2025
Ram 1500 Ramcharger

Exterior

Ram styling is evolutionary, with a reshaped, forward-leaning grille and LED headlamps being the most overt changes. If there is any doubt about the truck’s identity, the massive “RAM” badge on the front declares its name.

The Ramcharger looks very much like the Ram 1500, with distinct taillights and badging. Clearly Ram is borrowing the script from Ford, who made its F-150 Lightning look like its popular F-150, rather than go wild like Tesla’s Cybertruck.

The RamBox continues—lockable storage within the bed walls. This weatherproof space is a convenient way to store tools and emergency equipment. Following tradition, the bed has grooves to allow it to be divided, as well as cleats and a rail system for securing cargo.

The Ram has an onboard power inverter, with two covered outlets in the bed for powering camping equipment and tools.

Drivers can gain access to the trucks using their phone as a key. As available on many new vehicles, an app can control many functions remotely, such as unlocking the doors and starting the engine. This gives owners more flexibility, especially when the key fob is not available. It is easy to imagine that this may have particular applications for commercial users, in case a key is misplaced or someone needs access to a truck at a job site..

Once inside, it is clear that Ram has once again engaged in the infotainment screen wars. There is a digital driver’s instrument screen, naturally.

The center screen houses the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. We have been UConnect fans, as the systems have been quite easy to use. However, UConnect 5 packs more features and customization options than ever, creating more of a learning curve.

One-upping the competitors, the Ram can be fitted with a 10.25-inch passenger touchscreen that can display entertainment, navigation, and exterior vehicle cameras. To reduce distraction, this screen is not visible to the driver, but is visible to the front seat passenger. There is an HDMI port for connecting devices, so the passenger can use the screen to surf the internet or watch a video.

So the driver doesn’t feel left out, there is an available color head-up display that can show navigation directions, speed, speed limit, gear, and safety warnings on the windshield.Available dual wireless phone chargers can keep devices topped off when traveling.

Of course, the Ramcharger adds information screens to advise on energy flow (showing charging and consumption), battery level, and consumption history. Plus that truck can use “one-pedal driving,” a common electric vehicle feature that allows the driver to control acceleration and deceleration with the “gas” pedal, as lifting the pedal causes the regenerative braking to significantly slow the vehicle.

The top Tungsten trim level has a standard 1,228-watt Klipsch stereo with 23 speakers, brushed metal accents, and a suede headliner. To further pamper, the quilted-leather front seats feature 24-way adjustments, memory functions, and massage settings. Plus they are heated and ventilated.Various other trim levels, like Laramie, Big Horn, Lone Star, and Rebel, feature their own upholstery and accents.

Full-sized trucks have long competed on the boasts of big numbers for horsepower, cargo capacity, and towing capability. The trend continues with the Ram. The big boasts belong to the Ramcharger, with 663 horsepower and 615 lb.-ft. of torque. No doubt, this will be a heavy truck, as it has both a 3.6-liter V6 and a 92-kWh battery pack, yet Ram claims a rapid 0 to 60 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds. More impressive, the automaker targets a range of up to 690 miles. 

The Ramcharger is an electric vehicle, complete with the ability to use Level 1 (120-volt) and Level 2 (240-volt) AC chargers, as well as DC fast charging. And it can recharge itself with the onboard engine. The truck can be filled up like a regular gasoline-powered vehicle, but rather than the V6 spinning the axles with an electric assist, like in conventional hybrids, it instead just charges the battery. To keep this big truck running, it uses a version of the V6 that has been in Fiat Chrysler and Stellantis large cars and SUVs for more than a dozen years.

Stellantis is one of the few automakers that has not adapted Tesla’s NACS charging connector. The Ramcharger is shown with a CCS port.

The automaker claims the Ramcharger can tow up to 14,000 pounds and tote a payload of up to 2,625 pounds. Based on our experience towing with the Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T, rest assured, that you can have the range or the tow capacity—not both at the same time.

Active Safety and Driver Assistance

The Ram will have the traditional active safety features that are common today, such as automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning, in addition to driver-assist technology like adaptive cruise control, driver attention monitoring, and traffic sign recognition, blind spot warning, and active parking assist.

The trucks can be fitted with a digital rearview mirror to aid with towing, by using a remote camera to show what is behind a trailer. Ram will also offer hands-free automated driving that combines adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, facilitated by cameras and radar to ensure safe operation.