Ram’s new heavy-duty pickups not only have a fresh look, they’re also packing an overhauled diesel engine under the bonnet – though the trusty Hemi V8 lives on.
The 2025 Ram 2500 and 3500 will arrive in US dealerships during the first quarter of 2025.
CarExpert expects it’ll launch early in 2026 as it historically takes Ram Trucks Australia 12-18 months to re-engineer a vehicle to right-hand drive.
100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
2500 Rebel
The 2500 and 3500, along with the 1500, are remanufactured to right-hand drive by Ram in Clayton, Melbourne.
Ram revealed the exterior of the updated 2500 and 3500 back in September 2024, and has now released detailed specifications plus images of the overhauled interior.
While the 2500 and 3500 are currently offered here only in dual-cab four-wheel drive guise, powered by the turbo-diesel inline six, Ram offers a much wider range in the US.
There, the updated version will be offered with both rear- and four-wheel drive; in regular-cab, dual-cab and Mega Cab body styles; and in Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, Rebel, Power Wagon, Limited Longhorn and Limited trim levels.
There’s a choice of powertrains on offer in the 2025 model:
| Hemi V8 | Cummins diesel | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Naturally aspirated 6.4L V8 | 6.7L inline-six turbo-diesel |
| Power | 306kW | 313kW |
| Torque | 582Nm | 1458Nm |
| Transmission | 8-speed auto | 8-speed auto |
Outputs for the diesel are up by 37kW and 306Nm, slashing the 0-60mph (0-96km/h) time from 8.0 seconds to 6.9.
It’s also now mated to an eight-speed automatic instead of a six-speed, which Ram claims “allows for smooth second-gear starts when unladen”.
Ram calls the Cummins turbo-diesel “all-new”, with improvements to drivability, durability, serviceability, and fuel economy, plus reductions in noise, vibration and harshness.
2500 Laramie
The block, head, turbocharger, and intake manifold are new, while there are larger intake valves for improved flow, more robust pistons, and a higher-pressure fuel system.
The Hemi V8 is unchanged. Ram parent Stellantis has been progressively phasing out V8 power across its lineup, with the lighter-duty 1500 dropping its 5.7-litre Hemi V8 for the new Hurricane twin-turbocharged inline-six.
Maximum towing capacity is 16,606kg with the diesel, which is now available with the more fuel-efficient 3.42 rear axle ratio. This was previously available only with a 4.10 axle ratio.
Maximum payload is 3443kg with the petrol.
Though the Ram Heavy Duty range opens in the US with the Hemi V8, diesels account for over 70 per cent of Ram 2500 and 3500 sales there.
“This is a very specific pickup segment that requires a powerful tool — every 2025 Ram 2500 we sell allows the potential of 1075 lb.-ft. [1458Nm] of torque in every gear, for a 70 per cent increase in torque delivery from the previous generation 2500,” said Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis.
Inside, there’s a choice of 12- or new 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreens running the Uconnect 5 system, plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
In a first for a heavy-duty pickup, there’s a new 10.25-inch passenger display that allows a passenger to view navigation or media via a HDMI port.
Another class-exclusive is the availability of dual wireless phone chargers.
Other available equipment includes an on-board power inverter with up to 2.4kW of power from two covered outlets located inside the tub, as well as a digital rear-view mirror.
As revealed last year, there are new grille and wheel designs, plus restyled headlights with a split-level layout.
Ram sold 565 2500s in Australia in 2024, along with 47 examples of the 3500. That saw it outsold by the rival Chevrolet Silverado HD, of which 1473 were sold.
MORE: Everything Ram 2500
MORE: Everything Ram 3500
