2023 Ram 1500 TRX
Overview
Dragons are popular beasts in folklore but considering that the Ram 1500 TRX breathes fire and has enough suspension travel to jump most castles, we’d argue that giant flying iguanas are, in fact, real. The TRX can slurp up off-road miles faster than most, as it’s the quickest gas-powered truck we’ve ever tested: the 702-hp monster flew to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds. That means that despite its 6800-pound heft, it can beat a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 to the next streetlight. Its days of being at the top of the food chain are numbered, though, as a 700-plus-hp natural predator from Ford is hatching this year, dubbed the Raptor R. Otherwise, the TRX’s dominance is challenged only by city traffic, normal-sized parking spots, and gas station visits that empty wallets like it’s a robbery. To feed its powerful supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, the TRX has what are essentially showerheads for fuel injectors but, oh, baby is the water warm.
What’s New for 2023?
The mighty Ram 1500 TRX goes unchanged for 2023 as it enters the third year of its model lifecycle. We’re not sure why anyone would want to change this beast.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Even though the TRX starts just north of $80,000, it’s a lot of truck for the money. While the base version is certainly well-equipped, it lacks some features that we’d expect to be standard. For example, a heated steering wheel and heated front seats cost extra, and they’re otherwise only available with the Level 1 package. That pushes its price ahead by nearly $4000 but brings a smorgasbord of upgrades. Highlights include leather-trimmed seats, cargo-box lighting, a flat-bottom steering wheel wrapped in leather and microsuede, a storage compartment under the rear seat, and more. We’d select that option as well as the Trailer-Tow package to maximize the pickup’s pulling abilities.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Hiding between the TRX’s bulging fenders and below its scooped hood is a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V-8. More popularly known as the Hellcat engine, this specific version produces 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, which is sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. During our testing, the TRX shot to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and completed the quarter-mile in 12.3 seconds at 110 mph. That makes it the quickest pickup we’ve ever tested. Despite its hefty curb weight and huge footprint, the Hellcat-powered Ram is surprisingly refined and easy to handle on paved roads. Still, its supercharged V-8 is ready to emit exciting sounds from its exhaust pipes. Of course, the TRX is meant to play in the mud, rocks, and sand, too. Along with a reinforced steel frame, it boasts a beefed-up suspension that’s built to bend and bound with more than 13 inches of travel. It rolls on a set of massive 35-inch all-terrain tires mounted on 18-inch wheels that contribute to the truck’s 11.8 inches of ground clearance. Ram says the half-ton Hellcat can also ford up to 32 inches of water. Every TRX comes with enough underbody plating to protect a Brink’s truck, Bilstein remote-reservoir dampers, an electronic-locking rear differential, and gigantic 15.0-inch front brakes. What’s more?
Towing and Payload Capacity
Although the TRX can’t tow as much as some Ram models, which are currently rated at up to 12,750 pounds, it can still pull a substantial amount. It has a maximum towing capacity of 8100 pounds (100 less than the F-150 Raptor), and it’s able to carry up to 1310 pounds of payload (80 less than the Ford).
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The TRX is estimated to earn a lowly 10 mpg in the city and a not-much-better 14 mpg on the highway. Those figures are significantly lower than the Raptor, which has ratings of 15 mpg city and up to 18 highway. We tested the TRX on our 75-mph fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, and observed a paltry 13 mpg highway. For more information about the TRX’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Ram has redefined expectations for truck interiors with its latest half-ton pickups, which deliver rich-looking materials and impeccable insulation from outside noise. That level of luxury and refinement looks to continue on the TRX, which is offered solely as a crew cab with the short cargo bed. Inside, the base model’s cloth upholstery and standard equipment is based on the Ram 1500 Rebel. However, the optional TR1 and TR2 packages make the cabin look and feel significantly snazzier thanks to leather-covered surfaces and a mix of microsuede and carbon-fiber accents. The TRX’s flat-bottom steering wheel features a pair of prominent paddle shifters, but there’s also a floor shifter located on the center console. The TRX’s top options include a digital rearview mirror, a head-up display, and heated and ventilated front seats.
The Car and Driver Difference
Infotainment and Connectivity
Vertically mounted in the middle of the dashboard on every TRX is a 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The unit boasts Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, built-in navigation, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The display can be divided into separate menus so that multiple applications can be open at once, and it also features physical knobs and buttons on the screen’s surrounding bezel for more intuitive controls. Unfortunately, our long-term TRX’s large, 12.0-inch center touchscreen suffers frequent blackouts, something that we haven’t experienced with the company’s Uconnect systems that run smaller screens. The truck can also be outfitted with a mighty 900-watt, 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
How to Buy and Maintain a Car
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Ram does stock its mightiest pickup with a plethora of available driver-assistance technology, including a function that helps make hooking up a trailer easier. For more information about the TRX’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
Available lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist Available blind-spot monitoring Available adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Ram’s limited and powertrain warranties align with all rivals except for Nissan, which covers those areas for longer periods: five years or 100,000 miles. However, Ram doesn’t offer any complimentary maintenance like Chevy, GMC, and Toyota do.
Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Specifications
Specifications
2021 Ram 1500 TRX
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door pickup
PRICE AS TESTED
$89,565 (base price: $71,790)
ENGINE TYPE
supercharged and intercooled pushrod 16-valve V-8, iron block and aluminum heads, port fuel injection
Displacement
376 in3, 6166 cm3
Power
702 hp @ 6100 rpm
Torque
650 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): control arms/live axle
Brakes (F/R): 14.9-in vented disc/14.8-in vented disc
Tires: Goodyear Wrangler Territory AT, LT325/65R-18 121/118T M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 145.1 in
Length: 232.9 in
Width: 88.0 in
Height: 80.9 in
Passenger volume: 132 ft3
Curb weight: 6866 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 3.7 sec
100 mph: 9.7 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 4.6 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.2 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.2 sec
1/4 mile: 12.3 sec @ 110 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 118 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 189 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 418 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.70 g
Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 9 mpg
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 12/10/14 mpg
C/D TESTING EXPLAINED
More Features and Specs
