Ram is on a Roll: Popular Former CEO is Back and the 2025 Ram 1500 is Named to a Prestigious List

There is no question that Stellantis has had a tough year. Sales have been down, dealers are furious over escalating prices, key executives have quit, and the board finally ousted the Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. Now, two key events signal that the Ram division is traveling in a positive direction. Car and Driver recently named the 2025 Ram 1500 to its 10Best list. Today, Automotive News broke the news that popular former Dodge and Ram executive Tim Kuniskis is returning to the company as the CEO of Ram. Kuniskis is known for loving huge horsepower and being very popular with muscle car and truck fans. Kuniskis retired abruptly earlier this year after supposedly tangling with Tavares.

2025 Ram 1500 Named to 10Best List

“One part giant, one part isolation chamber, two parts workhorse, it’s modern American luxury,” said Tony Quiroga, editor-in-chief, Car and Driver.

The Ram 1500 has been singled out for being a great truck for the sixth time in seven years. The award applies to the entire Ram 1500 lineup.

Car and Driver says, “Six years on, the Ram remains the class of the field. The 2025 version sees the most significant changes since 2019, but Ram didn't fumble the ball. The big news is under the hood, where the long-serving Hemi V-8 has roared its last. In its stead is a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, available in two different strengths. In our testing, both the 540-hp version (in a Limited 4x4 Crew Cab) and the 420-horse variant (in a Rebel 4x4) delivered sub-5.0-second 60-mph times. The only buyers who might pine for the V-8 are those who had their hearts set on the discontinued TRX, which was powered by a 702-hp supercharged 6.2-liter monster. The TRX gives way to the new-for-2025 RHO as the high-performance desert racer of the lineup, and we'll grant that the 540-horse Hurricane six can't match the drama of the old 6.2-liter (but a concurrent price cut should put the new max Ram within reach of a wider audience).”

Car and Driver evaluates each contender versus its peers using a 100-point scale, basing each score on intended purpose, value and vehicle operation. For two weeks, Car and Driver editors drove, measured, tested and scrutinized more than 55 cars, trucks, SUVs and vans. Any truck, SUV or van with a base price higher than $110,000 was excluded from consideration, based on the editors’ belief that a high price should guarantee excellence.

“The competition in the auto industry, and particularly in the truck segment, is fierce and it is an honor to have the Ram 1500 as the only full-size pickup on Car and Driver’s 2025 10Best list,” said Chris Feuell, who was the CEO of Ram up until today. She remains as CEO of the Chrysler brand. “It is a testament to the qualities our customers value the most, from the performance of the 3.0-liter Hurricane Straight Six Turbo engine to the class-leading ride and handling and the breadth of our tailored trim levels, including the award-winning, top-of-the-line Tungsten luxury trim.”

What to Expect with Tim Kuniskis back as Ram CEO

Tim Kuniskis is quite the showman. After months of silence from Ram, we can expect to start hearing more about what is ahead for the lineup. Tavares made some unpopular decisions, killing off the more affordable Ram Classic line in his quest for higher profits. The Ram Classic offered buyers the chance to get a new truck with fewer bells and whistles at a much lower price, often creating entry level truck buyers. Enthusiasts are hoping Kuniskis will find a way to again offer a lower-priced entry level truck. Some funs are hoping that Kuniskis can also find a way to resurrect the HEMI engine. The Ram RHO is more powerful and is well received but some drivers will always love a HEMI.

With a new President, who is less focused on forcing automakers into becoming all-electric, everything is now in play. Kuniskis may be able to make more decisions that are popular with the buyers. We’ll have to wait and see.

Ram Photo

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.