The 2025 Ram 1500 is the product of a generational redesign that puts a softer face on the legendary and capable truck. As with the Ford F-150, the changes to the Ram truck are not major with this new generation of modifications. Instead, the company focused on increasing technology and capabilities and putting a new engine in the truck.

Full-size truck competition is fierce, and rivals Ford, Chevrolet and GMC have done their due diligence and upped the ante since the Ram was last all-new. Here’s what I liked and didn’t like after a week behind the wheel.

KEEP: The new Hurricane engine

The truck’s 3.0-liter Hurricane engine delivers 420 horsepower and 469 pound-feet of torque, which is plenty for everyday driver duties. It’s quieter than the diesel or the previous V8 HEMI, but its power and relative economy at the pump over the HEMI make it a winner.

If you want something greener, a 3.6-liter Pentastar engine with mild-hybrid technology is available. It delivers an EPA-estimated 25 miles per gallon. Of course, once the transmission is loaded and if you’re towing, the efficiency drops drastically.

CHANGE: Infotainment screen location

The test car was equipped with Ram’s 14.4-inch infotainment screen, which is integrated vertically into the center of the dashboard.

I’m not tall, but I’m not short either. For my height, I sit at an appropriate distance from the steering wheel. I couldn’t read the truck’s infotainment screen when I was on the road; it was too far into the cabin. It wasn’t a problem with brightness or contrast, nor was it made worse by the sun’s rays.

If I really needed a backup camera at any point, the placement of the screen would fail me. Instead, I backed up the old fashioned way, mirrors and head turns.

CHANGE: Climate control and visibility

The problem with the climate control is the placement of the screen. While the temperature increase/decrease and fan speed controls are physical buttons next to the screen at the top, the actual vehicle temperature is displayed on the screen. You can’t see it while driving, at least from an average seat.

KEEP: Controls on the steering wheel

The Ram wins for having physical buttons throughout the vehicle, even if they are duplicated for on-screen controls. One stop further is the steering wheel, which uses ridges and contours to define the spaces between groups of buttons and even between buttons.

It cannot be overstated how a good steering wheel design affects the driving experience. A poorly designed steering wheel can be a nuisance and a safety hazard at any time of day. It beats Toyota, Mercedes and BMW any day in this regard.

AGNOSTIC: Front passenger screen

Ram’s 1500 can now be equipped with a screen for passenger entertainment. It’s not visible from the driver’s side, but it also doesn’t fit into the dashboard like the Mercedes-Benz Superscreen.

Ram lists the screen as a “dissociated touchscreen display” as part of its Group A equipment package, which is only available on some trucks. Priced at $4,415, this package gets the owner plenty of tech upgrades including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a hands-free driver assistance system, a head-up display, a surround-view camera system, and phone-as-a-key technology. .