Is 2025 Ram 1500’s New Turbo-Six Really More Efficient Than Old HEMI V8?
Ram has made major changes to its full-size pickup for the 2025 model year, such as replacing the 5.7-litre HEMI V8 with an all-new twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine nicknamed Hurricane. For the company, it’s a move that makes a lot of sense and is easy to justify, but will customers buy into it, especially since prices keep rising?
We’ll get a better idea at the end of the year, but right now we can tell you about fuel consumption ratings, which have just been posted by Natural Resources Canada (NRC).
- Also: Ram 1500 Classic Production Discontinued for Canada
- Also: 2025 Ram 1500 RHO Takes Off as TRX Successor
Just so you know, the Mexican-built Hurricane engine is 90 lbs (41 kg) lighter than the HEMI. However, the weight saving is lost when you consider the truck’s total package.
According to NRC, a 2025 Ram 1500 equipped with the twin-turbo straight-six achieves a combined 11.5 L/100 km in 4x2 configuration and 12.1 L/100 km in 4x4 configuration. By comparison, a HEMI-powered 2024 model with eTorque mild hybrid technology is rated at 11.7 L/100 km and 12.1 L/100 km, respectively. Despite what the folks at Ram are saying, this is more like status quo than an actual improvement.
Of course, power and torque aren’t the same. The standard-output Hurricane delivers 420 hp and 469 lb-ft of torque, while the HEMI was limited to 395 hp and 410 lb-ft (not counting an extra 130 lb-ft from the eTorque system). Crucially, regular gas will suffice, here, so you won’t be looking at a bigger bill at the pump.
If you want a 2025 Ram 1500 featuring the high-output variant of the Hurricane, with 540 hp and 521 lb-ft of torque, fuel consumption increases to a combined 13.8 L/100 km. This one can only be had in 4x4 configuration and premium gas is required.
The same engine in the off-road-oriented 2025 Ram 1500 RHO generates identical power and torque yet burns 15.9 L/100 km combined, NRC says. It’s a heck of a lot better than the 19.8 L/100 km posted by the outgoing Ram 1500 TRX, although the latter offered as much as 702 hp thanks to a supercharged 6.2-litre V8.
As for the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 included as standard, fuel consumption ratings are unchanged from 2024 at 10.8 L/100 km (4x2) and 11 L/100 km (4x4).
Pricing for the 2025 Ram 1500 lineup ranges from $62,740-$112,288 including freight and PDI (plus the federal luxury tax when applicable) but without any options. The cheapest Hurricane-equipped model, exclusively built around the Crew Cab, starts at $69,535. Luckily, Ram is already handing out substantial manufacturer’s rebates to sway potential customers.