for U.S.

In Canada, the RHO Mopar 25 Special edition is priced at $134,320: $113,945 base MSRP (plus $2,895 destination), plus $7,195 (Level 1 Equipment Group), plus $1,795 (Dual Pane Sunroof), plus $495 (Diamond Black Crystal Pearl Coat), plus $7,995 (Mopar ’25 Package).

“The inspiration for the new Mopar ’25 flows directly from the concept truck we showed at the SEMA Show last November, which generated strong positive feedback on how well the Ram 1500 RHO was ‘Moparized’ by our design team,” says Darren Bradshaw, Senior Vice President, Stellantis Parts and Services – North America.

Besides the actual vehicle, each buyer will receive a Mopar ’25 owner’s kit that features a personalized certificate of authenticity with serialized vehicle-build number, and a special rendering of the vehicle by the Mopar design team. Buyers also receive an 83-piece tool kit and a USB cable kit featuring four charging cables for a variety of mobile phones.