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Cars.com is out with its annual Top Pick Awards and the 2025 Ram 1500 is driving off with an important honor. The 2025 Ram 1500 was chosen as the Top Pick, Family Pickup Truck. The Top Pick Pickup Trucks awards choose the best trucks in seven categories. The 2025 Ram 1500 gives families the choice of several different powertrain options and trim levels so buyers can decide which version best suits their needs.
"High-end versions of the Ram 1500 were already the most luxurious full-size pickup trucks you could buy, and Ram has upped the ante again with the new 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten, which includes a mix of rich materials and trim detailing rarely seen in this class," said Hanley. "The redesigned Ram 1500 is also our Top Pick for families thanks to its spacious crew cab, clever storage areas and available air suspension that can lower the truck to make entry and exit easier for kids."
This is the second year in a row that Cars.com named the Ram 1500 as the Top Pick for Families.
2025 Ram 1500
As I reported in July, Car and Driver also chose the 2025 Ram 1500 as its top truck.
In its review, Car and Driver points out that the 2025 Ram 1500 doesn’t tow as much as its Detroit Three rivals but the Ram gives the biggest bang for the buck. Starting at $42,270, the Ram can be loaded with luxury at a lower price tag than most. The most luxurious trim is called the Tungsten, and it starts at $89,070.
In its overview, Car and Driver said:
“Combining capability and comfort is the Ram 1500’s specialty, and this full-size pickup truck is getting a host of upgrades for 2025 to keep it dominant in its segment. It packs a choice of six-cylinder engines: a base V-6 or a twin-turbo inline-six. The latter replaces the old Hemi V-8 but makes up to 540 horsepower. A Rebel model provides more off-road prowess, but the half-ton Ram is best when configured for luxury. High-end trims such as the Limited and new Tungsten do their best impression of class-above vehicles while still delivering workhorse skills. The Ram can’t tow as much as rivals such as the Ford F-150 and the Chevy Silverado, but its maximum capacity is still high enough that most buyers won’t complain.”
Cars.com Also Names 2025 Jeep Gladiator as the Top Pick for Off-Road Mid-Size Pickup Truck
The Jeep Gladiator has been winning awards since it was introduced as a 2020 model. While the front end looks much like the popular Jeep Wrangler SUV, the pickup bed gives the Gladiator the opportunity to be a great off-roader with a more open-air feel.
Said Mike Hanley, Cars.com senior road test editor: "The Jeep Gladiator brings the impressive off-road capability of the brand's Wrangler SUV to the midsize pickup class. With a Mojave version that's designed to go fast on desert trails and a Rubicon model made for rock crawling, you can get far off the beaten path in a Gladiator, and with the pickup's removable roof and doors you can get closer than ever to the outdoors. It's these attributes and more that make this Jeep our Top Pick among off-road midsize trucks."
New for 2025 Jeep Gladiator
New for 2025, the Jeep Gladiator will offer the popular 4xe hybrid option. Jeep isn’t saying when the Gladiator will debut the 4xe but it will be in the 2025 model year. The 2025 Gladiator is also offering an option called Active Cabin Ventilation. It allows the driver to use the Jeep Connect mobile app and let the hot air out of the cabin in the summer, before the driver gets in the vehicle.
The Gladiator also has a standard eight-speed automatic transmission. Plus, they are offering two new exterior paint colors for 2025. Fathom Blue and military olive drab-inspired '41 exterior paint color are both new for the Gladiator.
In 2025, the Gladiator is available in Sport, Sport S, Willys, Trail Rated Rubicon and the brand’s only Desert Rated model, Mojave. The Jeep Gladiator features a standard 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, rated at 285 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. The 2025 Jeep Gladiator delivers unmatched capability with unsurpassed 4x4 max towing of up to 7,700 pounds and best-in-class payload of up to 1,725 pounds.
Earlier this year, Jeep Wrangler was also named Best SUV of 2024 by the website’s editorial team.
Ram and Jeep Photos
Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.
Follow Mary Conway at @MaryConwayMedia and send her car news tips for future stories.
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