How a 48,000-Mile 2025 Ram 1500 Rental Equipped with Hurricane I6 Engine Endured a Year of Hard Use

      TFL Truck via YouTube

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      The Ram 1500’s new twin-turbo, 3.0-liter inline-six engine is still fresh enough that experts haven’t reached a consensus on its reliability. Before any judgments could be made, Ram restarted production of the Hemi V8, which drew considerable attention. However, the Hurricane I6 isn't disappearing, and with a trend toward smaller truck engines in the U.S., it’s worth evaluating how well they’re performing.

      This nearly 50,000-mile 2025 Ram 1500 rental should provide some insight.

      TFL Truck located a 1500 Rebel for sale at Johnson Auto Plaza in Colorado, and I found it on the dealer’s website. It’s a certified pre-owned 2025 model with 48,105 miles on the odometer. The asking price is $49,988, which is $16,697 less than the original MSRP, per the Monroney sticker.

      TFL Truck via YouTube

      I don’t want to imply that 48,000 miles is excessive for a pickup truck; it's not. This vehicle still has roughly 12,000 miles remaining on the powertrain warranty (it was manufactured too early to be eligible for Ram's 10-year/100,000-mile coverage). However, that's a significant distance for just one year, and since it’s a rental, you can bet it’s been driven more vigorously than a neighbor’s pristine vehicle stored in a climate-controlled garage.

      Nonetheless, the 420-horsepower inline-six appears to be performing well. Andre from TFL praised its performance, which surpasses that of the 5.7-liter Hemi, even in the Hurricane's base output version. The onboard computer suggests it averages about 17 mpg, which is below the EPA's rating for 4×4 Ram 1500s with this engine. It’s equipped with robust Goodyear Wrangler tires, and the relatively low mileage may be attributed to the engine idling for a significant portion of its runtime—almost a quarter of its hours have been spent stationary.

      There are no visible leaks, and the belt seems to be in good condition. A visual inspection of the turbos isn't possible without removal, so that aspect remains uncertain. However, as evidenced by the Tundra V6 issues, engines with serious problems usually reveal them fairly quickly. Toyota had to replace engines within a year of launching its twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 in those trucks, and there haven’t been significant powertrain problems reported with the Ram (or Jeep Wagoneer models that utilize this engine).

      What may show more wear than the engine after 48,000 miles is the interior. This Ram features black and red upholstery along with a 12-inch vertical display. From what I observed, there appears to be minimal wear from drivers getting in and out or smudging the screen. I might have lower expectations if it were a personal vehicle, but given that this truck likely had many drivers who were indifferent to scratches or damage, it seems to indicate good durability.

      This isn't a thorough disassembly of the truck, so consider that when evaluating the findings. That said, I’m at least heartened by how well this 2025 Ram has performed under typical rough usage. We'll see how it holds up as it approaches 100,000 miles or more, but for now, the outlook appears promising.

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