The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX stole the performance show earlier this year when it was introduced with a supercharged Hemi that delivers 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. It also showcases a long list of premium interior goodies, creating a truck that is a part off-road super truck and part luxury pickup. This truck looks incredible on paper, but to see how it performs in the real world, FCA flew me out to Truckee, California, to experience their supercharged beast in the real world.
![TRX]()
Not surprisingly, the Ram 1500 TRX didn’t disappoint. In fact, it exceeded my expectations in every way, offering better performance than originally stated coupled with stunning off-road capabilities and an interior that is unrivaled in the truck world. Ram executives call the TRX the apex predator in the truck world, and when tested back-to-back with the Ford Raptor, the comparison is borderline ridiculous. The Ram is so much better in every way that it almost seems unfair to compare the two, even though they are each other's top competitors.
TRX on the Road
The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is marketed as the ultimate off-road performance truck. That is great for those who are hardcore off-roaders, but realistically, most owners will spend most of their driving time on paved roads. In most cases, a truck built to dominate the off-road environment doesn’t shine quite as bright on paved roads. Many of them rely on suspension setups engineered to handle rough surfaces, leading to a stiff, rough ride in daily driving situations.
![TRX]()
Fortunately, the Bilstein dampers on the Ram TRX do a masterful job of combining ride quality and road handling. The first two hours of our drive started along the twisty roads around Lake Tahoe and ended up at the Wild West Motorsports Park in Nevada. We drove on tight, residential roads and sweeping highways, both of which put the handling and ride quality to the test. On the highway, the 6,500-pound Ram took the broad turns with surprising ease. With the truck set to the Sport drive mode, the suspension setup cuts down on body roll, but it does so without stiffening the ride. On tighter roads with repeated switchbacks, the Ram transitions from turn to turn smoothly and the TRX feels much lighter on its toes than you would expect.
The ride quality is stunning, with almost none of the vibration from the road being transferred through to the cabin. It is also remarkably quiet, with the sweet tune of blower whine and the exhaust note being distinctly louder than common road noise. At the same time, the sound of the engine is not so loud that it drowns out the music or a discussion with your passengers.
![TRX]()
When driven gently, the Ram 1500 TRX is just as smooth and as comfortable as any other modern half-ton, making it a fantastic daily driver. However, when you put the hammer down, this super truck comes to life. Throttle response is crisp and acceleration is violent, affording the TRX better performance numbers than officially claimed.
Ram stated that the TRX will sprint from a stop to 60 in 4.5 seconds while covering the quarter mile in 12.9 seconds. My first hard pull was on a slight downhill grade, not steep enough to register a degree on the off-road gauge, but the road wasn’t quite flat. In that situation, the TRX got to 60 in just 3.9 seconds while running the quarter mile in just 12.3 seconds. Those are incredible numbers, but I made a few more pulls on a a surface that was definitely flat. In those situations, I was still able to get to 60 in just 4.3 seconds while running a 12.7 quarter mile, and those numbers were turned on three separate occasions. Mind you, those numbers are run with the 35-inch off-road tires, which are heavy and less-than-ideal for drag racing, but the TRX is still quicker than the official numbers. It should be noted that several of the other journalists testing the TRX also saw quicker-than-advertised performance times.
I also found that the TRX pulls to the 118-mile per hour top speed in a hurry, with plenty of motor left beyond the electronic speed limiter.
![TRX]()
In short, there is no on-road compromise with the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, making it a wonderful truck for the daily drive, with better performance than originally claimed.
World Class Interior
My 2021 Ram 1500 TRX test truck was fitted with the features of the TR2 equipment group. This includes all of the premium goodies offered, such as the heads-up display, the digital rearview mirror, leather and suede throughout the cabin, heated and cooled front seats and reclining rear seats. My truck was also equipped with the premium Harman Kardon speaker system and all TRX pickups come standard with the 12-inch UConnect infotainment system and the configurable driver information center.
![TRX]()
The seats look great, but they are also comfortable and functional. The deep bolsters keep you in place during hard cornering and the padding kept me comfortable for the entirety of the two hour drive. In the morning, it was cold outside and the heated seats were welcomed and as the heat of the day arrived, I switched over to the cooled function. When coupled with the leather and suede trim throughout the cabin, including the reclining rear seats, the TRX looks more like a luxury vehicle than an off-road performance truck from the driver's seat.
![TRX]()
The new Ram brand heads up display is crystal clear, offering information like vehicle speed, the speed limit, gear selection and navigation details. The digital rearview mirror is also a great addition, offering a clear, unobstructed view of everything going on out back.
![TRX]()
The driver information center looks great and provides plenty of data while the 12-inch screen in the center stack offers easy control of every interior feature. The buttons on the screen are huge, allowing me to easily flip from navigation to the sound system to the performance pages while driving. Of course, the Harman Kardon speaker system sounds great, no matter what type of music you prefer.
![TRX]()
The Ram 1500 TRX offers more interior features than any truck in the world, competing more closely with European luxury sedans in terms of technology and comfort.
Off-Road Excellence
When we arrived at Wild West Motorsports Park, we aired-down the 35-inch Goodyear tires and prepared for a few hours of playing in the dirt.
![TRX]()
I began with the off-road race course, which included several big jumps, a mogul section, a few short straightaways and some gnarly turns. I expected that the Ram 1500 TRX would make short work of the rough track, but I was expecting the jumps to serve as a shock to the system. When I hit the first jump at 55 miles per hour, hurtling the 6,500-pound truck into the air, I braced for impact, but there really was no impact.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VjQVI5ZX-A
The Bilstein dampers in Baja mode absorb the force of the landing, preventing any sort of rebound bouncing, even when we were jumping into the rough mogul-type section. Even in a situation where I was jumping right before a sharp turn, there was no problem landing, settling the truck down and easily scooting through the turn. Of course, the Goodyear tires dug in and allowed me to use all 702 horsepower in the straights while the big brake setup repeatedly got the truck down to comfortable speeds as the Ram 1500 entered turns.
![TRX]()
Next, I took on the rock crawl portion of the program. The TRX was set to Rock drive mode, four-low was selected and the rear axle was locked. A series of spotters guided me up the steep hill, lined with huge rocks that would stop most trucks in their tracks. However, the TRX easily inched its way up the rugged hill without breaking a sweat.
![TRX]()
After that, we headed out onto the three-mile off-road trail. This test included steep climbs and descents, with some sections that were flat and smooth enough to allow big speed followed by sections of careful climbing. At no point did the TRX struggle, making short work of every aspect of the trail. At no point did it bottom out and even the largest rocks or deepest ruts posed no problem for the high-riding Ram 1500.
![TRX]()
Finally, we headed over to an area of packed dirt and stone, which was set up for some hard acceleration testing. This is where the Ram 1500 TRX really shocked me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15wvWIva9eE
After sprinting from a stop to 60 in just 4.3 seconds on the road, I was able to back that number up in the dirt. You read that right - the TRX accelerates to 60 in 4.3 seconds on dirt. It also got to the eighth mile marker in just 8.1 seconds, which was just a touch slower than the on-road runs.
![TRX]()
I have tested many trucks and SUVs in the off-road environment, but none have performed anywhere near as well as the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX. This time playing the dirt showed that the supercharged half-ton pickup is the greatest production off-road truck ever, performing stunts that would destroy most trucks while also offering more impressive acceleration figures than any truck on or off of the road.
![TRX]()
The Best Truck in Any Environment
Whether you are buying the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX for a daily driver or an off-road toy, it does everything well. It is quicker in dirt than most trucks are on pavement, but it still smooth and quiet on paved roads. It is nearly unstoppable in a grueling off-road setting but the interior rivals the most expensive premium luxury vehicles in the world.
![TRX]()
The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is truly the ultimate half-ton truck, comfortably outperforming the competition in every way. It doesn't just beat the Raptor - it embarrasses the Ford performance truck in any sort of comparison.
If you want a truck that will do everything while compromising nothing, the TRX is the pickup for you.
Not surprisingly, the Ram 1500 TRX didn’t disappoint. In fact, it exceeded my expectations in every way, offering better performance than originally stated coupled with stunning off-road capabilities and an interior that is unrivaled in the truck world. Ram executives call the TRX the apex predator in the truck world, and when tested back-to-back with the Ford Raptor, the comparison is borderline ridiculous. The Ram is so much better in every way that it almost seems unfair to compare the two, even though they are each other's top competitors.
TRX on the Road
The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is marketed as the ultimate off-road performance truck. That is great for those who are hardcore off-roaders, but realistically, most owners will spend most of their driving time on paved roads. In most cases, a truck built to dominate the off-road environment doesn’t shine quite as bright on paved roads. Many of them rely on suspension setups engineered to handle rough surfaces, leading to a stiff, rough ride in daily driving situations.
Fortunately, the Bilstein dampers on the Ram TRX do a masterful job of combining ride quality and road handling. The first two hours of our drive started along the twisty roads around Lake Tahoe and ended up at the Wild West Motorsports Park in Nevada. We drove on tight, residential roads and sweeping highways, both of which put the handling and ride quality to the test. On the highway, the 6,500-pound Ram took the broad turns with surprising ease. With the truck set to the Sport drive mode, the suspension setup cuts down on body roll, but it does so without stiffening the ride. On tighter roads with repeated switchbacks, the Ram transitions from turn to turn smoothly and the TRX feels much lighter on its toes than you would expect.
The ride quality is stunning, with almost none of the vibration from the road being transferred through to the cabin. It is also remarkably quiet, with the sweet tune of blower whine and the exhaust note being distinctly louder than common road noise. At the same time, the sound of the engine is not so loud that it drowns out the music or a discussion with your passengers.
When driven gently, the Ram 1500 TRX is just as smooth and as comfortable as any other modern half-ton, making it a fantastic daily driver. However, when you put the hammer down, this super truck comes to life. Throttle response is crisp and acceleration is violent, affording the TRX better performance numbers than officially claimed.
Ram stated that the TRX will sprint from a stop to 60 in 4.5 seconds while covering the quarter mile in 12.9 seconds. My first hard pull was on a slight downhill grade, not steep enough to register a degree on the off-road gauge, but the road wasn’t quite flat. In that situation, the TRX got to 60 in just 3.9 seconds while running the quarter mile in just 12.3 seconds. Those are incredible numbers, but I made a few more pulls on a a surface that was definitely flat. In those situations, I was still able to get to 60 in just 4.3 seconds while running a 12.7 quarter mile, and those numbers were turned on three separate occasions. Mind you, those numbers are run with the 35-inch off-road tires, which are heavy and less-than-ideal for drag racing, but the TRX is still quicker than the official numbers. It should be noted that several of the other journalists testing the TRX also saw quicker-than-advertised performance times.
I also found that the TRX pulls to the 118-mile per hour top speed in a hurry, with plenty of motor left beyond the electronic speed limiter.
In short, there is no on-road compromise with the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, making it a wonderful truck for the daily drive, with better performance than originally claimed.
World Class Interior
My 2021 Ram 1500 TRX test truck was fitted with the features of the TR2 equipment group. This includes all of the premium goodies offered, such as the heads-up display, the digital rearview mirror, leather and suede throughout the cabin, heated and cooled front seats and reclining rear seats. My truck was also equipped with the premium Harman Kardon speaker system and all TRX pickups come standard with the 12-inch UConnect infotainment system and the configurable driver information center.
The seats look great, but they are also comfortable and functional. The deep bolsters keep you in place during hard cornering and the padding kept me comfortable for the entirety of the two hour drive. In the morning, it was cold outside and the heated seats were welcomed and as the heat of the day arrived, I switched over to the cooled function. When coupled with the leather and suede trim throughout the cabin, including the reclining rear seats, the TRX looks more like a luxury vehicle than an off-road performance truck from the driver's seat.
The new Ram brand heads up display is crystal clear, offering information like vehicle speed, the speed limit, gear selection and navigation details. The digital rearview mirror is also a great addition, offering a clear, unobstructed view of everything going on out back.
The driver information center looks great and provides plenty of data while the 12-inch screen in the center stack offers easy control of every interior feature. The buttons on the screen are huge, allowing me to easily flip from navigation to the sound system to the performance pages while driving. Of course, the Harman Kardon speaker system sounds great, no matter what type of music you prefer.
The Ram 1500 TRX offers more interior features than any truck in the world, competing more closely with European luxury sedans in terms of technology and comfort.
Off-Road Excellence
When we arrived at Wild West Motorsports Park, we aired-down the 35-inch Goodyear tires and prepared for a few hours of playing in the dirt.
I began with the off-road race course, which included several big jumps, a mogul section, a few short straightaways and some gnarly turns. I expected that the Ram 1500 TRX would make short work of the rough track, but I was expecting the jumps to serve as a shock to the system. When I hit the first jump at 55 miles per hour, hurtling the 6,500-pound truck into the air, I braced for impact, but there really was no impact.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VjQVI5ZX-A
The Bilstein dampers in Baja mode absorb the force of the landing, preventing any sort of rebound bouncing, even when we were jumping into the rough mogul-type section. Even in a situation where I was jumping right before a sharp turn, there was no problem landing, settling the truck down and easily scooting through the turn. Of course, the Goodyear tires dug in and allowed me to use all 702 horsepower in the straights while the big brake setup repeatedly got the truck down to comfortable speeds as the Ram 1500 entered turns.
Next, I took on the rock crawl portion of the program. The TRX was set to Rock drive mode, four-low was selected and the rear axle was locked. A series of spotters guided me up the steep hill, lined with huge rocks that would stop most trucks in their tracks. However, the TRX easily inched its way up the rugged hill without breaking a sweat.
After that, we headed out onto the three-mile off-road trail. This test included steep climbs and descents, with some sections that were flat and smooth enough to allow big speed followed by sections of careful climbing. At no point did the TRX struggle, making short work of every aspect of the trail. At no point did it bottom out and even the largest rocks or deepest ruts posed no problem for the high-riding Ram 1500.
Finally, we headed over to an area of packed dirt and stone, which was set up for some hard acceleration testing. This is where the Ram 1500 TRX really shocked me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15wvWIva9eE
After sprinting from a stop to 60 in just 4.3 seconds on the road, I was able to back that number up in the dirt. You read that right - the TRX accelerates to 60 in 4.3 seconds on dirt. It also got to the eighth mile marker in just 8.1 seconds, which was just a touch slower than the on-road runs.
I have tested many trucks and SUVs in the off-road environment, but none have performed anywhere near as well as the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX. This time playing the dirt showed that the supercharged half-ton pickup is the greatest production off-road truck ever, performing stunts that would destroy most trucks while also offering more impressive acceleration figures than any truck on or off of the road.
Whether you are buying the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX for a daily driver or an off-road toy, it does everything well. It is quicker in dirt than most trucks are on pavement, but it still smooth and quiet on paved roads. It is nearly unstoppable in a grueling off-road setting but the interior rivals the most expensive premium luxury vehicles in the world.
The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is truly the ultimate half-ton truck, comfortably outperforming the competition in every way. It doesn't just beat the Raptor - it embarrasses the Ford performance truck in any sort of comparison.
If you want a truck that will do everything while compromising nothing, the TRX is the pickup for you.
