There’s a specific style of auto fanatic that completely despises the luxurious pickup truck. They’re going to inform you that vehicles are for work, that nobody truly wants a pickup adorned with segment-shattering luxurious options. And certain, perhaps nobody truly wants a top-trim pickup truck — however boy, do folks need them. And I’ve bought a sense the 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten goes to be a kind of vehicles that retains flying off seller tons.
Full disclosure: Ram invited me to Austin for 3 nights to check drive the revamped 1500 pickup truck fashions debuting for the 2025 mannequin yr.
Let’s Discuss Tungsten
The Ram 1500’s new top-of-the-line luxurious trim takes its identify from Tungsten, one of the vital strong parts on the periodic desk. Its power makes it an distinctive materials to make use of for chopping, drilling, and sawing within the machine store, but it surely’s additionally been used as ballast in race automobiles, a base for jewelers, and {an electrical} part. For those who’re going to call a pickup truck after a metallic whose makes use of are as cool as its identify, you gained’t discover a lot better than “tungsten.”
The “Tungsten” identify was clearly chosen to connote the sort of do-all angle customers need from their pickup vehicles. In the course of the press occasion, Ram representatives shared loads of sweeping definitions of what tungsten means to the manufacturing staff, however I’d a lot somewhat deal with what it means, concretely, for patrons.
Tungsten has dethroned the Restricted trim as the highest providing on Ram’s pickup vehicles — however the Restricted nonetheless exists. That ought to offer you some perspective on simply how far Ram has taken this trim; it’s completely redefining what luxurious means for Ram, to the extent that the model felt prefer it wanted an entire new trim line to account for it.
What Makes The 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten So Swanky?
The Tungsten trim is in contrast to something we’ve seen on a pickup truck earlier than. The most important visible factor to notice is that this truck does not have a metal bumper; as an alternative, it’s outfitted with the sort of fascia you’d see on an SUV. Ram engineers instructed us that the aim with the fascia is essentially to differentiate the Tungsten from different trims as a hyper-luxury truck; it’s extra of a present pony than a workhorse. Paired with a taller grille and Ram’s shiny new brand, the Tungsten makes for one beautiful truck to take a look at.
Inside, although, issues get even higher. The heated and ventilated entrance passenger seats are wrapped in quilted Natura Plus leather-based and have each 24-way energy changes and an simply accessible therapeutic massage operate. The headliner, A- and B-pillars, and visors are wrapped in suede. There’s a 23-speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere audio system. You’ve bought not one however two wi-fi chargers.
And that’s not even mentioning all of the little particulars. To additional draw on the Tungsten identify, Ram embellished the inside with the identical sort of diamond knurling sample you’d see on machine instruments. That’s paired with crystal-effect touches on the shifter cap and within the heart console, the place a Tungsten badge proudly shows the VIN variety of the truck.
How About The Hurricane?
The Tungsten trim isn’t the one new characteristic on the block; this Ram has additionally been outfitted with a new-to-ram engine known as the Hurricane.
The Hurricane made its manufacturing debut with the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and the high-output model is customary for the Ram Tungsten. The three.0-liter straight-six engine options twin-turbochargers and produces 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque. It helps energy the Tungsten to a most towing capability of 11,580 kilos and a most payload of two,300 kilos.
2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten: The Good
For as a lot as I respect pickup vehicles and their patrons, I don’t hesitate to criticize these behemoths when the time is true. Generally, these critiques are fundamental: I’m brief, and I simply can’t attain the rattling pedals. Generally, they’re harsher: I completely wouldn’t pay upwards of $70,000 for a so-called “luxurious” truck that has a sloppy match and end.
Ram is aware of there are of us like me on the market on the earth — ones who’re keen to look previous brand-name loyalty to actually tear right into a pickup. However the 1500 Tungsten is fairly rattling proof against my criticisms.
From a purely ergonomic perspective, this truck seems to be and feels good. I can increase the pedal peak in order that I don’t should squish the truck seat proper as much as the steering wheel. Once you open the door, an computerized operating board pops out to your comfort, so I didn’t should rappel myself out of the entrance seat. Inside, every little thing simply felt good to the contact. You anticipate these tactile pleasures from a luxurious car, in fact, however some truck makers can skim over them, even on their highest trims. Not so with the Tungsten.
I used to be additionally impressed by the tech. Greater-level Ram 1500 trims are outfitted with a 14.5-inch Uconnect 5 infotainment system; in case you’ve used earlier Uconnect programs and have been unimpressed, don’t fear — the outdated points have been ironed out. Now, the infotainment system is responsive and straightforward to make use of. I additionally didn’t really feel like the dimensions of the display was too huge, which tends to be one thing that bothers me in different autos; I’m attributing that to Ram’s spectacular integration. It didn’t simply really feel like they’d glued an iPad to the dashboard; it felt as if it actually belonged within the truck.
The sound system was distinctive. The therapeutic massage seats have been nice, and the 24-way energy truly helped me really feel snug and safe in an in any other case very massive car. The ten.5-inch passenger display labored like a appeal, and whereas I’ll admit to being brief at 5’3″, the rear seats have been lots spacious. Ram’s hands-free driving help, a Degree 2+ automated driving know-how labored like a appeal and even gave the impression to be designed to contravene all the simple hacks that particularly inventive drivers have present in different autos. (I used to be an particularly huge fan of the seat shakers that reminded you to concentrate to the rattling highway.)
And, as anticipated, the Hurricane HO engine supplies the sort of easy and responsive energy you’d need from the powerplant pushing your truck to its absolute restrict. For those who beloved the noise of the Hemi, you’ll in all probability be dissatisfied to seek out the Hurricane is a bit more subdued on the sonic entrance — however plant your foot on the accelerator, and I believe your qualms will fall by the wayside.
2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten: The Dangerous
There’s little or no to critique in regards to the Ram 1500 Tungsten. At $89,150 (together with vacation spot), it’s massively costly. Its fascia, which replaces metal bumpers, will possible maintain it from any heavy off-roading. Its huge ol’ 22-inch tires provide a reasonably tough freeway trip in comparison with the smaller tires on decrease 2025 Ram trims.
However these are contextual issues — or, points that you just’ll actually solely discover while you begin making an attempt to check the Tungsten to different truck trims. Is it costlier than a Chevy Silverado 1500 Excessive Nation or a Ford F-150 Platinum Plus? Yep; and the Tungsten can also be extra highly effective, and higher outfitted. Do the luxurious options on the Tungsten make you somewhat extra hesitant to get actually wild on a path? Certain; however you in all probability didn’t purchase the Tungsten to fulfill your off-road bug. If that was your precedence, you’d have opted for the Insurgent.
On the finish of the day, the Ram 1500 Tungsten is scratching an itch that some folks didn’t even know they’d — an itch that loads of different folks won’t ever really feel of their life. It’s reaching for a distinct segment no automaker has tried to accommodate, a minimum of to not this extent, and it does a rattling good job servicing it.
Can The Ram 1500 Tungsten Nonetheless Do Truck Stuff?
Any time an automaker releases a truck that features a characteristic or two that is likely to be deemed a comfort somewhat than a necessity, there’s a gaggle of auto fans that instantly protest: Vans are for doing truck stuff. Issues like screens, energy seats, and sunroofs are wholly pointless, as a result of the entire level of a pickup is that it’s a workhorse car. In order for you a luxurious car, go purchase a swanky sedan or SUV.
I hate to interrupt it to y’all, however vehicles aren’t simply workhorses anymore, and so they haven’t been for a very long time. The Ram 1500 Tungsten is a response to a market hungry for giant, powerful autos that may tow a ship as capably as it will possibly comfortably ship you to your vacation spot. So what if that vacation spot is the varsity drop-off line, the grocery retailer, or the commute to a desk job? The Tungsten exists as a result of folks will purchase it — the identical means the Ram 1500 Tradesman exists for the parents who nonetheless must do work.
Can the Ram 1500 Tungsten nonetheless do all that “truck stuff?” Sure. It could tow 11,580 kilos. You possibly can stow as much as 2,300 kilos within the mattress. You’ll be capable to take it in your rutted rural filth roads with ease, and even sneak off the path every now and then. The Tungsten goes to deal with you simply wonderful in case you want it to do some work; it’s simply additionally going to therapeutic massage your butt and serenade with a formidable variety of audio system you when you do it.
