A Comparison of the new Ram Hurricane Engines vs the HEMI®
For 2025, the Ram 1500 will no longer be powered by the popular, time-honored 5.7-liter HEMI® V8 engine. Ram is replacing that renowned stalwart with a pair of more lightweight turbocharged six-cylinder engines known by the name Hurricane. The result won't please everyone, with horsepower and torque rising while the maximum towing capability drops significantly.
Ram is working to keep the loyalty of its many longtime customers by pointing out that the new Hurricane engines are smoother and quieter. If you love that HEMI®, this will be your last opportunity to get it with the 2023 and 2024 Ram 1500 models while they're still on our lot. Here's how the new Ram Hurricane engines will differ from the HEMI® V8s that are still available at Jim Manning Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Dinuba, CA.
Drilling down on engine differences
The 2025 Ram 1500 can be equipped with one of two Hurricane twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engines instead of the iconic 5.7-liter HEMI® V8. The Pentastar V6 is still the entry-level power plant and Ram offers Fresno buyers a choice of two inline-six-cylinder engines. For reference, the six-cylinder Hurricane engines can already be found in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and it delivers 510 horsepower.
The twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six can generate 420 horsepower and 469 pound-feet of torque. You can also get a high-output variation that generates 540 horsepower and 521 pound-feet of torque. Ram points out that the additional 30 horsepower increase from the Grand Wagoneer is made possible by a small boost in engine speed.
A comparison of towing and payload
If you buy one of our remaining 2024 Ram 1500 pickups powered by the 5.7-liter HEMI® V8 you'll still be able to tow a maximum of 12,750 pounds. When the six-cylinder Hurricane engines arrive, the towing capacity will be lowered to 9,920 pounds or 11,550 pounds. The change in engine options will cause Ram lose a step to competitors like the Ford F-150 with 2024 models towing up to 13,500 pounds, 2023 models at 14,000 pounds and the Chevy Silverado 1500 at 13,300 pounds.
On a more positive note, the maximum payload will still be more than 2300 pounds, just like the 2024 HEMI® V8 models. For Visalia customers who value a quieter, smoother engine, the new Hurricane choices are something to consider once they arrive.
The new Hurricane engines deliver more horsepower than major rivals
The available 3.0-liter high-output Hurricane engine can give Hanford drivers up to 540 horsepower, which means the 2025 Ram 1500 has more available horsepower than full-size pickups like the Chevy Silverado 1500, the GMC Sierra 1500 and the Nissan Titan. That high-output 3.0-liter Hurricane engine can provide 521 pound-feet of torque, 9,920 pounds of towing capacity and 1520 pounds of payload. The standard 3.0-liter Hurricane engine can come through with 420 horsepower and 469 pound-feet of torque along with 11,550 pounds of towing capacity and 1980 pounds of payload.
A comparison of fuel efficiency: Hurricane engines vs. Ram HEMI® V8
A key benefit of the new Hurricane engines is that at least one version has better fuel economy than the HEMI® V8. The 2025 Ram 1500 with the standard-output Hurricane is rated at 18 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on Selma highways. That's at least a small increase over the HEMI® V8 that reaches the same city number but just 23 MPG on the highway. Unfortunately, the high-output Hurricane has lower fuel economy than the HEMI® with 15 MPG in the city and 21 on the highway compared with the HEMI® V8 at 18 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway.
Final call for the Ram 1500 HEMI V8
As of this writing, we still have new Ram 1500 pickups with the beloved HEMI® V8 engine and all the towing capability that goes with it. If you prefer a quieter engine, we can tell you about projected arrival dates for the new 2025 Hurricane Ram 1500s at Jim Manning Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Dinuba, CA.