The 2021 Ram TRX Stole a Prestigious Jeep Gladiator Award
We have good news for the 2021 Ram TRX and bad news for the Jeep Gladiator. The Ram 1500 TRX stole the Rocky Mountain Truck of the Year award from the Gladiator, but comparing these two trucks might be a little unfair.
The 2021 Ram TRX wins Rocky Mountain Truck of the Year
According to Torque News, the 2021 Ram TRX was recently awarded as the 2021 Rocky Mountain Truck of the Year. The 2020 Jeep Gladiator was able to take home this honor last year but lost to its larger cousin this time.
The Rocky Mountain Truck of the Year award isn’t anything to take lightly. The Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP) reviews each qualifying truck bases on performance, fuel economy, handling, and more to narrow the options down to four finalists.
Other finalists that made the final four include the 2021 Chevy Silverado 2500 4WD Z71, 2020 Nissan Titan XD, and the 2021 Ford F-150 Limited 4X4 3.5-liter PowerBoost. So, the Gladiator wasn’t even a finalist.
Why did the Ram TRX win?
A significant part of the judging process includes how well the trucks handle on the rugged mountain roads and terrain of the Rocky Mountains. The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX has an exceptional performance on the pavement and in the wild.
Thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter V8, the Ram 1500 TRX has 702-hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 4.5 seconds, making it exciting to drive. The Gladiator reaches 60 mph in about 8.1 seconds, according to Motor Trend.
The Ram 1500 TRX also has high-strenght steel in the frame to improve durability on and off the road. It provides a smooth ride over the pavement. You would expect the heavy truck to feel massive, but it handles well with limited body roll.
It sits on 35-inch all-terrain tires that are mounted on 18-inch wheels to contribute to its 11.8-inch ground clearance. It can also ford up to 32-inches of water. This certainly sounds like a truck that can tackle any challenges that the Rocky Mountains throw at it.
Potential Ram 1500 TRX problems
However, fuel economy is considered for this award, and the 2021 Ram TRX is thirsty. It only gets an EPA estimated ten mpg in the city and 14 mpg on the highway. But if you can afford a truck that begins around $70,195, maybe the cost of fuel isn’t concerning.
Also, according to Car and Driver, the Ram 1500 TRX is absolutely massive. To be fair, that could be the point. People love their giant trucks and SUVs. But a wider truck makes it more difficult to fit on off-roading trails, a longer wheelbase can compromise tractions, and you don’t want to sink in the snow or mud.
The Ram TRX can’t do as much work either. It has a maxim towing capacity of 8,100 lbs, which is still pretty strong. But the other Ram truck models can tow up to 12,750 lb. This may cause people to choose between off-roading prowess and muscle.
Also, this truck starts with such a high price, it would be nice if a few more features came standard. Optional safety features include lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. All of these would make driving a massive beast more convenient.
