The 2025 Ram 1500, a gas-powered pickup, has been crowned MotorTrend’s Truck of the Year, beating out electric rivals like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T. This unexpected win highlights the enduring appeal of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in the competitive truck market.
MotorTrend, celebrating its 75th anniversary, selected the Ram 1500 for its potent combination of a new engine, refined interior, and impressive performance capabilities. According to MotorTrend CEO Alex Wellen, the Ram 1500 “was a clean kill,” surpassing strong competitors from Ford, Chevrolet, and emerging electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers. Wellen highlighted the truck’s exceptional engineering, sleek design, affordability (around $40,000), powerful acceleration (0-60 mph in 5 seconds), and substantial towing capacity (over 10,000 pounds).
The Ram’s victory underscores the continued dominance of trucks in the US automotive market. Data from the Department of Transportation reveals that light truck sales and leases significantly outpaced passenger car sales in 2022. However, MotorTrend acknowledges the growing pressure from electric truck models, such as the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, and the Tesla Cybertruck, the current sales leader in the EV pickup segment. While the Ram 1500 triumphed this year, the increasing competition from electric vehicles suggests a shift in the automotive landscape.
MotorTrend’s comprehensive review details the strengths and weaknesses of each contender. Notably, all of MotorTrend’s 2025 vehicle award winners—Car, Truck, and SUV—are gas-powered. Wellen suggests this outcome reflects the current state of the American automotive market. While affirming the inevitable rise of EVs, he anticipates a longer transition period than initially predicted. He believes that hybrid and range-extending powertrain technologies, like those Ram plans to introduce next year, will play a crucial role in bridging the gap to mainstream EV adoption. Looking ahead, potential tariffs on imported vehicles and components could significantly impact the automotive industry. While most trucks are currently manufactured in the US, tariffs on foreign-sourced parts could increase consumer costs. Wellen emphasizes the global nature of the automotive supply chain and its current limitations in adapting to a solely domestic production model. He predicts that while tariffs might eventually benefit consumers and automakers in the long run, the short-term consequences will likely involve increased costs for both.
In conclusion, the Ram 1500’s unexpected victory as MotorTrend’s 2025 Truck of the Year signifies the ongoing relevance of ICE vehicles in a market increasingly influenced by electric alternatives. This win, while surprising, highlights the Ram 1500’s exceptional qualities and underscores the complex dynamics shaping the future of the automotive industry. The transition to electric vehicles is underway, but the reign of the internal combustion engine is far from over.
