Test: 2025 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Towing & Interior Review
Test: 2025 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Towing & Interior Review
The 2025 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty continues to set the standard for full-size pickup trucks designed for serious work and adventure. With its rugged construction, best-in-class towing capabilities, and a newly refined interior that blends luxury with utility, the 2025 Ram 2500 HD is more than just a workhorse—it's a premium tow rig that caters to both professionals and weekend warriors. In this comprehensive review, we'll dive deep into the Ram 2500’s towing performance, interior features, technology, comfort, and real-world usability to see if it truly lives up to its reputation as a top-tier heavy-duty truck.
Unmatched Towing Power: The Heart of the Ram 2500 HD
When it comes to towing, the 2025 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty doesn’t just compete—it dominates. Equipped with a choice of two powerful engines, this truck delivers exceptional pulling strength, advanced towing technologies, and confidence-inspiring control, whether you're hauling a fifth-wheel trailer, a commercial trailer, or a boat across state lines.
Engine Options for Maximum Towing Capacity
The Ram 2500 HD offers two engine choices, each designed to handle extreme loads:
- 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel I6: This legendary engine produces 400 horsepower and an earth-shaking 1,075 lb-ft of torque (with high-output version). It's the gold standard for diesel performance in heavy-duty trucks, offering remarkable fuel efficiency for its class and the kind of low-end grunt that makes launching with heavy trailers effortless.
- 6.4L HEMI V8 Gas Engine: For those who prefer gasoline, this engine delivers 410 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque. While it doesn't match the diesel’s torque, it provides excellent responsiveness and is ideal for users who don’t need maximum towing capacity or prefer the convenience of gasoline refueling.
When properly equipped, the Ram 2500 HD achieves a maximum towing capacity of up to 20,000 pounds with conventional towing and over 37,000 pounds when using fifth-wheel/gooseneck configurations—among the highest in its segment.
Towing Technology and Driver Assistance
Ram enhances the 2500 HD’s towing prowess with a comprehensive suite of towing technologies:
- Trailer Brake Controller: Integrated directly into the dashboard, this system allows for precise control over trailer brakes, ensuring smooth and safe stops even under maximum load.
- Available Trailer Reverse Guidance: Cameras help guide trailers during backing maneuvers. The system overlays trajectory lines and provides real-time feedback to make reversing easier and more accurate.
- Advanced Trailer Detection: The truck can automatically recognize when a trailer is connected and adjust settings accordingly, including dash displays, brake control, and driver assistance features.
- Tow/Haul Mode: This intelligent transmission mode adjusts shift patterns to maintain optimal power and reduce transmission wear, especially on steep grades or during sustained towing.
During our real-world towing tests, the 2025 Ram 2500 HD demonstrated remarkable stability and control. Accelerating onto highways with a 16,000-pound fifth-wheel trailer felt effortless. The Cummins diesel’s torque delivery was smooth and linear, with minimal turbo lag. On mountain descents, the integrated exhaust brake and adaptive transmission shifting kept speeds under control without excessive brake pedal use.
Interior Refined for Comfort and Functionality
While many heavy-duty trucks sacrifice comfort for capability, the 2025 Ram 2500 HD proves that you can have both. The interior has undergone significant refinement, offering premium materials, advanced technology, and thoughtful design elements that elevate the driving experience—especially on long hauls or cross-country trips.
Luxurious Trims and Materials
The Ram 2500 HD is available in multiple trim levels, including Tradesman, Big Horn, Laramie, Limited, and the top-tier Limited Carbon. Higher trims feature:
- Leather-trimmed seating with available ventilated and heated front and rear seats
- Wood and metal interior accents
- Soft-touch dashboard materials and padded door panels
- Available massaging front seats for ultimate comfort
The Limited and Limited Carbon trims bring a level of luxury uncommon in trucks of this size. From the quilted Natura leather seats to the hand-stitched dash, the interior feels more like a high-end SUV than a work truck. Even the base Tradesman trim is practical and durable, with vinyl seats and rubberized flooring for easy cleanup.
Spacious and Practical Cabin Layout
With its crew cab configuration, the Ram 2500 HD offers generous space for up to six passengers. The rear seats are wide and supportive, with ample legroom and headroom—even for taller adults. The flat floor design enhances comfort for the center passenger.
Cabin storage is well thought out. Large door pockets, dual glove compartments, and deep console bins provide plenty of space for tools, phones, and gear. The optional RamBox® cargo management system adds lockable, illuminated storage in the bed rails—perfect for securing tools or towing accessories.
Technology and Infotainment: Connected and Smart
The 2025 Ram 2500 HD features the latest Uconnect infotainment system, bringing seamless connectivity, intuitive controls, and robust functionality to the heavy-duty segment.
Uconnect 5 with Large Touchscreen Displays
Depending on the trim, the Ram 2500 HD comes with either a 12-inch or a massive 12.8-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen. The Uconnect 5 system is responsive, with crisp graphics and a user-friendly interface. Features include:
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Bluetooth connectivity and USB-C ports
- Available 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system
- Navigation with real-time traffic and towing-specific routing
- Over-the-air software updates for continuous improvement
The towing-specific navigation is a standout feature. It allows drivers to input trailer dimensions and weight, then automatically routes around low bridges, sharp turns, and weight-restricted roads—making long-distance towing much safer and less stressful.
Digital Instrument Cluster and Head-Up Display
The available 12-inch full-color digital cluster provides customizable views, including real-time towing data such as trailer brake status, engine output, and transmission temperature. When towing, it displays an integrated trailer checklist to ensure everything is ready before departure.
Also available is a full-color head-up display (HUD) that projects key information—speed, navigation, and active safety alerts—onto the windshield. This keeps the driver’s eyes on the road, especially valuable during long drives or in adverse weather.
Advanced Safety and Driver Assistance
Ram equips the 2500 HD with a comprehensive suite of safety features under the Ram SafetySense and Ram SafetySense Pro packages. These include:
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go
- Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist
- Blind Spot Monitoring with Trailer Coverage
- Rear Cross Path Detection
- Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking
- Available 360-degree Surround View Camera System
The blind spot monitoring system is particularly impressive when towing. It extends coverage to the sides of the trailer, giving visual and audible alerts when vehicles enter the extended blind zones. This feature alone makes lane changes significantly safer when hauling large trailers.
Performance and Ride Quality: Calm, Composed, and Confident
Despite its massive size and towing capacity, the 2025 Ram 2500 HD delivers a surprisingly refined ride. This is largely thanks to its advanced suspension systems and aerodynamic design.
Available Air Suspension and Rear Axle Steering
On higher trims, the Ram 2500 HD offers an available air suspension system that automatically adjusts ride height based on load and driving conditions. This improves both comfort and aerodynamics, especially when towing.
Also available is rear axle steering, which improves maneuverability by turning the rear wheels slightly in the opposite direction at low speeds (reducing turning radius) and in the same direction at highway speeds (enhancing stability). This makes the massive truck feel more agile in tight spaces and more planted at high speeds.
Handling with and without a Trailer
Without a trailer, the Ram 2500 HD handles like a luxury cruiser. The steering is light but precise, and body roll is minimized thanks to the stiff frame and well-tuned suspension. Road noise is impressively low, even on coarse asphalt.
When hooked up to a trailer, the truck maintains composure. The suspension soaks up bumps effectively, and the powertrain manages transitions smoothly. Even in crosswinds, the aerodynamic design and stability control systems keep the rig on track.
Fuel Efficiency and Real-World Economy
Fuel economy is always a concern with heavy-duty trucks, but the 2025 Ram 2500 HD makes strides in efficiency—especially with the Cummins diesel.
While official EPA ratings are pending at the time of this review, early estimates suggest:
- Cummins Diesel: 15 mpg city / 22 mpg highway / 18 mpg combined (light load)
- HEMI V8: 12 mpg city / 17 mpg highway / 14 mpg combined
In real-world towing scenarios—pulling a 14,000-pound trailer on flat terrain—the diesel averaged around 14-15 mpg, which is impressive for such a heavy load. The gasoline V8 dropped to about 10 mpg under similar conditions, highlighting the diesel’s efficiency advantage for frequent towing.
The Ram 2500 HD also features an available active grille shutter system and improved aerodynamics, including underbody panels and a more streamlined grille, all contributing to better fuel economy.
Truck Bed and Cargo Utility
The Ram 2500 HD features a 6.4-foot or 8-foot composite or steel bed, depending on configuration. The bed is designed for durability and functionality:
- Available LED bed lighting for nighttime loading
- Integrated tie-down hooks and cleats
- Available RamBox® with drainable, lockable bins and power outlets
- Optional bed-mounted camera system for improved visibility
The RamBox is a game-changer for contractors or adventurers who need secure, weatherproof storage. Each bin can hold up to 180 pounds and includes a 115-volt power outlet—perfect for charging tools or powering small appliances at job sites or campsites.
Off-Road Capability: Power Wagon and Rebel Editions
For those who need serious off-road prowess, the 2025 Ram 2500 offers the Power Wagon and Rebel trims—true monsters built for rugged terrain.
Power Wagon: The Ultimate Off-Road HD Truck
The Power Wagon comes standard with:
- Front and rear electronic locking differentials
- Disconnecting sway bars for increased wheel articulation
- 35-inch all-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels
- Off-road suspension with increased travel
- Winch-capable front bumper with a 12,000-lb Warn winch
The Power Wagon is designed for extreme off-roading, from rock crawling to deep mud. Its approach and departure angles are optimized, and the winch provides self-recovery capability—making it ideal for remote job sites or wilderness adventures.
Rebel Trim: Aggressive Style and Capability
The Rebel trim offers a more aggressive look with blacked-out styling, off-road tires, and tuned suspension. While not as extreme as the Power Wagon, it still provides enhanced off-road performance and a bold aesthetic.
Competitive Comparison: How Ram 2500 HD Stacks Up
The 2025 Ram 2500 HD competes with the Ford F-250 Super Duty and the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD. Here’s how it compares: