Road Test Review – 2025 Ram 1500 Rebel & Tungsten

It’s not often that an auto brand admits it made a mistake, but that’s what Ram did recently when the truck brand confirmed it was bringing the Hemi V8 back into the Ram 1500 lineup. The Hemi’s return came as a result of customers universally sharing their displeasure about the twin-turbo inline-six that was supposed to replace the V8 in the first place.

But while V8 diehards are getting their favorite engine back, is the inline-six a redeemable powerplant? Or is it destined to be kicked to the proverbial curb by the new V8?

Ram 1500 is still ruggedly handsome

To find out we recently had the chance to spend some time behind the wheel of the 2025 Ram 1500 Rebel. The Rebel occupies an interesting spot in the lineup with the model being placed between the Laramie and the all-out RHO model. This balancing act allowed our tester to have a look that projected raw power on the outside and comfort on the inside. The exterior styling of our tester is starting to show its age somewhat when compared to the Chevrolet Silverado and the Ford F-150 with both of them receiving updates in recent years.

Our tester arrived with sleek-looking Delmonico Red paint and a graphics package with Rebel graphics on the sides of the bed. The paint also works nicely with the black accents that are scattered throughout the truck including the blacked-out grille and the stylish 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels. The Rebel is a classic example of how certain paint colors can make a vehicle pop in the right light and we highly recommend that buyers pay close attention to the color selector when configuring their truck since some work better with the black trim accents than others. Our tester did not come with Ram’s split-style tailgate but the truck did come with Ram’s Rambox storage system that incorporates several storage bins into the sides of the bed for improved storage of gear. 

We also had the chance to check out a parked range-topping Tungsten model at a separate event hosted by audio brand Klipsch and while we’ll go deeper into that model’s audio system later, the trim does swap out the black accents for shinier chrome accents which will please buyers looking for more styling presence when cruising through town or to the country club for a weekend of golf.

Ram’s brash personality hides luxury and an impressive array of tech

With the exterior of the Ram 1500 doing its best to flex its muscles to passersby, it can be easy to forget that the Rebel has a split personality and this is evident when you slip inside the truck with our rig being equipped with Ram’s Rebel Level 2 Equipment Group package. Ram’s 14-inch portrait-style touchscreen infotainment system dominates the center of the dashboard with the screen continuing to provide an impressive amount of clarity and information.

The system also comes with standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay but there were select occasions when the Android Auto connection on our phone went in and out while we were out on our commute. Cloth seats are standard on the Rebel but our rig arrived with an extensive laundry list of options including leather seats. Our truck also came with a 19-speaker Harmon Kardon premium audio system and an optional screen for the front passenger that allowed front-seat passengers to control select aspects of the infotainment system with a special partition feature obscuring the view for the driver to keep them from being distracted while on the move. Our Crew Cab equipped tester also delivered plenty of room for occupants and the bottom cushions of the rear seats can also be flipped up to help improve floor storage for bulkier items. 

The Rebel’s unique blend of features allows it to be a unique player in the full-size truck segment but when it comes to audio systems, only the Tungsten has the audio firepower needed to please the pickiest of audiophiles. Klipsch allowed us to experience how potent the Tungsten’s 23-speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere Audio System is at a recent event at Third Man Records in Detroit. The system boasts 1,228 watts of power and a 24-channel amplifier which allows it to be the most potent audio system in the segment.

Klipsch made it clear that they wanted to make sure occupants would have a one-of-a-kind audio experience and that’s reflected in the way they located certain speakers and the tuning that went into the audio software itself with Magic Mike taking on a whole new dimension of clarity when played through the system. The Tungsten also comes with special leather accents and other premium luxury features to signify its place as the range-topper of the family.  

Hurricane performance comes standard, V8 now optional in Ram 1500

Just weeks before we put pen to paper on this review, Ram confirmed it was bringing the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 back into the Ram 1500. The Hemi is an older engine and that means it comes with some dated technology including an older version of Stellantis’s eTorque mild-hybrid system. However, it still makes a stout 345 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. As mentioned in our prior coverage of this news, a key caveat is that the Hemi will be an optional engine and will not be the standard engine.

That title goes to the 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six which came with our tester. The smaller engine doesn’t have as much immediate bite off the line as the Hemi (partly due to some noticeable low-end turbo lag) but once the engine gets formally underway it outmuscles the Hemi with 420 hp and 469 lb-ft of torque. The inline’s way of doing things also takes some getting used to for buyers who are used to a V8a V8-powered pickup. The throttle response is not as sharp as one would expect it to be and the shifts from the Ram’s eight-speed automatic were clearly designed to prioritize efficiency over raw performance most of the time.

That changes though when the Rebel is placed into Sport mode with the engine becoming fully awake and more willing to make full use of its potential. Granted, this does little favors for fuel economy with our tester getting an average of 18 mpg during its stay with us but Sport mode is also the best balance for the truck and we chose to keep it in Sport mode for the duration of its stay to help it be an enjoyable daily driver.

However, the Rebel is not about raw 0 to 60 times or track duty, instead, it’s about being a good companion on the trail and the underrated air suspension system does a good job of delivering the right amount of feedback and communication to the driver. While the urban jungle that is Metro Detroit prevented us from doing formal off-road driving, light stretches of unpaved dirt roads provided a glimpse into how composed the suspension truly is, ride quality is on the stiff side, but the suspension did a good job soaking up hard bumps and dips with the air springs allowing the Rebel to maintain its strong composure on and off the pavement.       

 

Value Quotient

The Ram’s pricing ladder continues to offer something for everyone with a base Tradesman model starting at just below $40,000. Move on up to the Rebel and you will be greeted with a base price of $58,359. Our truck arrived with a whole swath of optional packages and other extras which caused our tester to arrive with a final as-tested sticker of over $70,000.

This pricing is on par with others in its segment and is also less expensive than similar rivals like the Ford F-150 Raptor. It’s also the closest buyers can get to a “budget truck” these days but when you factor in the Rebel’s dual-purpose strategy and its off-road capability, it allows the truck to be a very interesting cross-shop. Buyers looking for lower prices are best served by lower trim levels as well as special editions like the Warlock. 

Meanwhile, the range-topping Tungsten model starts at over $78,000 but options and other extras can cause the price to easily surge past $80,000. The Tungsten is also the only Ram model to not offer the V8 with Stellantis making the inline-six the lone engine available. Look for that to possibly change in the near future since even high-end luxury truck buyers want the brawn and soundtrack that only a V8 can provide which would also help boost Tungsten sales.