The world of pickup trucks dialed up to eleven, or as enthusiasts would call them, supertrucks, is wonderful and over the top. You have workhorse pickup trucks powered by monstrous engines pumping out supercar power figures, underpinned by equipment that can handle some serious off-roading. Who wouldn’t like the idea of that?
Among such supertrucks is the Ram TRX, an absolute monster of a pickup truck that is still loved by many even after its discontinuation a couple of years ago. But something else has taken its place: the Ram RHO—or so you’d think. Let’s explore why the TRX is so awesome and not-so-awesome, and how the RHO does something different.
The Ram 1500 TRX Legacy Of Over-The-Top Performance
The Ram 1500 TRX is a high-performance variant of the fifth-generation Ram 1500 (DT) full-size pickup truck. The name TRX is based on the Ram Rebel TRX concept showcased back in 2016 at the State Fair of Texas. The Rebel TRX was an engineering, design, and customer-interest concept, and the TRX reflects that persona. Announced back in 2018, the TRX went on sale as a 2021 model year.
The TRX is equipped with a 6.2-liter supercharged Chrysler Hellcat Hemi V8 engine, pumping out a ridiculous 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. Like any Ram truck, the TRX is said to still retain a smooth ride that handles pavement very well. In fact, many enthusiasts compare the TRX’s ride quality to a luxury sedan, reporting responsive steering. It also brings premium interiors packed with the latest tech features.
TheRam TRXwas built from the ground up for one thing: to conquer the great outdoors. So, apart from the tuned-up Hemi V8, the truck also features plenty of off-road-ready goodies. This includes a reinforced, stiffer chassis that can handle both the insane power output and the off-road abuse a Hellcat truck goes through. Then there are the enormous 35-inch all-terrain tires, off-road protection on the underside, beefed-up suspension components, and full-time four-wheel drive.
But, this incredible performance came with serious downsides that would ultimately doom the truck—and create an opportunity for something different.
Poor Fuel Economy And Discontinuation
As great as the TRX sounds on paper, it did invite some criticism at the time of its launch, especially from environmental agencies. For starters, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ranked the TRX the worst-performing mass-market vehicle from 2021 to 2023 for its fuel economy and environmental impact. The truck returns an abysmal fuel economy. According to the EPA, the TRX returns 12 miles per gallon (MPG) in combined conditions, with 10 MPG in the city and 14 MPG on the highway. The next least efficient Ram 1500 model is the Classic 4WD, which returns 17 MPG combined.
This is also the reason that led to the TRX’s discontinuation in 2024. Ram couldn’t modify the Ram 1500 TRX enough to meet tougher automotive emissions standards. This was also the time when manufacturers, including Ram, were shifting their focus toward electrification, which led to the discontinuation of many V8 engines. As a farewell to the TRX, Ram introduced the special edition Ram 1500 TRX Final Edition, with the last TRX being manufactured on 16 Feb, 2024.
Enthusiast Criticisms For The TRX
As good as the TRX was to hoon around on, it did invite some criticism from enthusiasts. The first criticism was that the truck lacked a rear-wheel drive mode, which means you couldn’t unleash the Hellcat V8 to smoke the tires on the road. Additionally, starting at around $100k, the TRX was also very expensive, and while it may be amazing on paper, the performance is a bit too much for everyday use. Since it was introduced in 2018, it also features tech that started to feel a bit outdated in 2024. Put simply, the TRX wasn’t an everyday truck with a fun side, no matter how much your heart would want to believe otherwise.
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Where The Ram 1500 RHO Comes Into The Picture
Since the TRX’ discontinuation, there was a void in the Ram lineup for a performance-focused supertruck. This void ushered in the 2025 Ram RHO, which may look like a successor to the TRX—as it was called during the time of its launch—but that’s not the case at all. The RHO produces less power, thanks to its Hurricane straight-six engine. Instead, this supertruck establishes its own identity, while still offering serious performance and off-road chops, as well as modern features.
Compared to the TRX, the RHO offers a hooligan truck experience with a more real-world mission. It is the smarter and better pick if you’re looking for a pickup truck with a wild side, not a wild truck that can be managed on the road. Additionally, the RHO is significantly cheaper than the TRX, too; the Ram RHO on sale starts at $71,990. It’s a relative bargain. For this price, you get 540 horsepower, serious off-road credentials, and plenty of modern features.
Although if you are considering picking up a Ram RHO for sale today and want something that’s akin to a daily driver and not just a boonies basher, you should option it with the RHO Equipment Group package. This package adds some much-needed premium features, including a larger 14.5-inch display, 360-degree exterior camera, heated and ventilated seats with massage, premium 19-speaker audio system, adaptive cruise control, and more.
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The Ram RHO Is The Better Everyday Package For Enthusiasts
The Ram RHO is still no slouch, despite its lower power output compared to the TRX. It is powered by a high-output version of the 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane straight-six engine that powers the usual Ram 1500 lineup along with its corporate cousins, the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. On the RHO, it is tuned to produce 540 horsepower with a thick torque band, managing a 0 to 60 miles per hour time of just 4.4 seconds. This is 0.8 seconds quicker than the V6-powered Ford F-150 Raptor. While this engine may not sound like the Hemi V8, the optional MagnaFlow should keep things auditorily interesting.
Ready To Go Off-Road From Factory
This engine drives all four wheels, thanks to standard four-wheel drive, and power is transmitted via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Otherwise, the RHO still follows the crew-cab short bed formula. However, this half-ton truck sits 11.8 inches off the ground, which is the highest among the Ram 1500 lineup. It also features standard air suspension and Bilstein Blackhawk dampers and 35-inch all-terrain tires. Owners claim that the RHO handles on- and off-road better than the TRX, thanks to the lighter engine.
Unlike the TRX, the RHO balances its performance and off-road chops with a much better on-road experience. Many enthusiasts report that the RHO knows how to chill on the highway, and it is often praised for its torquey powerband and smooth, supple ride quality on the road. Additionally, it is said to have comfortable seating and a quiet cabin, packed with premium features and leather/suede upholstery as standard.
Relatively Better On Your Wallet, Too
The Hurricane straight-six engine will still offer low fuel economy, but it is much better than that on the TRX. According to the EPA, the Ram RHO for sale right now returns a fuel economy of 15 MPG combined, with 14 MPG in the city and 16 MPG on the highway. This is not the worst in the lineup, either. The EPA also estimates that the RHO will cost you around $4,600 in fuel costs, considering you drive 15k miles annually with current fuel prices.
Not A Workhorse In A Traditional Sense, But Still A Smart Buy
All these factors point to the fact that the Ram RHO can be a good daily driver. It’s still not a workhorse in the traditional sense, but it can work well as a daily driver, a camping truck, and a road-tripper. It will be a blast to ride. It manages to do that while still being plenty over-the-top and fun — like any supertruck should in 2026. That’s why the Ram RHO has a more real-world mission than the Ram TRX. It’s not a successor to the latter, but just a better take on Ram performance that you can actually live with.
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The TRX Lives On For The Select Few
The Ram RHO may appeal to most enthusiasts’ hidden sensibilities, but some of us still look for ridiculous power figures and off-road abilities without much care about being sensible. Fortunately, Ram knows this, too, and that’s why the TRX hasn’t gone anywhere just yet. After the initial discontinuation of the TRX, Ram seems to have understood that replacing it with the Ram RHO for sale in 2026 may not be the best choice. After all, there is no replacement for the supercharged V8 Hemi performance, is there?
In July 2025, Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa officially confirmed the return of the TRX for the 2026 model year. As a result, the Ram TRX was back on the road in Jan 2026 as a 2027 model. This new TRX comes with a redesign and pumps out more power than ever,at 777 horsepower from its Hemi V8 ripper. The TRX competes with the Ford Raptor family of supertrucks.
The new 2027 Ram TRX still offers plenty of off-road chops, too, including long-travel suspension that should soak up impacts without turning into a wobbly truck on pavement. On the inside, the cabin now features premium touches and plenty of new-age tech that is also found on other top-spec pickup trucks from Ram. Sure enough, the 2027 Ram 1500 SRT Hellcat TRX starts at a whopping $102,590. For enthusiasts, this is justified as, sometimes, you simply can’t put a price on absolute fun.
Source: Ram, the EPA