Video: What’s the Best Pickup Truck of 2025?

nd, apparently, but the truck itself actually gets a whole lot better. That's what happened to the Ram 1500 for 2025. Gone is the Hemi, but the hurricane has blown in to elevate the designed pickup to new heights of capability, performance, and refinement. It's one of many reasons why we've named the Ram 1500 cars.com's best pickup truck of 2025. But what's so great about this new engine that it helped Ram get the win, and what else about the new truck cemented its award? Well, let me show you why it won. A new engine seems like a simple change, but it's transformative for the Ram 1500. Sure, the new hurricane twin-turbocharged three liter straight six engine doesn't make the same kind of rumble and roar as the old 5.7 liter Hemi V8, but that's about the only thing it doesn't do as well or better. Two versions are available, a standard version making 420 horsepower and 469 pounds feet of torque, or a high output version pumping out a whopping 540 horsepower, and that's far more power than the 5.7 liter Hemi ever made in the old Ram 1500. The high output version makes the new RAM 1500 blisteringly quick, even with a bed loaded up to maximum payload. But the hurricane engine isn't just about speed, it's about smoothness. More than one of our reviewers rightly commented that this powertrain wouldn't be at all outta place under the hood of a flagship German luxury sedan. It's that good. But it's not just the power that had us impressed, it's how well it works in the Ram 1500 beautifully tuned chassis. Thanks to the Ram 1500's unique rear suspension configuration and optional air springs at all four corners, the ride quality of the Ram 1500 is fantastic. Far better than competitor pickups. Over just about any kind of terrain, very little road surface imperfection gets through to the truck's occupants, nothing in here disturbs their zen. It's quiet in here too. With the new engine giving a nicely muted hum, but very little road or wind noise gets into the cabin. And the Ram 1500 handles beautifully both on its own or wind hauling a trailer, providing a driving experience that elevates the truck into new benchmark territory. It's also a highly capable off roader, either in rock crawling, rebel trim, or Baja blasting RHO form. Just when we thought competitors had finally come up with a pickup interior to rival the class leading RAM, the folks at Stellantis one-upped themselves. That's what happened with the 2025 model, which introduces the new tungsten top luxury trim that builds upon Ram's previous fantastic interiors with an even more sumptuous cockpit. Spec one of the Ram's top trims, and you'll be getting one of the nicest American luxury vehicles ever crafted, lined with top quality leather, real wood, actual metal, and graphics themes and gauges that are the best in the business. But the lesser trim levels also feature outstanding material quality. Even the off-road models with rubberized flooring look and feel expensive inside. You've also got some eye-popping technology in the cabin, with a massive 14th inch vertical touchscreen display that makes navigation apps look amazing, and a highly reconfigurable 12.3 inch digital gauge cluster. Hands-free cruise control is now available and works quite well. And there's a host of trailer tech that makes using your new pickup truck like a pickup truck just that much easier. All of that put together makes the newly redesigned 2025 Ram 1500 an outstanding pickup truck, off roader, luxury vehicle, mulch hauler, and camper towing rig. Ram took all of the best things about the old model, added a hefty dose of power and refinement, and made a great truck even better. And that's why we've named the Ram 1500 our best pickup truck for 2025. To learn more about the RAM 1500 and all of cars.com's best of awards, visit cars.com/awards. (light upbeat music)