Family Feud: 2025 Ram 1500 Makes More Horsepower Than Ram 2500
Ram trucks just dropped such a powerful lineup of gasoline and electric powertrains that it rocketed us into an alternate reality where half-ton trucks make more horsepower than heavy-duty ones. Or Ram is just getting ahead of itself. But here’s the deal: even if you take the torquey electric and hybrid Rams out of the picture, the gasoline-powered 2025 Ram 1500 will make 540 horsepower while the 2500 will lag behind with its usual 370 horsepower (diesel) or 410 horsepower (gasoline). Some V8 2500 configurations may even fall behind the half-ton’s improved towing capacity! Here’s how the trucks compare:
| 2025 Ram 2500 Hemi V8 | 2025 Ram 2500 Diesel | 2025 Ram 1500 H/O I6 | 2025 Ram 1500 EV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6.4-liter V8 | 6.7-liter Cummins I6 | 3.0-liter I6 | 2 electric drive units |
| Horsepower | 410 hp | 370 hp | 540 hp | 663 hp |
| Torque | 429 lb-ft | 850 lb-ft | 521 lb-ft | 615 lb-ft |
How powerful is the 2025 Ram 1500?
The gasoline-powered 2025 Ram 1500s will offer a V6 and two tunes of a turbocharged straight-six (I6). The high-output I6 will make 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque. That’s right, its peak power blows every naturally aspirated Hemi V8 out of the water.
The 2025 Ram 1500’s base engine will be the good old 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. Honestly, this is the engine that just won’t die. Chrysler rolled it out for the 2011 model year. Stellantis recently renovated the plant where it builds the Pentastar, so we can expect it to keep kicking well beyond its 15th birthday. The current eTorque Pentastar makes 305 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque.
Next, we have the 3.0-liter “Hurricane” I6. Straight-six engines (such as the legendary Chrysler slant-six) were reliable entry-level workhorses in front-engine, RWD American vehicles for decades. They took a backseat to the V6 during the FWD era. But thanks to reliable turbochargers, the straight-six is making a comeback.
The Hurricane is based on technology in the Stellantis-built turbocharged I4 that’s currently winning over Wrangler fans. “Standard Output” Hurricane I6s in the Jeep Wagoneer makes 420 horsepower and 468 lb-ft of torque. And that would have been enough to replace the 5.7-liter Hemi V8. But obviously that wasn’t enough for Ram.
The automaker tuned the Standard and “High Output” I6s for even more power. The 2023 Grand Wagoneer’s HO Hurricane makes 510 horsepower/500 lb-ft of torque. Then it slammed the HO Hurricane (the natural choice for the heavy-duty truck) into the Ram 1500. The result will be one hell of a half-ton pickup.
How powerful is the Ram 2500?
You can order the Ram 2500 with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 (410 horsepower/429 lb-ft). If you want a diesel, you can order the 6.7-liter Cummin I6 (370 horsepower/850 lb-ft). While the 2025 Ram 1500 will get a 540 horsepower I6, it looks like the 2500 will be left lagging behind for at least one more model year.
As much fun as I’m having comparing various Rams’ horsepower numbers, heavy-duty diesel truck fans know that torque is the truly important number for towing. The Cummins I6 is one of the best towing engines around because its standard output makes 850 lb-ft. The high-output Cummins (only available in the Ram 3500) makes 420 horsepower and 1,075 lb-ft of torque. Diesel fans love these engines’ flat torque curves. But you know what has an even flatter torque curve? The Ram 1500 REV.
The electric Ram 1500 will have a 250 kWh drive unit for each axle. It can make 663 horsepower and 615 lb-ft of torque. But the amazing thing about an EV is that it gets maximum torque at zero RPM. With this much power, it’s no wonder Ram claims its electric 1500 can tow 14,000 pounds. That’s nearly as much as certain V8 2500 configurations. Electric trucks are towing beasts with one Achilles heel: towing can cut their range in half.
Ram’s solution to this problem is the new Ramcharger pickup truck with electric drive units and a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 under its hood. The internal combustion engine isn’t connected to the wheels, it’s connected to the battery. This engine automatically fires up and recharges the truck when its battery gets low.
Is the 2025 Ram 1500 better than the Ram 2500?
While the 2025 Ram 1500 will make more horsepower than the outdated 2500, they remain very different tools–for very different jobs. The 2500 still has a heavier frame and heavy-duty suspension. You can even order it in a two-door “regular” cab that’s not an option for the half-ton. The Ram 2500 is very much a work truck.
While the 2025 Ram 1500 will make gobs of peak horsepower, it is a showcase of Stellantis’ most recent technology, and engineered as much for comfort as capability.
Next, see how the Hurricane I6 engine achieves its numbers, or see the 2025 Ram 1500 reveal for yourself in the video below:
