​The Ram 2500 and the Ram 1500 are the two most popular offerings by American pickup truck manufacturer Ram Trucks. Both models boast formidable powertrains, impressive towing capabilities, and diverse trim lineups to accommodate every lifestyle. But beyond these similarities, each truck comes with a slew of features and specifications that make it uniquely suited for specific tasks and driving needs. In this ultimate showdown, our team at Huffines Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram (CJDR) Plano puts the 2025 Ram 2500 against the Ram 1500 to discover which reigns supreme.
Overview of the Models
The Ram 1500, the flagship light-duty truck in the Ram lineup, includes several upgrades from the previous model year. The 2025 model has received minor tweaks to its exterior styling, such as modern lighting elements and new wheel designs, imbuing it with a contemporary look guaranteed to turn heads. The new Ram 1500 also comes with a new engine and an upgraded infotainment system with a larger standard display.
Similarly, the acclaimed heavy-duty 2025 Ram 2500 pickup truck has received numerous updates, including refreshed exterior styling, a new high-output Cummins diesel engine, and upgraded tech and safety features. The model also comes with many interior furnishings to enhance the in-cabin experience.
Engine and Performance
The new Ram 1500 is available with three engine options, each offering impressive power and performance capabilities. The standard powertrain is a 3.6L Pentastar V-6 mild-hybrid engine that churns out 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque. The model also offers two optional 3.0L Hurricane engines for drivers who need extra power for heavy towing tasks. The base Hurricane engine delivers a maximum output of 420 horsepower and 469 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, the available high-output variant cranks out an astonishing 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque.
The 2025 Ram 2500 offers equally robust engine choices. The base powertrain is a 6.4L HEMI V-8, outputting 429 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque. For those seeking additional towing power, the new Ram 2500 offers an all-new high-output 6.7L Cummins turbo-diesel I-6 engine, producing a remarkable 430 horsepower and 1,075 lb-ft of torque.
Towing Capacity and Payload
The 2025 Ram 1500 and Ram 2500 offer impressive towing capabilities thanks to their robust powertrains, although the latter has a massive edge over the former. When equipped with the 3.0L Hurricane engine, the Ram 1500 can tow a maximum of 11,550 pounds, with a maximum payload of 1,980 pounds. By comparison, the Ram 2500 achieves a maximum towing rating of 20,000 pounds when equipped with the high-output 6.7L Cummins turbo-diesel engine. It also gets a significantly higher payload than the Ram 1500, maxing out at 2,740 pounds.
Fuel Economy and Efficiency
In terms of fuel economy, these two capable trucks are closely matched, with the Ram 1500 holding a slight advantage. The 1500 model gets estimated EPA ratings of 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway when equipped with the standard 3.6L V-6 engine. While Ram has yet to release fuel efficiency data for the 2025 Ram 2500, we suspect that the model's base 6.4L HEMI V-8 engine will retain the fuel efficiency rating of the previous model year: 12 mpg city and 18 mpg highway.
Interior Comfort and Features
In keeping with Ram's reputation for design excellence, both the 2025 Ram 1500 and Ram 2500 have driver-focused cabins offering modern comfort amenities and advanced tech. Standout interior features of the Ram 1500 include premium leather seating, heated and ventilated front and rear seats, an eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, and dual-zone climate control. The apex Tungsten trim offers additional comfort features, including a memory driver seat and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The new Ram 1500 comes with a 12-inch intuitive touch screen as the standard display. However, a larger 14.5-inch touchscreen is available for drivers seeking more screen real estate. Both displays offer wireless smartphone integration, which allows you to easily access and control all your navigation, communication, and entertainment apps. Other standout tech features of the 2025 Ram 1500 include an optional 10.3-inch passenger-side display, a head-up display, dual wireless phone charging pads, and a 23-speaker Klipsch audio system.
The 2025 Ram 2500 has an equally compelling cabin with many similar comfort features to its smaller and lighter counterpart, including heated driver and front passenger seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat, and a leatherette steering wheel. The model offers more or less the same tech features as the Ram 1500, including similar infotainment display options and sizes, dual wireless charging pads, and a dual-zone automatic climate control system.
Customization Options
The new Ram 1500 and Ram 2500 come in various configurations to meet diverse driving and hauling needs. You can get the Ram 1500 as a Crew Cab or Quad Cab, while the Ram 2500 is available in Regular Cab, Crew Cab, and Mega Cab configurations.
The two models also offer various bed sizes depending on the trim. For instance, the 2025 Ram 1500's entry-level Tradesman has three options for the cab and bed sizes: Quad Cab with a 6-foot-4-inch bed, Crew Cab with a 6-foot-4-inch bed, and Crew Cab with a 5-foot-7-inch bed. On the other hand, the Tradesman HFE model is only available in Quad Cab with a 6-foot-4-inch bed.
Similarly, the 2025 Ram 2500 offers several bed and cab configurations depending on the trim. For instance, the Tradesman trim is available as a Regular Cab with an 8-foot bed, a Crew Cab with an 8-foot bed, and a Crew Cab with a 6-foot-4-inch bed. By contrast, the Limited trim is available as a Crew Cab with a 6-foot-4-inch bed, a Crew Cab with an 8-foot bed, and a Mega Cab with a 6-foot-4-inch bed.
Test-Drive the 2025 Ram 1500 and the 2025 Ram 2500 at Huffines CJDR Plano
Are you ready to experience the power and performance of the 2025 Ram 1500 and Ram 2500? Contact Huffines CJDR Plano or visit our Plano, Texas, dealership to schedule a test drive of these two formidable trucks and discover which suits your needs and lifestyle better.