RAM 1500 Limited Hurricane HO 2025 Review

Big dual-cab utes are big business Down Under. It’s why there’s a growing market for full-size, converted US trucks. The 2025 RAM 1500 Limited Hurricane HO (High Output) is officially shipped to our shores by RAM Trucks Australia before being converted to right-hand drive by the specialists at Walkinshaw Group.

There are two model grades at launch, both being the short wheelbase (SWB) version. Prices start $141,950 plus on-road costs (ORCs) for the 1500 Laramie Sport Hurricane SO (Standard Output) and top out at $159,950 plus ORCs for the Limited Hurricane HO on test here. If a V8 is a must right now, you can still pick up MY23/24 stock of the 1500.

Otherwise, the Chevrolet Silverado could be your ticket. However, Ford also offers a boosted V6 alternative with the F-150 and the Toyota Tundra chimes in with hybrid assistance.

In terms of warranty, the RAM is covered by a three-year/100,000km plan, which is a bit light on in 2025. Roadside assistance is complimentary for the same period, while garage visits are every 12 months or 12,000km – but there’s no capped-price servicing.

Just about anything and everything you could want is found in the 2025 RAM 1500 Limited Hurricane HO.

Being a mid-life refresh for the DT series, a few minor exterior tweaks have been made to keep it current as well as the Night Edition features coming as standard.

The Limited is fitted with premium LED projector headlights with daytime running lights, LED taillights, 22-inch alloy wheels, power up/down tailgate, tri-folding tonneau cover, powered side steps and RamBox cargo management system.

Inside the RAM is cloaked in premium leather and wood. The front seats are eight-way power adjustable with four-way lumbar adjust and massage functionality (memory for driver). There’s also seat heating and ventilation front to rear, manual rear-bench recline, dual-zone climate control and a dual-pane sunroof.

Despite being a truck, the 2025 RAM 1500 Limited Hurricane HO gains a host of safety kit.

In terms of active systems, the Limited is fitted with autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, active lane management, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and trailer detection, drowsy driver detection, traffic-sign recognition, parking sensors and a 360-degree surround-view camera.

The RAM 1500 doesn’t have an official ANCAP safety rating, but it has six airbags as well as three ISOFIX points and top-tether anchorages.

In a first for a ute, the 2025 RAM 1500 Limited Hurricane HO comes with a 10.25-inch front passenger interactive screen. It adds to a dash that’s already bursting with digital acreage.

The central infotainment touchscreen is 14.4 inches and houses the Uconnect 5 operating system. It runs native satnav but also affords wireless smartphone mirroring with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Ahead of the driver is a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster, yet there’s no head-up display.

Other kit includes dual wireless chargers (or ‘RAMCHARGERS’), abundant USB-A and USB-C ports, a HDMI port, Bluetooth, DAB+ digital radio, voice recognition, digital rear-view mirror and an impressive 19-speaker Harmon Kardon premium audio system.

This is the contentious part. It seems the adage of ‘there’s no replacement for displacement’ rings true with punters looking to upsize their life. Not only that, the soundtrack of the 2025 RAM 1500 Limited Hurricane HO is vastly different to what’s come before it.

Yet, going by raw figures, the Hurricane ushers in a new level of performance with a stonking 403kW and 707Nm – that blows the 291kW/556Nm V8 into the weeds. Well, if you discount the bonkers supercharged TRX, of course.

Still, the 3.0-litre twin-turbo six invigorates the 2722kg RAM with alarming pace – we even recorded a 0-100km/h time of 5.01 seconds . The Limited gains its extra turn of speed over the Laramie via twin fuel pumps and lowered compression, which allows for 26psi of boost.

That’s a wild turn of pace for a truck that doesn’t really have any right to be so rapid. Channelling the grunt is the TorqueFlite eight-speed torque-converter automatic that’s tied to a permanent four-wheel-drive system.

It’s hard to argue against the V8 for aural pleasure, but the Hurricane inline-six has its own unique charm, too.

If buyers were happy to lump the fuel efficiency of the eTorque petrol V8, they’re hardly going to care about the combined average fuel consumption of the 2025 RAM 1500 Limited Hurricane HO.

However, RAM claims the new twin-turbo six in High Output guise returns 11.79L/100km. Our test average came in at 14.9L/100km, although we did see it dip below 12.0L/100km on a highway stint.

The HO also requires premium unleaded, which makes the 125-litre tank an expensive fill.

This isn’t going to come as a shock, but the 2025 RAM 1500 Limited Hurricane HO is big. It makes a Ford Ranger Raptor look cute.

Therefore, it takes a little time to adjust to its dimensions within city limits. It barely fits in car parks. Although, with time you do tend to get used to where to place the 1500 and it has a host of cameras and sensors to assist.

With the Active-Level Four Corner air suspension, you’d think the ride quality would be ultra cushy. It even comes with three modes (Normal, Aero and Off-road). Yet, with thin 285/45 R22 tyres all round, the RAM can struggle to iron out the harshest of surfaces with some vibration reverberating through the ladder-frame chassis.

However, the RAM’s on-road dynamics are far better than you expect.

Yes, it’s like captaining the QE2 through corners, but it offers more dynamic talent than it has any right to and doesn’t buck or bobble about too much. Plus, on smooth dual carriageways, the 1500 Limited does display a long-legged nature.

The comfy seats, slower steering rack and impressively refined cabin make it a relaxed place to be.

The 2025 RAM 1500 Limited Hurricane HO has all the right gear to get you in and out of trouble. Although, the physical dimensions could again limit its use – as well as the 22-inch wheels with road-focused Pirelli Scorpion tyres.

Yet, in our time with the big rig, we didn’t do too much more than traverse some maintained dirt roads with a little bit of mild off-roading on the side. While the air suspension and grippy, low-profile tyres add a touch of dynamic prowess on-road, they’re to the 1500 Limited’s detriment off it.

The ride quality can be fussy over tight-nit corrugations and unkept surfaces.

Which is a shame given RAM fits it with a comprehensive package, including four-wheel drive, a two-speed transfer case and an electronically locking rear differential. It can be driven in rear-wheel drive, while 4WD High, 4WD Low and 4WD Auto can be selected.

The RAM 1500 Limited has 217.5mm of ground clearance, while the approach and departure angles are 20.4 degrees in the normal ride height. The breakover angle is 18.6 degrees.

According to the brand, the 2025 RAM 1500 Limited Hurricane HO is more of a luxury vehicle than the heavy-duty option. With air suspension and sportier tyres, it has a few capacity deficiencies compared to the Laramie Sport SO.

Therefore, the braked towing capacity (with 70mm ball) is cut by 300kg to 4200kg and the payload drops from 863kg to 782kg. The overall maximum Gross Combination Mass (GCM) is 7285kg and the RAM 1500 is fitted with trailer brake and sway control.

The venerable RamBox cargo management system affords 210 litres of cargo capacity each side and feature drain holes. The tub itself is coated with a spray-on liner and has a cargo divider as well as a manually operated cover that folds towards the cabin. The tailgate is also electronically operated and there’s a handy fold-down step.

The 2025 RAM 1500 Limited Hurricane HO feels more like a pimped-out SUV ready to roll into a rapper’s music video than a traditional ‘truck’.

Although, it does it with a little more class and there are no stark reminders of the left-to-right conversion. The interior quality is high and there are plenty of premium materials to justify the price.

Storage isn’t an issue with myriad solutions for cups, bottles and keys. The central glovebox is massive and there are various physical controls surrounding the portrait-style infotainment screen. Ergonomics are logical, although the gear-selector knob isn’t.

The passenger display’s use is questionable, but it does allow media streaming on the move that’s also blanked from the driver. You can also search for destinations and import them to the main screen.

The RAM 1500 isn’t short on interior space – nor should it be at almost six metres in length and two metres in width. Rear legroom is vast and headroom is generous, even with the panoramic sunroof. The back seats are 60/40-split folding, but they also can flip vertically to reveal a flat load area and hidden storage areas in the floor.

Amenities are well catered for, too, with various air vents, USB connections, seat controls, map pockets and a fold-down central arm rest.

The application for this type of gentrified American truck is somewhat, ahem, limited.

Everything that’s for show, like the big wheels and the powerhouse engine, do little to make the 2025 RAM 1500 Limited HO the workhorse option. In that regard, you’re better off opting for the Laramie.

However, for those who want the powerhouse experience, the Limited HO makes a strong case. And while it’s easy to lament the loss of the HEMI soundtrack, the boosted in-line six elevates the 1500 to another performance dimension.

It remains to be seen if the switch back to a HEMI V8 filters Down Under, but the Hurricane deserves to weather the eye of the storm.

2025 RAM 1500 Limited Hurricane HO at a glance:
Price: $159,950 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 3.0-litre inline-six twin-turbo petrol
Output: 403kW/707Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel Consumption: 11.8L/100km (ADR combined)
CO2: 338g/km (ADR combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2023)

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