Ram trucks have made quite a name for themselves in the past few years. Ram's results in two important JD Power studies are examples of that.
Ram ranks second among mass market brands in the 2023 JD Power U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) study, which essentially measures vehicle owners' emotional attachment to their vehicles. In addition, Ram ranks second among mass-market brands in the JD Power 2023 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), which measures problems owners experience with their vehicles during the first 90 days of ownership.
The ability to tug at the heartstrings of truck owners while simultaneously providing them with vehicles of superior quality sets the stage for the introduction of Ram's most ambitious and luxurious pickup ever: the 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten. The Tungsten trim is the logical extension of the brand's "No Compromises" ethos. It posits that a truck can offer its owners exceptional comfort and an array of technology while performing every duty a pickup should perform.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
For the 2025 model year, the Ram 1500 lineup extends from the Ram 1500 Tradesman to the subject of this review, the Ram 1500 Tungsten. The roster includes Quad Cab and Crew Cab body styles with standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) and optional four-wheel drive (4WD). Both body styles seat as many as six people.
Here are the base manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRPs) for each version of the 2025 Ram 1500. They do not include the $1,995 destination charge to ship the truck from the Sterling Heights, Michigan, assembly plant to your local dealership:
Ram expects to deliver the first 2025 models to retail customers by the end of March 2024.
During a Ram-sponsored media event held in and around Austin, Texas, I had the opportunity to drive several trim levels, but I spent most of my driving time in the high-end, on-road-oriented Limited and Tungsten variants. Each is available only as a crew cab with 4WD. My Tungsten had chrome power-fold trailer-tow mirrors Towing Technology Group, and Trailer-Tow Group, bringing the as-tested price to $91,505 including destination.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
The Ram 1500 has always combined exterior style with functionality. That trend continues with the 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten, arguably the most stylish Ram pickup ever.
One detail that sets the Tungsten apart is the car-like front fascia that replaces the steel bumper used on the other trim levels. The slick treatment aids aerodynamics as well as aesthetics. At the rear, the Tungsten trim features new LED taillights and a power-operated tailgate.
The good looks combine with functional advantages. The Tungsten's interior is as plush as a limousine and supplies immense rear-seat legroom. The front seats feature quilted premium leather, heating, ventilation, and massage. And because the cushions and backrests can knead your sore muscles, you get a thoroughly relaxing treatment. The leather upholstery isn't as soft and supple as a well-worn catcher's mitt but is undoubtedly more attractive and durable.
The Ram 1500 Tungsten's 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display is bold and legible in various lighting conditions. It offers the driver views of nearly two dozen menus, bordering on overkill. A new 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system dominates the center of the dashboard. Easily deciphered controls for the climate control system flank the display.
Immediately in front of the Tungsten's passenger is a separate 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display. When in use, it remains invisible to the driver to prevent distraction.
To the left of the center touchscreen, you'll find a rotary knob for shifting the transmission. Ram frees up space on the center console by placing it on the dashboard. The console contains a deep and wide bin that can swallow numerous items, and the cupholders do an excellent job securing expensive specialty coffee drinks.
Taken in its entirety, it is not an exaggeration to say the 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten's interior is the most lavish ever offered in a pickup built by a major manufacturer.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
The heart and soul of the Ram 1500 Tungsten's technology is the new Atlantis electrical architecture supporting the next-generation Uconnect 5 infotainment system to deliver fast input response. The base 2025 Ram 1500 has a standard 12-inch touchscreen, but the Tungsten includes a larger 14.5-inch screen. The icons are crisp and easy-to-understand, and the display supports split-screen operation.
The 10.25-inch front passenger screen is unique to the full-size pickup truck segment. It offers access to navigation, entertainment (including content delivered via an HDMI interface), and scenes delivered by the vehicle's exterior cameras.
The 19-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system in the Limited trim is quite impressive. Still, it pales in comparison to the new 1,228-watt Klipsch Reference Premiere audio system that is standard in the Tungsten. It's hard to imagine how Ram and Klipsch sound engineers found a way to house nearly two dozen speakers within the confines of a pickup truck cab. Part of the solution was including a speaker in each front seatback.
Hands-Free Active Driving Assist is the headline-grabbing advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) in the 2025 Ram 1500. It will semi-autonomously drive the truck in a hands-free manner on selected limited-access highways as long as the driver pays attention. Importantly, it does not offer hands-free vehicle passing.
Sadly, the event's driving route offered no opportunity to test the hands-free driving technology. However, it works similarly to General Motors Super Cruise and Ford BlueCruise, ensuring Ram remains technologically competitive with its primary rivals.
The Ram 1500 also offers adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-centering assistance. Used together, they operate like the Hands-Free Active Driving Assist but require drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel. Since you can use it on a wider variety of roads, I sampled the system during my drive, and it performed as advertised.
The 2025 Ram 1500 also offers semi-autonomous ParkSense parallel and perpendicular parking assistance, Trailer Auto Hitch Assist, evasive steering assistance, and intersection turn assistance.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
Smooth, smooth, and smooth best describe the 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten driving experience. Under the hood, you'll find a new 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. Ram calls it the Hurricane, which comes in standard and high-output configurations.
In standard spec, the Hurricane makes 420 horsepower and 469 pound-feet of torque. The Tungsten comes with a standard high-output version of the engine, generating 540 hp and 521 lb-ft while burning premium gas. Ram continues offering a 305-hp 3.6-liter V6 engine in more affordable versions of the truck. Depending on the configuration and engine, the 2025 Ram 1500 can tow up to 11,560 pounds and carry as much as 2,300 pounds of payload in its cargo bed.
The inline-six configuration is inherently balanced, and the Hurricane makes the most of it. Power delivery is velvety and linear when accelerating, and the standard eight-speed automatic transmission delivers almost imperceptible shifts. The five available drive modes — Normal, Tow, Snow, Sport, and Off-road — contribute to driver confidence.
One of the goals of the new twin-turbo Hurricane engine is to outdo the fuel economy of the previous Hemi V8. On that score, our fuel economy run with the high-output Hurricane returned an 18 mpg figure over a route that included a great deal of efficiency-robbing stop-and-go driving. In 2024, a Hemi-powered Ram with 4WD earned an EPA rating of 18 mpg in the city.
During the drive session, I got to tow a 7,500-pound Airstream trailer, taking a 45-minute tour including narrow back roads littered with strolling longhorn steers. The Hurricane engine proved strong enough for the task, and the trailering equipment was sophisticated enough to make it seem like there was no load behind me.
In all driving situations, the Ram 1500's ride quality matches the engine's buttery power delivery, immeasurably aided by the adaptive air suspension. It does an excellent job of filtering surface imperfections while limiting body wallow and roll. And while the Ram 1500 Tungsten is undeniably large, its steering and responsiveness made it feel nimble and easy to drive. In addition, braking was strong and sure.
The 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten proves that a pickup truck can ride better than a limousine while maintaining its hard-working utility and functionality.
With the latest infotainment and driver-assistance tech, an impressive new engine, and plenty of comfort and convenience, the new 2025 Tungsten is a full-fledged luxury truck. The Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, and GMC Sierra offer similarly plush models to entice the premium personal-use pickup buyer, but in my estimation, the 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten does it best.
Jack R. Nerad has reviewed cars, trucks, vans, and sport utilities for over three decades. He also managed the editorial efforts of Motor Trend magazine, JD Power, and Kelley Blue Book. Jack is currently the host of the SportsMap Radio Network program America on the Road, available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Stitcher, and other outlets.
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