2022 Ram 1500 TRX: Essentially the regular Ram 1500 on steroids, the juiced-up TRX is dramatically wider and has a supercharged V-8 that generates 702 horsepower. Sure, there are mightier Hellcat-powered models, but no other stock pickup sounds like it ate a band of demons while sailing to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds.
The 450-hp Ford F-150 Raptor is the TRX’s only real challenger, but it’s not a fair fight until the 700-plus-hp Raptor R arrives. Even then it’ll have to contend with the Ram’s ridiculously luxurious interior and remarkable on-road manners.
Living with the 2022 Ram 1500 TRX isn’t all Monster Jam-worthy antics, though, because maneuvering in traffic or parking lots can cause anxiety and frequent fuel fill-ups will become a routine. Then again, no one ever said owning a monster is easy.
ENGINE AND IMPLEMENTATION
Hiding between the 2022 Ram 1500 TRX‘s bulging fenders and below its scooped hood is a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V-8. More popularly known as the Hellcat engine, this specific version produces 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, which is sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
During our testing, the TRX shot to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and completed the quarter-mile in 12.3 seconds at 110 mph. That makes it the quickest pickup we’ve ever tested. Despite its hefty curb weight and huge footprint, the Hellcat-powered Ram is surprisingly refined and easy to handle on paved roads.
Still, its supercharged V-8 is ready to emit exciting sounds from its exhaust pipes. Of course, the TRX is meant to play in the mud, rocks, and sand, too.
Along with a reinforced steel frame, it boasts a beefed-up suspension that’s built to bend and bound with more than 13 inches of travel. It rolls on a set of massive 35-inch all-terrain tires mounted on 18-inch wheels that contribute to the truck’s 11.8 inches of ground clearance.
2022 Ram 1500 TRX says the half-ton Hellcat can also ford up to 32 inches of water. Every TRX comes with enough underbody plating to protect a Brink’s truck, Bilstein remote-reservoir dampers, an electronic-locking rear differential, and gigantic 15.0-inch front brakes. What’s more?
ENERGY AND REAL-WORLD MPG
The TRX is estimated to earn a lowly 10 mpg in the city and a not-much-better 14 mpg on the highway. Those figures are significantly lower than the Raptor, which has ratings of 15 mpg city and up to 18 highway.
We tested the TRX on our 75-mph fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, and observed a paltry 13 mpg highway. For more information about the TRX’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
INTERIOR, CONVENIENCE, AND BOOTH
2022 Ram 1500 TRX has redefined expectations for truck interiors with its latest half-ton pickups, which deliver rich-looking materials and impeccable insulation from outside noise. That level of luxury and refinement looks to continue on the TRX, which is offered solely as a crew cab with a short cargo bed.
Inside, the base model’s cloth upholstery and standard equipment are based on the Ram 1500 Rebel. However, the optional TR1 and TR2 packages make the cabin look and feel significantly snazzier thanks to leather-covered surfaces and a mix of microsuede and carbon-fiber accents.
The 2022 Ram 1500 TRX‘s flat-bottom steering wheel features a pair of prominent paddle shifters, but there’s also a floor shifter located on the center console. The TRX’s top options include a digital rearview mirror, a head-up display, and heated and ventilated front seats.
IN-VEHICLE INFOTAINMENT AND INTERCONNECTIONS
Vertically mounted in the middle of the dashboard on every TRX is a 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The unit boasts Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, built-in navigation, and SiriusXM satellite radio.
The display can be divided into separate menus so that multiple applications can be open at once, and it also features physical knobs and buttons on the screen’s surrounding bezel for more intuitive controls. The truck can also be outfitted with a mighty 900-watt, 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
PROTECTION AND DRIVER-ASSISTANCE ASPECTS
Ram does stock its mightiest pickup with a plethora of available driver-assistance technology, including a function that helps make hooking up a trailer easier.
For more information about the 2022 Ram 1500 TRX’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.
PHOTOS
