2021 Ram 1500 TRX: 4 Things We Like and 2 Things We Don’t
The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is equal parts go-anywhere workhorse and over-the-top supercharged speed machine. How else do you explain a full-size truck that has more than 700 horsepower and a wading depth of 32 inches? Under the prodigious vented hood of the TRX is a version of the same engine found in the Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat muscle cars. Pushing out 702 horsepower and 650 pounds-feet of torque, Ram says the TRX needs only 4.5 seconds to accelerate from 0-60 mph.
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The TRX is more than a tire-burning pickup truck, however. This Ford F-150 Raptor rival is packed with off-road equipment, including underbody skid plates, beefier tires and a unique suspension. Combined with that outrageous engine, the TRX is one of the most capable (and quickest) ways to venture across rugged terrain. Just make certain you top up the fuel tank first; few vehicles come close to matching this truck’s thirst for premium gas.
Be sure to learn everything there is to know about the TRX and the complete Ram 1500 lineup by following the related link above. Keep scrolling if you want to know what we like most about this super-sized performance truck, plus a couple things we could live without.
Things We Like
1. Hellcat Engine
We simply can’t start the Ram 1500 TRX conversation with anything other than its supercharged Hemi engine. Only the grumpiest of truck fans will be disappointed to learn the TRX has 15 hp less than the Dodge Challenger Hellcat coupe and the similarly scary-fast Charger Hellcat sedan. This 6.2-liter V-8 provides the TRX with unheard of performance for a vehicle of this size and weight.
2. Ready for Off-Roading
Here’s the great part about the Ram 1500 TRX: It’s so much more than a plaything for paved roads. The TRX comes loaded with off-roading equipment, such as standard four-wheel drive, a reinforced frame, an electronically locking Dana rear axle, forged-aluminum front control arms, underbody skid plates, Bilstein adaptive shocks and 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory all-terrain tires. All of this provides the TRX with outstanding capabilities no matter what type of surface you’re traversing.
3. Classy Cabin
Cabin praise can be heaped upon the entire Ram 1500 lineup. For a few years now, no other full-size truck has matched the comfort, style and quality of the Ram 1500’s interior. Available only in crew-cab form, the TRX takes things up another notch thanks to customized touches like a flat-bottom steering wheel, aluminum shift paddles and available leather and suede upholstery. Ram’s giant 12-inch touchscreen multimedia system is standard, and additional options include a head-up display, heated steering wheel, and heated and ventilated front and rear seats.
4. Loaded With Available Comfort and Safety Features
We just mentioned some of the niceties that make the TRX’s cabin such a comfortable place, but in addition to those, a fully loaded TRX comes with a 19-speaker audio system, wireless device charging, a dual-panel moonroof and adaptive cruise control — among many other features. Also offered on the TRX are active-safety items like blind spot warning, a 360-degree camera system, lane keep assist and automatic emergency braking.
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Things We Don’t
1. Don’t Mention MPGs
If you’re scared of pricey visits to the gas station, please look away right now. According to the EPA, the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX returns a dismal 10 mpg in city driving, 14 mpg on the highway and 12 mpg combined. Be prepared to budget for premium fuel, too, which the TRX requires. Like other trucks, however, the TRX is exempt from the gas-guzzler tax, so it’s not all bad news.
2. Expensive, Really Expensive
There’s no getting around the fact that this truck is awfully expensive. The standard TRX starts at nearly $72,000, though the sold-out Launch Edition tops $90,000.
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