Automakers have spent the last decade trying to convince the American public that pickup trucks are luxury vehicles, relentlessly pushing prices as close as possible to the six-figure threshold, and beyond. Stellantis took this philosophy to its absolute apex with the introduction of the 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten, a flagship trim boasting an $87,000 sticker price and new-to-the-segment opulence. Yet, the truck sector delivered a brutal reality check, shaving an average of $20,000 off its value in 12 months.
This article explores several reasons for the Ram 1500 Tungsten’s depreciation. The mentioned used prices are indicative and representative, and not an across-the-board price.
Where Does The Tungsten Fit In?
2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten top view front 3/4Stellantis North America
This $20,000 drop forced buyers and industry analysts alike to question exactly how this flagship truck fits into the broader Ram 1500 hierarchy. To understand the severity of such a depreciation hit in a single model year, we must first understand what the Ram 1500 Tungsten represents. For years, the Ram 1500 Limited held the crown as the most luxurious half-ton truck on the market. However, competitors like the Ford F-150 King Ranch and Platinum and the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate began creeping into the ultra-premium space. Stellantis needed an answer to reclaim its dominance.
The Tungsten trim arrived for the 2025 model year as the new king of the Ram lineup. It was designed to bridge the gap between utility vehicles and high-end luxury SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade. At an original MSRP of just over $87,000, it was unapologetically expensive.
Ram targeted affluent buyers who demanded better-than-good towing capability without sacrificing bespoke craftsmanship. The Tungsten was a rolling statement piece; an aggressive upmarket push that, unfortunately, exposed the truck to an equally aggressive financial spiral. Though the goal was to dominate the premium market, the result was a harsh lesson in automotive economics.
Why The Tungsten Lost $20k
How The Used Market Perceives Value
2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten rear 3/4Stellantis North America
The used-truck market operates on a ruthless set of rules, and the perceived value of ultra-luxury trims rarely scales linearly with their original sticker prices. When a buyer enters the secondhand market with, for instance, $60,000 to spend, their priorities inherently shift from securing the absolute latest in cabin technology to maximizing the best possible usage per dollar. The Tungsten suffers from a distinct ceiling in secondary-market valuation, where features that commanded a massive premium on the showroom floor carry little financial weight for the second owner.
The psychological barrier of paying top dollar for a pickup is a hurdle only the initial purchaser is willing to clear, because used buyers are bargain hunters. They recognize that beneath the premium exterior sits the same chassis architecture (in most cases) found in a much cheaper trim. The secondary market strips away that “flagship tax,” resetting the vehicle’s value to a baseline that aligns much more closely with broader economic realities in the segment.
While mid-tier pickups traditionally boast strong resale metrics, the secondary market treats ultra-premium truck trims completely differently. Vehicles cresting the $85,000 threshold face a rapidly shrinking pool of willing used buyers, forcing prices downward to meet conventional budgets.
Originally commanding an $87,000 MSRP, the Tungsten corrected to an average valuation of around $68,000. This brutal $20,000 cut – a staggering loss of 22% in its first twelve months – outpaces the segment’s standard 15% first-year drop. While it’s cringe-worthy for the original buyer, this massive market correction instantly turns an inflated luxury purchase into an undeniable, top-tier bargain on the secondary market.
Hurricane Family Introductions
2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten engine hurricaneStellantis North America
Stellantis made a massive gamble with the 2025 Ram 1500 lineup by ditching the legendary 5.7-liter Hemi V8. However, the company soon reversed that decision, so… welcome back, V8! According to Ram, it got 10,000 orders in the first 24 hours after the announcement.
The Hurricane family of inline-six engines was supposed to replace the old V8. The Tungsten exclusively uses the High-Output Hurricane variant, producing an impressive 540 horsepower and 521 pound-feet of torque.
On paper, the High-Output Hurricane is an engine that outclasses the V8. Yet, the introduction of this powertrain faced ideological pushback from the traditional, brand-loyal truck aficionados. The truck buyers were resistant to change, and the absolute absence of a V8 engine, especially in the US, created an immediate perception problem. An inline-six simply cannot replicate the auditory drama of an American V8.
Consequently, a vocal contingent of customers refused to upgrade. Additionally, the complex nature of a high-strung, twin-turbocharged engine raised significant long-term reliability concerns. So when you pair this skepticism with second owners remaining wary of absorbing potential out-of-warranty repair costs for unproven engine architectures, depreciation rates tend to accelerate.
Note: the V8 is available across the entire Ram 1500 lineup, except for the RHO and Tungsten.
2026 Sales Drop
2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten front 3/4Stellantis North America
The Ram 1500 is experiencing a spectacular sales resurgence. First-quarter 2026 data revealed that sales surged an astonishing 27% over Q1 2025, marking the brand’s best first quarter since 2023. Ram moved 59,828 half-ton trucks, successfully overtaking GMC to become the third-highest-selling light-duty pickup in America.
Yet, despite this roaring momentum, the Tungsten still hemorrhaged $20,000 in value. The reason is simple: Ram’s 2026 sales spike is almost entirely driven by the triumphant return of the naturally aspirated Hemi V8 and the reported 10,000 orders. Buyers are targeting the V8’s grunts, bypassing the ultra-luxury, Hurricane-powered Tungsten. While the overall Ram 1500 portfolio is thriving according to the sales charts, the Tungsten remains penalized by its purpose.
We heard loud and clear from consumers: there is no replacement for the iconic Hemi V8.
Exploring The Tungsten’s Details
Powertrain And Performance Specs
2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten towing trailer driving front 3/4Stellantis North America
Fast Facts: 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten
Engine
3.0L Twin-Turbo I6
Horsepower | Torque
540 hp | 521 lb-ft
Transmission
8-Speed Auto
Drivetrain
4WD
Tow Capacity
9,150 lbs
MPG
15 City / 21 Highway / 17 Combined
Setting aside the used market’s psychological resistance to the inline-six, the actual on-road execution of the High-Output Hurricane engine is spectacular. Generating 540 hp, this 3.0-liter powerhouse transforms the 6,000-pound behemoth into a pretty decent straight-line performer. The engine achieves peak torque at 3,500 RPM, meaning the power delivery is linear and predictable, and overtaking slower highway traffic on a steep incline requires nothing more than a gentle flex of the right foot. The 8-speed automatic transmission manages the power.
Dynamically, the Tungsten benefits immensely from the standard four-corner active level air suspension system. The engineers tuned the dampening specifically for the massive 22-inch aluminum wheels, ensuring the ride quality does not degrade despite the lower-profile rubber. The truck glides over poor roads with ease and eliminates the characteristic bed judder associated with traditional leaf-sprung pickups.
Inside The Premium Luxury Room
The Ram 1500 Tungsten’s interior is where the original price tag finally begins to make sense. Stellantis sourced some of the finest materials ever utilized in a mass-production truck and created a space that feels distinctly unique. Every visible surface is wrapped in premium, top-grain Natura Plus leather, featuring intricate, diamond-quilted stitching across the seats, console, and door panels. The headliner and A-pillars are completely covered in soft-touch suede to distinguish the Tungsten from lower-tier trims.
The front seats are bolstered, heated, ventilated, and offer a whopping 24-way power adjustment system, including a massage function to help fight lumbar fatigue. Ram collaborated with Klipsch to develop a bespoke 23-speaker Reference Premiere audio system. Powered by a 1,228-watt amplifier, it features a massive 12-inch subwoofer and stainless steel speaker grilles.
Notable interior features:
- 24-Way Massaging Leather Seats
- 23-Speaker Klipsch Audio System
- Dual-Screen Infotainment
Advanced Technology Suite Look
2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten infotainmentStellantis North America
Matching its opulent materials is a technology suite designed to overwhelm the senses while providing everyday usability. The Tungsten’s features are anchored by the massive 14.5-inch Uconnect 5 infotainment display, with crisp graphics and wireless integration with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Ram also integrated a 10.25-inch passenger-side display, which allows the front-seat passenger to punch in navigation coordinates or stream media without distracting the driver.
Behind the steering wheel sits a fully customizable 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that displays everything from speed readouts to full-screen GPS mapping overlays, and there’s a highly visible head-up display that projects key telemetry directly onto the windshield. The Tungsten is also equipped with Ram’s Active Driving Assist, a Level 2 automated driving system that provides hands-on lane centering and adaptive cruise control.
What The $20,000 Price Cut Means
As a brand-new vehicle costing $87,000, the Ram 1500 Tungsten was a spectacular luxury experience, yet it was tied to a horrifying financial reality – even in 2026. The initial buyers bore the brunt of the top-level miscalculations, incurring significant financial losses as the market rejected the MSRP amid high inventory levels and lingering skepticism about the powertrain.
However, at its current valuation of approximately $68,000 on the secondary market, the 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten transitions from a financial cautionary tale into an automotive bargain available today. For the price of a mid-tier 2026 Ram 1500 Laramie, secondhand buyers can secure a flagship vehicle equipped with massive horsepower, air suspension, and a cabin that legitimately rivals the finest European luxury sedans. Purchasing a lightly used Tungsten is a brilliant move that leverages the industry’s pricing hubris to your advantage.
Sources: Stellantis, Best Selling Cars, Good Car Bad Car
