5 Questions About the 2026 Ram 1500 RHO Answered

The 2026 Ram 1500 RHO is the most powerful and most off-road capable version of the Ram 1500 pickup, which replaced the TRX upon its introduction in 2025. While similar in appearance to its predecessor, it features an entirely different powertrain that changes its personality somewhat. Since the TRX is coming back in 2027, we don’t know yet if 2026 will be the last model year of the RHO, so those interested in this off-road performance truck shouldn’t wait too long.

Key Facts About the 2026 Ram 1500 RHO

The 2026 Ram 1500 RHO sits at the top of the Ram 1500 lineup, acting as both the sportiest and most off-road capable of Stellantis’ pickup trucks. To accomplish this role, it receives a unique suspension setup with active Bilstein shock absorbers, all-terrain 35-inch tires, a locking rear differential, and underbody protection plates, among many others.

Under the hood, the RHO shares the same high-output 3.0L Hurricane inline-six-cylinder engine as other Ram 1500 models, such as the Tungsten, which means it benefits from 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via the same 8-speed automatic transmission as other Ram models, but the transfer case is a BorgWarner full-time active unit that doesn’t offer a 2WD mode.

Given that it is also one of the most luxurious Ram models on the market, the RHO has a long list of standard features inside, including a leather and suede upholstery, massaging front seats, Hands-free Driving Assist, Trailer Reverse Steer Control, and a screen for the front passenger, for example.

1- How does the 2026 Ram 1500 RHO compare to the TRX?

The first question that comes to mind when thinking about the Ram 1500 RHO is how it compares to the TRX, especially now that we know this model will return in 2027.

The main difference between the RHO and the TRX is found under the hood, as the RHO makes use of the new twin-turbo inline-six-cylinder Hurricane engine that was introduced in the Ram 1500 for the 2025 model year. This gives it an output of 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque, which is more than enough for most drivers, but significantly less than the TRX.

Indeed, the Ram 1500 TRX benefits from a 6.2L supercharged V8 engine that pumps out 777 horsepower and 680 lb-ft of torque.

In both cases, power is channelled to the ground via an 8-speed automatic transmission and a BorgWarner 48-13 full-time active transfer case that can vary the torque split from front to rear depending on the drive mode.

Both trucks feature the same suspension setup and most of the same technology features since the 2027 TRX will be updated with most of the features that were introduced by the RHO, which arrived at the same time as the Ram 1500’s mid-cycle refresh.

Thanks to its more powerful engine, the TRX can complete the 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) sprint in 3.5 seconds while the RHO takes a still very respectable 4.6 seconds.

The main difference in day-to-day driving is the engine note, which is more discreet and refined in the RHO and more brash and aggressive in the TRX.

2- How does the driving experience of the RHO differ from other Ram trucks?

Like the TRX, the 2026 Ram 1500 RHO is a different beast from its more conventional Ram 1500 siblings. When you take place behind the wheel, the first thing you notice before even having driven off is just how high you sit.

Indeed, the RHO has an additional 3.7 inches (94 mm) of ground clearance over other 4×4 models, for a total of 11.8 inches (300 mm). When parked next to another Ram 1500 trim level, this difference is striking, and the RHO appears comically large compared to the already quite imposing Crew Cab models.

On the road, the RHO behaves quite differently depending on which driving mode is selected. In comfort mode, the Bilstein active dampers are so soft and bouncy that some of my passengers were getting seasick.

In sport mode, body movements are much better controlled, and road imperfections are still dealt with effectively, making it my favourite setting overall. An advantage of the RHO’s robust suspension system is that pretty much nothing you might encounter in normal driving will overwhelm it.

For example, the truck could easily take a section of road where six railroad tracks cross the pavement in rapid succession without even slowing down, while other vehicles bounce you all around the cabin if you’re not careful.

Unsurprisingly, handling is less precise than in other Ram pickups, and rough sections of road can make it feel like you are on a ship battling a particularly bad storm, sometimes.

However, the RHO more than makes up for this with its impressive off-roading abilities, which allow it to continue far beyond where other trim levels will have to abandon.

3- What does “RHO” mean?

I’m afraid there is no definitive answer to this question, as Ram brand CEO Tim Kuniskis said that we should interpret the RHO nameplate as we wish. Most possible interpretations of the three-letter name rely on it being an acronym. For example, RHO could mean “Ram High-Output”, “Really High-Output”, or even “Rebel High-Output”. All of these make sense since, at the time of its launch, the RHO was equipped with the automaker’s most powerful engine, and the Rebel is the next trim level down in terms of off-road capable Ram trucks. While it might seem less likely, “Really High-Output” is in line with some humorously named trim levels from Dodge’s past, such as GLH (Goes Like Hell) and GLHS (Goes Like Hell S’More). We know however that RHO doesn’t mean Rhino, despite the automaker playing up the comparison by depicting the animal in its promotional material, and the TRX routinely being compared to the T-Rex dinosaur.

4- What luxury features does the 2026 Ram 1500 RHO have?

As mentioned previously, the 2026 Ram 1500 RHO is not just the sportiest and most capable truck in Ram’s lineup; it is also one of the most luxurious. Indeed, this high-performance off-roader doesn’t have much to envy the almost limousine-like Tungsten, apart from its smoother suspension. This means you can expect to find items such as a 14.5-inch vertical touch screen with Uconnect 5 infotainment, leather and suede upholstery, a power passenger seat, a 10-speaker Alpine audio system, and a complete list of driver assistance. By adding the “RHO Level 1” equipment group, you can benefit from a front passenger screen, hands-free driving assist, heated and ventilated rear seats, ventilated and massaging front seats, a 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, carbon fibre interior accents, two wireless charging pads, and a leather-wrapped dashboard, among many other niceties.

5- How much does the 2026 Ram 1500 RHO cost?

The 2026 Ram 1500 RHO starts at $123,568 in Canada, including destination. This makes it the most expensive Ram pickup currently on the market, and places it above the luxury Tungsten trim, which starts at $112,288.

At the moment, Ram is running a rebate on most of its models, including the RHO, dropping the price $11,500 down to $112,068.

Options include three paint colours, charged $495 or $595, my tester’s 18-inch beadlock-capable aluminum wheels ($1,895), the $695 Bed Utility group (an external power outlet, a deployable bed step, and 4 adjustable cargo hooks), the $1,095 Towing Technology group (trailer hitch line-up assist and trailer reverse guidance), the $1,295 Trailer Tow group (trailer light check, trailer reverse steering control, and trailer tire pressure monitoring), as well as the aforementioned RHO Level 1 Equipment group, which adds $7,295 to the invoice.

Other individual options, such as a panoramic sunroof and side steps, can also be added.

My almost fully-loaded test truck carried a sticker price of about $130,500.

Conclusion

As we said earlier, the future of the Ram 1500 RHO is uncertain now that the return of the TRX has been confirmed for 2027. The press release accompanying the new TRX makes mention of the RHO, so there is some hope, but Stellantis could decide it’s not worth it to produce two essentially identical trucks that differ only by their engines, in which case the TRX would win.

Indeed, when you’re ready to spend $120,000 or more on an extreme high-performance off-road truck, you don’t usually care much about the added refinement and efficiency advantage of the RHO, you want the character and soundtrack that only the TRX’s supercharged V8 can provide.

Nevertheless, the 2026 RAM 1500 RHO remains a seriously impressive machine and a very fun road-going toy to play with.