Thanks to Joel Feder @ Motor Authority for the article.
Review: Dodge Ram Power Wagon and Rebel HD
The competition woke up and realized there’s room to play in the heavy-duty off-road sandbox. But Ram doesn't want to give an inch of a segment it has defined for years.
After the introduction of the Chevy Silverado HD ZR2 and a refresh of the Ford Super Tremor for 2023, the 2025 Ram 2500 Power Wagon and 2500 Rebel HD arrive with their own refresh. Both feature design and technology updates, while the Rebel gets major enhancements to its available turbodiesel engine option.
After spending time with the Power Wagon, it’s clear that it still stands alone in terms of off-road hardware in the segment, but the Rebel HD now feels significantly more competitive with its updated turbodiesel engine. However, the Rebel HD’s suspension remains punishing.
Unlike the Silverado HD ZR2 and Ford Super Duty Tremor, the 2025 Ram 2500 Power Wagon cannot be optioned with a turbodiesel engine. At least for now, that’s what the Rebel is for.
The 2500 Power Wagon continues to be available only with a tried, true, and at this point old 6.4-liter V-8 rated at 405 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque. It’s fine, but Ford’s 7.3-liter Godzilla V-8 is more modern, more powerful, and more refined.
The Rebel HD soldiers on with the gas V-8 as the standard engine, but it’s the optional $12,595 6.7-liter Cummins inline-6 turbodiesel that makes Power Wagon buyers take pause. It’s not the 430-hp rating, but the 1,075 lb-ft of torque that appeals to those who buy their trucks to do work. That’s more than Chevy’s 975 lb-ft but less than Ford’s 1,200 lb-ft. The Cummins turbodiesel has been heavily revised for 2025 with a new turbocharger and intake manifold, glow plugs replacing the old grid heater, a top-loading cartridge-style oil filter, and two top-mounted fuel filters. Ram also ditched the old 6-speed automatic transmission paired with the turbodiesel and replaced it with an 8-speed automatic.
The result of these changes is noticeably quicker acceleration—Ram said 0-60 mph now takes 6.9 seconds versus the outgoing turbodiesel truck’s 8.0-second sprint—quicker cold-starts, and easier maintenance. Just like when paired with the gas V-8, the 8-speed automatic fires off quick, smooth shifts and never gets lost in the shuffle. It’s also slightly less busy than Ford’s 10-speed while towing.
It might at some point. Ram Heavy Duty Chief Engineer Doug Killian told Motor Authority the team has heard loud and clear that Power Wagon buyers and owners would like a turbodiesel engine option.
Killian confirmed the substantial updates to the Cummins turbodiesel engine in no way resolved the issues that have, according to Ram, prevented the automaker from shoving the diesel engine into the Power Wagon. Those issues mainly involve the oil pan for the engine not fitting properly with the Power Wagon’s front suspension. The electronic disconnecting front sway bar gets in the way.
But the competition offers turbodiesel engines in their off-road trucks. Killian and his team are aware of the new competition and growing chorus of Power Wagon buyers asking for the engine upgrade. The executive noted there’s no engineering challenge the team couldn’t handle, it just costs money. He stopped short of confirming changes were in development for a turbodiesel in the Power Wagon. So you’re sayin’ there’s a chance.
More Story & Pictures Here
