And here we are again!
For the third year in a row, a RAM truck has won the award for MotorTrend Truck of the Year, letting the world know—as well as its competition—that they know a thing or 2 when it comes to game-changing performance from a truck. That’s exactly what you’re getting with their 2021 Dodge RAM 1500 TRX.
Here are a few of the many highlights of MotorTrend’s 2021 Truck of the Year.
The build
The frame of this truck is thick and sturdy. Built with high-strength steel, this frame was made to withstand the blows of off-road jumps.
As far as the exterior styling goes, not much changed, making this a category that fell short of “wowing” the way that other features did.
The interior styling, on the other hand, did not disappoint. Described as luxurious, yet sporty, the interior features include:
- Three color schemes to choose from
- Steering wheel wrapped in Alcantara
- Rear reclining bench seats
- Audio system equipped with 19 speakers
- Tablet-style Uconnect infotainment system
Under the hood
Now that we’ve seen that this truck is built for optimal performance, let’s see where its power comes from.
As we peek under the hood, the first thing we notice is the Hellcat engine. Dubbed this name only in Dodge vehicles, the engine boasts 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. But this 6.2-liter V-8 engine happens to be at the bottom of the list when it comes to Hellcat engine power.
To help the engine work efficiently and continue delivering all the power it has, dual air intakes were added to the TRX. With 1 sitting in the hood scoop and the other sitting behind the grille, they work to make sure that no dirt, sand, water or dust makes its way to the engine to gunk it up or slow it down.
The ride
Talk about a smooth ride!
The TRX comes equipped with Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive dampers, helping to absorb any and all bumps that your wheels may come across. This feature is great considering that the truck can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.1 seconds, meaning you’re bound to encounter some surprise bumps along the way.
Yes, you read that right: 0 to 60 in just 4.1 seconds, which is faster than sportier cars like the Mercedes-AMG GT 53 or Ford Mustang Bullitt.
Vroom, vroom.
The haul
In its bed, the TRX can haul up to 1,310 pounds. When it comes to towing from its rear hitch, it can handle up to 8,100 pounds. Compared to the Ford F-150 Raptor—a close competitor—the TRX can tow and haul 100 pounds more. That’s not much of a difference, but it’s just another bragging point.
When it comes to hitching a trailer to the TRX, this aspect is different. Other RAM trucks, like the RAM HD, are able to squat on air springs and situate themselves under the hitch. It may be worth it to invest in a height-adjustable drop hitch to make the process easier for a TRX.
Safety
The TRX received a 5-star safety rating overall, as well as the highest rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. So, there’s no question whether this is a safe vehicle. RAM makes several safety features available for the TRX, such as lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and blind-spot monitors.
Need more proof that the TRX is a safe vehicle?
The RAM is the first pickup truck to earn a Top Safety Pick rating, achieving the highest rating in the 6 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crashworthiness tests.
So, what do you think?
Does the 2021 RAM 1500 TRX sound too good to be true?
It’s definitely worth checking out! The TRX checks all the major boxes in a dream truck, but so do other RAM trucks.
