2021 Ram 1500 TRX

When Ford introduced the F-150 Raptor more than a decade ago, no other truck builder dared challenge it with a competitive off-road model. But why challenge the Raptor when you can obliterate it with a 702-horsepower nuclear explosion? Enter the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, a Ram pickup truck powered by the same 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 used in Dodge's Hellcat models. Ram hasn't just upped the ante here, it's torched the other players' cards.

Based on the full-size Ram 1500 Crew Cab, the TRX (pronounced T-Rex) was built for the sole purpose of outclassing the F-150 Raptor in every category. With 702 horsepower, a 4.5-second 0-60 mph time, and Bilstein Black Hawk performance shocks providing capable off-road performance, the new Ram 1500 TRX sets new benchmarks for the pickup truck segment. In fact, the TRX spawns a new category of supertruck, the likes of which the world has never seen before.

The Ram 1500 TRX truck is impossible to miss. Virtually every piece of design on this truck is functional and sets it apart from the standard 1500. At the front, it has a hood scoop, responsible for 50 percent of the air fed to the supercharger. The TRX's track is six inches wider, the body itself is eight inches wider thanks to those flamboyant fender flares, and it sits more than 11 inches from the ground. Other model-specific features include a flow-through Ram badge on the unique grille, 18-inch wheels wrapped in 35-inch rubber, and blacked-out premium LED lights. It's a ridiculously aggressive piece of the design, but we appreciate that most of the new elements serve a function.

If the standard exterior isn't shouty enough for your tastes, Ram offers plenty of extreme accessories to change things up and set your TRX apart from others. Examples include the Mopar RamBar and the bed-mounted tire-carrier. The latter may make reaching your spare wheel easier, but the enormous wheel/tire eats into a massive chunk of the available bed space. Off-road running boards and TRX graphics for the hood and fenders are also available.

The TRX is only available in Crew Cab configuration, and it has a whopping footprint. The overall length is 232.9 inches, and the wheelbase measures 145.1 inches. These figures are so close to the standard 1500 that you might overlook them. You certainly will notice the overall width and height, rated at 88 and 80.9 inches, respectively. It's these last two figures that really make a visual impact.

Ground clearance is claimed to be 11.8 inches. According to Ram, the approach, breakover, and departure angles are 30.2, 21.9, and 23.5 degrees, respectively. Thanks to all of the additional equipment, the TRX weighs a hefty 6,350 pounds. That's nearly 1,000 lbs heavier than the heaviest standard Ram 1500.

Ram offers only one single color option on the TRX. It's called Diamond Black Crystal Pearl, and it costs $100. The rest of the options are all two-tone, and two of the five are no-cost options: Flame Red/Diamond Black and Bright White/Diamond Black. The Hydro Blue and Diamond Black option costs $100, but you have to add either the $3,420 TRX Level 1 Package or TRX Level 2 Package ($7,920). For $200, you can get Granite Crystal/Diamond Black or Billet Silver combined with Diamond Black. In our opinion, the TRX looks wild no matter which color you opt for.

Pickup trucks don't usually come with claimed performance figures, but they are the headline of the TRX. According to Ram, the TRX does the 0-60 mph sprint in 4.5 seconds, though independent tests have clocked it closer to four seconds. We doubt many people will bring it to the drag strip, but the TRX can complete the quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds at 108 mph. The top speed is claimed to be 118 mph, and our independent test proved this to be easily achievable.

The monster responsible for these performance figures is a 6.2L supercharged Hemi V8. It delivers 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. To put all of this power down, the TRX comes standard with a permanent four-wheel-drive system, not the part-time system found on other 1500 models. This means 4WD can be used on tarmac without worrying about drivetrain windup. Also, imagine what a RWD truck with 702 hp would be like. With almost no weight over the rear axle, it would just want to go sideways everywhere. Trust us, the TRX has plenty of power to spin all four wheels.

All of these significant performance upgrades harm towing and hauling capacity, but the TRX isn't useless in this regard. The standard 1500 with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 can tow 12,750 lbs and has a maximum payload capacity of 2,300 lbs with the V6. The TRX comes with a tow rating of 8,100 lbs and a maximum payload capacity of 1,310 lbs, which is decent but not great.

Ram could have just called this truck the Ram Hellcat because it has the same engine and gearbox combination. Under the hood, you'll find the spectacular supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 pushing out 702 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. It's mated to an eight-speed TorqueFlite transmission that sends the power to a full-time 4WD system for maximum traction. A bunch of driver modes is available, including a launch control system that allows you to set the rpm you want to launch. The eight-speed transmission shifts smoothly in normal driving and rips off pretty quick changes at full throttle. Ram added larger paddle shifters that split into two pieces so drivers can still access the radio controls on the back of the steering wheel. These paddles feel great, but we noted the transmission felt happier to be left to its own devices in automatic mode.

The term "rides like a truck" gets used a lot these days, but rarely to describe the Ram 1500. Even with all of the off-road upgrades, the Ram 1500 TRX pickup retains its civil demeanor. Though it can't match the pillowy softness of the Ram Limited's air suspension, the TRX never feels too upset when riding on rough roads. That's likely because this truck was built to tackle dirt at high speeds; potholes are meaningless to the TRX's 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory tires. The TRX mostly retains the Ram's excellent highway manners too, though the chunky tires and supercharged engine intrude into the cabin a bit.

It's incredibly fast in a straight line, but the TRX still can't defeat physics. At over 6,000 pounds, the TRX feels every bit of its curb weight in the corners, making it tougher to hussle this truck on a back road. The massive power is easily accessible, but you need to plan your stopping zones ahead of time so as to not overwhelm the brakes. Ram says the TRX boasts the segment's largest brakes at 15 inches up front with two piston calipers, but even these massive stoppers struggle at higher speeds. With somewhat lackadaisical steering and such massive size, the TRX is best enjoyed in short light-to-light spurts.

Off-road, the TRX shines with outstanding capability. 2.6-inch Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive performance shocks were developed specifically for the TRX, and help take big impacts with ease. The shocks provide excellent heat dissipation, helping them function over 100 mph, and each wheel gets 13 inches of travel. This truck even includes Jump Detection, which prevents drivetrain damage when airborne. A Dana 60 rear axle with a rear locking differential helps the TRX traverse rocky terrain, but this truck feels happier at higher speeds rather than slow-speed crawling. Ram includes three off-road driving modes, including Mud/Sand, Rock, and Baja. We found the latter to be the most entertaining, blasting down dirt paths at triple digit speeds. No street-legal production vehicle will keep up with the TRX off-road, and few off-roaders offer so much compliance on the road.

If you're a planet-hugging vegetarian, what the heck are you even doing reading this review? This portion of the road test was never going to be good news, so let's just rip the bandaid off and get on with it. While the standard base model 1500 with its 3.0-liter diesel engine gets EPA figures of 23/33/26 mpg, the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX pickup truck manages just 10/14/12 mpg city/highway/combined. We averaged only 9.6 during our week of testing, and only saw as high as 15 mpg if we hypermiled it. Mercedes-AMG's hardcore track-ready GT R coupe is more efficient…

In any case, interested customers are savvy enough to know that the TRX was never going to be an environmentally friendly darling, though we think Ram would be smart to offer a non-supercharged variant for people who plan to road trip in their truck. Mercifully, the TRX is equipped with a 33-gallon fuel tank. This allows for a driving range of 396 miles between refills, which means you won't have to stop to refill the thing every other day.

The TRX interior comes with several model-specific features, and all of them are functional. First, the front seat design has been changed. Given the performance potential of the TRX, some additional side bolstering is required to keep the driver and front passenger securely in place. The same goes for the flat-bottom steering wheel with enhanced hand grips and aluminum paddle shifters. Ram also includes a console-mounted shifter should you prefer that old-school shifting feeling. A head-up display is also available, so you don't have to take your eyes off the road when hooning. Infotainment-wise, the TRX is equipped with a 12-inch vertical touchscreen interface with navigation and all of the other modern connectivity features. What sets this unit apart is the model-specific performance pages. These pages give you performance figures, g-force readouts, and engine performance details. With the excellent quality of the regular 1500 and the TRX's sporty additions, this cabin is a rather nice place to spend time.

Since the TRX only comes as a Crew Cab, it features comfortable seating for five. The throne-like front chairs are remarkably comfortable and offer a commodious 40.9 inches of legroom and 41 inches of headroom. Sitting in the back of the pickup truck used to be a punishment, but now it's comfier than many luxury sedans. The TRX's back seats offer up a massive 45.2 inches of legroom and 39.8 inches of headroom, meaning occupants over six-foot will be perfectly comfortable. Not only do the TRX's back seats have more legroom than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but they also slide and recline for a more relaxed seating position. Those rear seats offer heating and ventilation as part of a package, and lift up for storage.

This pickup truck retails for more than $70,000, which is why we're slightly annoyed that the only no-cost upholstery option is a mix of cloth and vinyl in black with red stitching and red detailing on the door panels. If you want a leather interior, you have to choose either the TRX Level 1 or 2 Package which requires spending at least another $3,420. Only then do you get a black leather interior with the same standard features as a top-spec regular 1500. These packages also add heated front seats, while the Level 2 upgrade includes ventilated seats as well. Opting for the Level 2 upgrade also provides access to the TRX Carbon-Fiber Package with its carbon-fiber interior accents. We highly recommend opting for one of the two interior packages, unless you prefer a more basic truck.

In Crew Cab configuration, the 1500 comes with a 5.7-foot bed. The maximum width is 66.4 inches, and the distance between the wheelhouses is 51 inches. It's 21.4 inches deep, and the maximum length is 60 inches with the tailgate open. According to Ram, the bed offers 53.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The maximum payload is down to 1,310 lbs, however.

Interior storage is impressive. There are at least 10 cupholders throughout the cabin, and there's a massive storage space underneath the center armrest, plus under-seat storage under the second row. However, you need to select an optional package to get the latter feature.

Considering its starting price, the TRX isn't exactly loaded with standard features. It's clear that the budget was dedicated to this truck's mighty mechnicals. It does come standard with automatic LED lights, a rear power-sliding window, and heated auto-dimming side mirrors. On the inside, it boasts an eight-way power driver's seat with four-way power lumbar support, a four-way manually-adjustable passenger seat, dual-zone climate control, a seven-inch color display in the instrument cluster, cruise control, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Standard safety gear includes a rearview camera, forward collision warning, trailer sway damping, and hill-start assist.

Some of the options that we believe should be standard include heated front seats and a power-adjustable front passenger seat. Included in the optional packages are features like ventilated seats, remote start, parking sensors, wireless charging, a head-up display, and adaptive cruise control.

Every TRX includes Ram's flagship Uconnect 4C infotainment system with a massive 12-inch touchscreen. We love this system because it pairs intuitive touch controls with plenty of physical controls positioned on the dashboard for quick access. Ram has yet to offer the latest Uconnect 5 system with wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, new user interface, and ability to pair two phones, but the TRX still feels far from out of date. A smaller seven-inch helper screen between the gauges can display tons of information, including fuel economy, audio titles, performance timers, and more. Other inclusions are wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM with 360L, navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity. A nine-speaker sound system is standard but a 19-speaker 900-watt premium Harman Kardon audio system is available, and offers the best music listening experience in any pickup truck.

The 1500 TRX is an all-new model. Usually, we'd look at the recall history of the car it's based on to get an idea of reliability, but there are just too many differences between the TRX and the standard 1500. Most vital components, like the chassis, engine, and suspension, are either heavily revised, reinforced or completely new. Still, two recalls have been issued for the TRX so far in the US. These were for a master cylinder pushrod that may disconnect, leading to a separated brake pedal, and a faulty rearview camera image.

The manufacturer includes a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty as standard on all new 1500 TRX models sold in the USA. Roadside assistance runs for the same period/distance as the powertrain warranty.

Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has subjected a Ram 1500 TRX to review, but the standard 1500 has an impressive set of safety ratings. The NHTSA gave it the full five stars, while the IIHS gave the 2021 Crew Cab a Top Safety Pick award for vehicles equipped with specific headlights and optional crash prevention features.

The TRX offers a nice blend of old and new safety features. Standard safety features include six airbags, a rearview camera, tire pressure monitoring, electronic stability control, and ABS brakes. The TRX also has more powerful disc brakes front and rear to compensate for the additional weight and performance. Driver-assistance features are below-average at this price point, with only full-speed forward collision warning plus and regular cruise control being standard. Available features include adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind-spot detection, cross-path detection, trailer reverse steering control, parking sensors, a head-up display, and pedestrian emergency braking.

We can say unequivocally that the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is the most fun we've ever had in a pickup truck. A Ford F-150 Raptor offers excellent on-road and off-road performance, but it's twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 can't hold a handle to the TRX's supercharged V8. With easter eggs of a tyrannosaurus rex eating a velociraptor scattered throughout the truck, Ram made it no secret why the TRX exists. We are here to say that those easter eggs aren't just a cheeky dig at Ford; the TRX's bark matches its bite.

No pickup truck even comes close to outmaching the Ram TRX's 702-hp rating. Ford has already announced an all-new Raptor using the same EcoBoost V6 found in the outgoing model, though a V8-powered Raptor R model is in the works and could possibly exceed the TRX's output using the GT500's supercharged Predator motor. Even if Ford does outdo Ram, we bet there's an even more powerful TRX skunkworks project using the nearly 800-hp Hellcat Redeye motor. It's a great time to be a truck lover.

The Ram 1500 TRX has an MSRP of $70,325, excluding the $1,695 destination charge. With a dual-tone paint job, A TRX Level 2 Package, and the Advanced Safety Package included, the price of the Ram 1500 TRX increases to over $80,000 including destination.

Ford's F-150 Raptor retails for over $5,000 less but only has 450 hp to work with. The only other stupidly quick off-roader is the $74,195 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, and that only has a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 without a supercharger.

There is only one TRX model and it's powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine delivering 702 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends the power to a full-time 4WD system. To cope with all this power, the TRX has a completely revised suspension setup inspired by desert racing trucks. The chassis is also reinforced, and the disc brakes are more powerful. The adaptive damping allows the driver to select between five driving modes: Auto, Sport, Tow, Snow, and Custom. Three additional off-road modes are also available: Mud/Sand, Rock, and Baja.

TRX models aren't as lavishly equipped as the top-spec standard 1500 models. Still, it does come with automatic LED headlights with high-beam assist, 18-inch alloys, an eight-way power driver's seat, dual-zone climate control, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. There are several model-specific interior touches, including a flat-bottom steering wheel, front bucket seats, aluminum paddle shifters, and a second console-mounted shifter.

The highlight of the interior is the vertically mounted 12-inch touchscreen interface with model-specific performance pages. A 19-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system is available, which can replace the standard nine-speaker system.

Safety features include six airbags, a rearview camera, tire pressure monitoring, electronic stability control, ABS brakes, and full-speed forward collision warning plus. Adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and cross-traffic alert are available options.

There are many ways to customize your TRX truck purchase. The TRX Carbon Fiber Package retails for $1,295 and adds a leather and carbon fiber steering wheel and genuine carbon fiber interior inserts. However, this upgrade requires adding the $7,920 Level 2 Package, with the details of this indicated below. If you intend to tow, it's worth adding the $395 Towing Package, which comes with a trailer brake controller, trailer light check, and a trailer tire pressure monitoring system. The $995 Advanced Safety Package includes adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and pedestrian emergency braking, but also includes the Level 2 Package.

The two main packages are TRX Level 1 and TRX Level 2. Level 1 adds $3,420 to the price and adds a long list of features that includes heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, leather-trimmed bucket seats, eight-way power adjustment for both front seats, rain-sensing wipers, and power-adjustable pedals, to name just a few. Level 2 retails for $7,920 and adds even more luxury and safety features. Notable additions include blind-spot monitoring, driver seat memory, heated front/rear seats, park assist, a surround-view camera system, a power tailgate, and wireless charging. These are just a few items on a very long list of additional features.

There are some attention-grabbing accessories and standalone features to choose from as well. For $995, you can add the bed-mounted Mopar tire carrier. $1,895 will get you the Mopar RamBar. A dual-pane panoramic sunroof costs $1,495 and the 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system adds $1,195 to the bill. These last two features both require either the Level 1 or Level 2 packages.

The Ram TRX only comes in one configuration with a few options to consider. We think the Level 2 package is easily worth its $7,920 price tag, making the TRX feel like a true luxury object inside. The $1,295 carbon-fiber package takes the interior to the next level, while the Technology and Advanced Safety groups are worthwhile additions. We highly recommend the $1,195 Harman Kardon audio system, pulling the price just below $85,000. It's a lot of money for a truck, but the Ram TRX is all about excess.

The Raptor is the high-performance pickup truck that kickstarted a segment. The question is, is it still the daddy? The F-150 Raptor is now entering its third generation, still powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine. With the V8-powered Raptor R on the way, the current Raptor's specs of 450 hp and 510 lb-ft means it is comprehensively outgunned by the TRX. However, both are superb off-roaders and the Ford beats the Ram in some key areas here, such as with its better approach/departure angles. The Ford can tow a little more and it has a better payload figure, but it will be left behind in a traffic light sprint. For now, the bonkers TRX remains the king but its time at the top may be short-lived once the Raptor R arrives.

The 1500 TRX represents the apex of glorious internal combustion power in a truck, but its shocking consumption figures are outdated in a world that is moving towards full electrification. The Tesla Cybertruck is expected to represent a new wave of viciously fast electric trucks, but we still don't know exactly when we'll see the production version of this long-awaited pickup. For now, the Ram wins because you can actually buy one, but the Cybertruck will be even quicker when it arrives, at least in tri-motor form. It will also offer a much higher towing capacity and a better range in tri-motor guise than the thirsty TRX. Whether it will be able to match the sheer theater of the TRX is a question we'll have an answer to as soon as we can get behind the wheel of the Cybertruck.