Competes with: Chevrolet Silverado HD, Ford Super Duty, GMC Sierra HD
Looks like: The Ram 1500’s big brother
Powertrains: 405-horsepower, 6.4-liter gasoline V-8 engine with 429 pounds-feet of torque; 430-hp, 6.7-liter Cummins turbo-diesel inline six-cylinder with 1,075 pounds-feet; eight-speed automatic transmission; rear- or four-wheel drive
Hits dealerships: First quarter
Ram has unveiled the latest iteration of its heavy-duty 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, packing more power, technology and capability into largely the same skin as the previous model. Most significantly, a new 6.7-liter Cummins turbo-diesel six-cylinder makes a little more horsepower than its predecessor and is available in every trim level. Additional powertrain updates improve capability and should enhance comfort.
Related: 2023 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Rebel Quick Spin: Finally, a Diesel Power Wagon (Sort Of)
Technology updates include new, larger screens and advanced towing tech that brings Ram’s heavy-duty pickups more in line with the recently redesigned light-duty Ram 1500 and make them more competitive with Ford’s innovative towing tech. Interestingly, all this comes with minimal visual updates.
More Pleasantly Powerful
The new Cummins turbo-diesel and its pairing with a new eight-speed automatic transmission are the stars of the show. The Cummins is available on any trim level of the 2025 Ram HDs and produces 430 hp — up 10 from the 2024 — and the same 1,075 pounds-feet of torque. That’s not the most powerful diesel on the heavy-duty market (that would be the Ford Super Duty’s High Output Power Stroke diesel’s 500 hp and 1,200 pounds-feet), but despite the updates, the Ram nearly retains its towing and payload totals. Its maximum numbers decrease slightly for 2025; maximum payload drops to 7,590 pounds from 7,680, and towing capacity maxes out at 36,610 pounds, down from 37,090.
The diesel engine is updated for what Ram claims will be improved “drivability, fuel economy, durability, startability, serviceability and noise, vibration and harshness.” That includes a new turbocharger, glow plugs for better cold-weather starts, a new fuel pump and higher-pressure fuel system, and a host of other changes under the hood.
Another update is the new eight-speed automatic transmission for both diesel and gas versions. Previous-generation diesel owners will likely notice the most significant improvements, which include up to a Ram-claimed 25% reduction in engine rpm at highway speeds, quicker acceleration, smoother starts from a stop (sensors can detect when the truck is loaded or unloaded and, when unloaded, skip first gear and go right to second for a more comfortable experience off the line) and improved fuel economy due to a reduced final drive ratio. Previously, the max towing package’s final drive was 4.10; now with the eight-speed transmission, it’s been reduced to 3.42. Also likely an improvement is that all Ram HDs now have a column-mounted gear selector; gas-powered variants with the previous eight-speed had a rotary gear selector to the right of the steering column.
According to Ram, these updates should make the driving experience more pleasant, especially without a trailer or payload, though we’ll have to drive it to confirm.
More Tech, Too
Noise and driving behavior are certainly parts of the comfort equation, but another is undoubtedly the interior. Long an area where Ram excels, the HD now gets a 12.3-inch configurable digital instrument panel and either a standard 12-inch touchscreen display or massive 14.5-inch touchscreen with split-screen functionality. By using full array local dimming instead of edge light, Ram says the displays have a higher contrast ratio.
If those screens aren’t enough, the 2025 Ram HD offers a 10.25-inch passenger display that can access navigation and external camera views as well as provide entertainment. As we’ve seen in other applications of this display in Stellantis vehicles, the screen is not visible to the driver. Device-heavy families will also likely appreciate the Ram’s available dual wireless device chargers.
Ram also updated the HD’s towing technology; in addition to a Trailer-Tow page in the touchscreen display that provides tons of relevant information, the Ram HD now offers trailer reverse guidance and steering, a 360-degree camera system that can incorporate a trailer into the view, improved towing mirror functionality and controls, and blind spot camera views for towing and non-towing situations.
The HD’s standard safety features now include adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning, and the Big Horn and higher trims now come with standard front and rear parking sensors. Drowsy Driver Detection, traffic-sign recognition, lane departure steering assist and lane-centering steering are now available, as well.
Not-So-New Looks
Exterior updates to the Ram HD are far more subtle. Newly standard LED headlights, updated taillights, trim-specific grille designs and new wheel designs round out the changes and bring the Ram HD in line with the redesigned light-duty 1500.
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Pricing and Availability
The 2025 Ram 2500 and 3500 will start at $47,560 and $48,565, respectively (all prices include destination). Ram says it will be in dealerships in the first quarter of this year.
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