2021 Ram 1500 TRX

For some people, a truck is simply a work tool – a vehicle that can handle a tremendous amount of payload and towing to help them get everything they need to be done during the workweek. But for others, a great pickup is much more than that: it is a way to get their work done while also being able to get a lot of playing in on the weekend. For them, an off-road truck is one of the best options on the market. And while many people have looked to the Ford Raptor in the past, the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is set to become the undisputed king of off-road trucks.

The Ram TRX is an absolute beast – based on the Ram 1500, which means it is a full-size, light-duty model. That is where its similarities to the standard 1500 end, however, because it has one of the most incredible engines we have ever seen inside a truck. It has a Supercharged HEMI V8 engine that makes the Ram 1500 TRX the most powerful production, street-legal half-ton pickup ever built. All of this incredible power means the TRX is remarkably fun to drive around town or even on a racetrack, but it truly shines when you take it off-road.

On the trail, the TRX has everything you need to conquer anything you encounter, including Bilstein shocks that are exclusive to the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX. You get nearly a foot of ground clearance, plus more than a foot of front and rear suspension travel, along with a massive airbox that filters out dust and debris while pumping a huge amount of air into the engine. Whether you are looking for a truck to post some record times at your local track or take onto the trail during a weekend away from civilization, the Ram TRX has you covered. This full, in-depth analysis will only further prove that.

Often, when you look at a truck, you will find a few different engine options with varying levels of power. This lets you configure your truck to have the kind of performance and muscle you need, usually allowing you to get a certain amount of towing power. With the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, however, there is only one engine offered, but it is the most powerful engine we have ever seen in a production pickup.

Power of the TRX

The engine in the Ram TRX is a Supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 engine that delivers up to 702 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. This is similar to the engine you will find in the Dodge Challenger Hellcat, which is one of the most powerful and high-performance American cars on the road. You would not normally expect to find this kind of power loaded into a pickup truck, let alone one designed with such fantastic off-road performance. And yet, here it is.

This engine gives you incredible acceleration and top speeds. In fact, it comes with Launch Control with Launch Assist, which allows you to achieve amazing acceleration by regulating engine RPM. Thanks to this engine and the other features on this truck, it can go from 0 to 60 in just 4.5 seconds. The Ram TRX’s engine has a massive high-performance airbox that lets it consume nearly 33 liters of air per minute, and the Supercharger provides near-instantaneous torque with a maximum rev speed of over 14,000 RPM.

All of that power and incredible performance also comes with a number of tools that you can use to really get the most out of your truck. Along with Launch Control, you get a customizable dashboard that lets you track information like your horsepower, steering angle measurements, and your own personal best records. This includes data like your reaction time, 60-foot timer, and timers for a quarter and eighth-mile with your best times so you can improve upon your own driving performance. There is even an integrated dynamometer that provides you with information about your peak horsepower, torque, and boost pressure so you can compare how you are driving to your previous records and become a more skilled driver.

Driving Off the Beaten Path

It has Bilstein Black Hawk e2 shocks that are exclusive to the Ram TRX, so you will not find them on any other production truck out there. With a front-suspension-travel of 13 inches and a rear-suspension-travel of 14 inches, you can tackle even the most uneven of terrain with ease. Plus, the incredible airbox on the Ram TRX’s engine filters four times as much debris and dirt as the air induction system on the Ford Raptor – keeping your engine running cleaner and delivering more power even on the trail.

You also get a brilliantly-designed drive mode system on the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, with eight different drive modes for you to choose from. This allows you to switch up your performance in real-time, to conquer the trail, or handle challenging weather. This includes a Sport Mode, with quick shift times and a tight suspension that is perfect for high-performance situations, as well as a Snow Mode that manages horsepower and torque split to give you better traction on snow and ice. For going off-road, you have a Mud/Sand Mode that mitigates wheel slip and improves your traction in such conditions, and a Rock Mode with an extra-low gear ratio to boost your control on boulders and rocks.

All of this comes together to make the Ram TRX the most impressive and powerful off-road truck we have ever seen. It is clear that the designers at Ram looked at other popular off-road pickups and built a truck that would leave them all behind.

In recent years, Ram has become the dominating truck on the road in terms of style and luxury, with interiors that put every other model out there to shame. While the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX has enough power and off-road performance to ignore everything else, the interior still has some of the finest design and features we have ever seen. You get an incredibly luxurious and impressive interior, with great technology too.

Inside the TRX

For starters, the Ram TRX has a flat-bottom steering wheel with wheel-mounted controls and aluminum paddle shifters – the first time this setup has ever been offered on a Ram truck. You also get a center shifter with a manual shifting mode, along with six auxiliary buttons featured in an integrated switch bank, plus an available trailer-reverse steering control system if you do a lot of towing. The standard interior features black cloth seats with red details and trim throughout, though leather-trimmed seating is also available.

In terms of technology, the Ram TRX lives up to everything you would expect, starting with its standard 12-inch vertical infotainment display. Not only does this screen look gorgeous, but it makes it easy for you to use all of the amazing performance-features and systems included with the TRX.

There is also an available head-up display that functions as a sort of virtual cockpit, providing you with information on your windshield that is customizable and can include your current speed, incoming call data, and directions. While an available 900-watt, 19-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system provides you with a gorgeous audio experience that you have to hear to truly appreciate. The interior of this beast is truly and surprisingly luxurious.