It’s time. You’ve daydreamed about getting a Ram 1500 for months. You’ve surfed the manufacturer’s website, read a ton of reviews, and have stopped to admire every Ram 1500 you see on the street. It’s the perfect truck for you. Now, it’s time to visit a reputable Ram dealer for a test drive. Congratulations! Have you considered what trim you’ll be looking for? While you can learn a lot about the trim by seeing it in person, it does help to have an idea of what’s out there. There are ten excellent options to choose from in the 2025 lineup. One of the most recommended trims is the Big Horn, but is this particular trim a good value for the money? The only way to find out is to dig into some numbers.
Going Up the Trim Ladder
I like to think of a vehicle and its trims as a ladder. The Ram 1500 makes up the sides, and the rungs are the different trims available. The lowest rung is the base model, the trim with the fewest bells and whistles, and the lowest starting price. Each rung builds on the one below it, adding new features or improving on the ones offered in the previous trim. At the top is the trim with some of the highest performance and luxury features and, as a result, the highest price tag.
The ladder for the Ram 1500 starts at the Tradesman trim, with an MSRP of $40,275, and goes up to the tenth rung, the Tungsten, with an MSRP of $87,320.[a] The Big Horn would be on the third rung of our ladder, with a starting price of $45,230.[a] For a more nuanced comparison, we’re going to examine the Big Horn and how it stacks up against the Tradesman and Tradesman HFE, the latter of which has an MSRP of $41,060.[a]
A Closer Look at Fuel Economy
We’ve all felt the pain at the pump in recent years. No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, we all want to get every penny out of every gallon of gas we put into the tank. Trucks have a lower fuel economy than, say, a compact sedan, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make your fuel economy work for your wallet.
Across the three less expensive trims, we see a steady EPA-estimated 20 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway, though the Tradesman HFE does bump the highway mileage up by one to 26 MPG. In October 2024, the national average price for a gallon of gas was $3.26. The Ram 1500’s gas tank holds 23 gallons; at this price, we’ve spent $74.98 to fill it up. That comes out to a range of 460 miles in the city and 575 miles on the highway. What does it mean? If you’re looking for the best fuel economy option, the Big Horn is one of the best trims.
The Big Horn Offers Both Power and Performance
The 2025 Ram 1500 lineup has three available engine options, depending on which trim you choose. We’re going to focus on two of these: first is the standard 3.6L Pentastar V6 with eTorque. Its 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque give the trim 8,110 lbs of towing capacity and 2,370 lbs of max payload. The available 3.0L Hurricane will bump up the towing and max payload to 11,550 lbs and 1,980 lbs, respectively. This engine upgrade comes at a price but will be a worthy investment if strength and performance are at the top of your list. The same can be done with the Tradesman trim, but base trims generally have fewer features than trims higher up the ladder. Either way, the Big Horn can be an excellent fit for someone who wants capability for an affordable price.
A Variety of Infotainment Options at Your Disposal
I have a confession to make: when I’m out driving alone, it’s car karaoke time. I couldn’t imagine not having a good sound system in my ride. While you might not be as devoted to giving automotive concerts as I am, I think we can both agree that the amount of infotainment options in newer vehicles is an amazing thing.
All three trims we’ve been discussing come with the Uconnect 5 8.4-inch touchscreen display. Only the Big Horn can upgrade to a 12-inch screen with Uconnect Nav, which offers GPS from TomTom. You can also get the larger screen size without the Uconnect Nav. The standard six speakers on the sound system can be upgraded to nine speakers that come with a subwoofer if you’re behind the wheel of the Big Horn. That will make the HD radio, another feature option, sound amazing!
Most of the technology features are either bare bones or not present on the Tradesman and Tradesman HFE. The Big Horn does have some of the same base features, but most of these can be upgraded. If you’re a music lover or just like to be connected, then the Big Horn will give you the ability to do that.
Seating Configurations
Whether you do most of your driving during the daily grind or like hitting the road every other weekend and playing outside, you want that ride to be comfortable, regardless of where your travels take you. The Big Horn trim can upgrade your driver seat to either a 2-way or 8-way power adjustable seat, with the 2-way configuration coming with lumbar support. There’s an available option for upgrading the front seats to have heating, something you and your passenger’s seat will appreciate in the chilly winter months.
All three of these features are not offered in the Tradesman or Tradesman HFE trims. However, the Tradesman HFE does come standard with bucket seats, an option not available in the Big Horn trim. Overall, this isn’t a feature that makes or breaks the Big Horn’s candidacy for the best value unless you’re really into bucket seats. If you are, no judgment here; they are very comfortable. And they are standard on the Tradesman HFE trim.
Will Your Next Ram 1500 Be a Big Horn?
We’ve discussed several ways that the Ram 1500 Big Horn trim is an excellent value for the money. It has solid specs at the standard level; many of these can be upgraded for an additional fee. If you have a strict budget, it still offers more features than either the Tradesman or Tradesman HFE trims.
At the end of the day, though, the most important thing is what you prioritize in a truck. Where I might be more interested in a great sound system and a solid fuel economy, you might be all about the trailering capacity and a comfortable cabin. That’s the beauty of the Ram 1500, having ten trims; there’s something for everyone. My recommendation is to sit down and evaluate your needs. The Big Horn has a lot of great features and could be an ideal fit for you.
No matter what you choose, you get the same quality and craftsmanship that makes Ram an icon. After all, there’s a reason you’re hearing the call of the Ram. The best choices are the ones you can make, knowing that none of them are wrong; there are only ones that are more right for you.
