Elite Traveler Fall 2021

INSPIRE TOP CARS

Ram 1500 TRX Besides physically transporting passengers, vehicles should evoke merriment and allow for improbable pursuits. Enter TRX. With a 702 hp, 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8, fording limit of 32 inches of water and tow capacity of 8,100 pounds, it’s understandable why the brand deems the Ram 1500 TRX “the apex predator of the truck world.” Designed exclusively for TRX, the 2.5-inch BILSTEIN Black Hawk e2 adaptive shocks with three zones of progressive bottom-out control, including dual electronic proportional valves that perpetually adjust damping force and work in tandem with nitrogen-charged remote reservoirs — all that is to say the suspension can handle anything on the highway and most everything off-road. Single-digit MPGs should be expected, as TRX runs primarily in full-time 4WD. This is especially true when selecting Baja mode, which retains the engine within the powerband while relaxing the traction and stability control systems. That allows the truck to rotate, a bonus when drifting on loose rock or handling uneven surfaces. When tires are reinflated after rock crawling, the truck honks to notify users when each tire has reached its ideal pressure. Inside, the 900-watt, 19-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system delights, as does the all-new heads-up display unit, which can show up to five different content areas at once. Ram 1500 TRX from $70,325, ramtrucks.com

NEED TO KNOW With 15-inch front brakes, the largest in the segment, and over 100 active and passive safety and security features, consider Ram 1500 TRX responsible off-roading.