Tim Kuniskis made his first media appearance after returning from retirement to usher in the 2025 Ram HD lineup. “I wanted to get back in the fight,” said Kuniskis, who lasted less than a year in retirement before the lure of the truck market’s slugfest brought him back. He was proud to show off the truck that had completed much of its development under his tenure. The new trucks promise to work harder than ever while being quicker, more efficient, and more luxurious.
The updated heavy-duty trucks now better fit into the Ram lineup, as the 1/2-ton trucks recently got their own revamp. All of the trucks feature distinctive new grilles and LED lighting front and rear, even the base Tradesman trim.
Powertrain
Once again, the gas engine option for the Ram HD will be the 6.4-liter Hemi, packing 405 hp at 5600 rpm and 429 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. That’s down five horses from last year, perhaps due to tightening emissions requirements. We thought the Ram HDs would be the last bastion of the venerable Hemi V-8 years ago, but the Durango Hellcat kept hanging on. It seems that in 2025, the Ram HD will stand alone.
This biggest news under the hood comes from the Ram HD’s most popular powertrain, the legendary 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel. The 370-hp version, previously the only Cummins available in the Ram 2500, is gone. Now, all Ram HDs will be available with the new high-output Cummins that is up 10 ponies from last year, rated at 430 horsepower and 1075 lb-ft of torque. The unit uses a new block and cylinder head design, with larger intake and exhaust valves, a new aluminum intake manifold, a new fuel system, and a new turbo. For the first time, the Cummins will be mated to an eight-speed ZF TorqueFlite HD automatic, a beefier version of the eight-speed that is used behind the Hemi V-8.
The previous Ram HD diesel used an Aisin six-speed auto, but the new ZF allows a greater gear spread that returns improved acceleration and efficiency. The sole rear axle ratio for the Cummins-equipped Ram HDs is 3.42:1, but it results in greater first-gear torque multiplication than found in the previous six-speed–equipped Ram HD with the optional 4.10:1 differential. Ram says that 0–60mph times for an empty truck have dropped from 8 seconds to 6.9 seconds, and in those scenarios the transmission will start in second gear. When fully loaded and with the deep first gear used to its full potential, the improvement is even more impressive, knocking six seconds off its previous time.
Interior
Ram HDs now feature a new interior design based on the functional and luxurious trims used on the 2024 Ram 1500. That includes a 12.3-inch digital cluster behind the steering wheel and and a 12-inch center screen that is available on all trims except Limited Longhorn and Limited. On those two top trims, a 14.5-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen is standard. As with the half-tons, higher trims will be available with a 10.25-inch passenger-side dash screen so the copilot can handle navigation and audio selection or monitor exterior vehicle cameras. New for 2025, all Ram HDs will use an electronic column shifter, freeing up space on the console for two phones to charge wirelessly.
Improved Features and Safety
Ram HDs now offer a 2.4-kilowatt on-board inverter that powers two covered outlets located inside the bed. With the engine running and the truck in park, the engine will maintain enough throttle to support the load. Also new for 2025 is a suite of standard safety functions, including adaptive cruise control and Forward Collision Warning Plus. Active Lane Mangament and other driving assistance packages are optional, as are an available fully digital rearview mirror with tow mode and trailer reverse steering control, which helps back up a trailer using a dash-mounted knob.
Ram HDs will arrive on lots shortly, with 2500s starting at $47,560 and 3500s starting at $48,565, including destination. Their pricing should be close to that of the models they replace, with added capability and performance helping to make them an even better value than ever, as the HD truck market remains a hard-fought segment.
