The Ram 1500 was last fully redesigned for the 2019 model year, but it has remained competitive in the time since with substantive updates and new tech features. While it’s important to note that Ram hasn’t released many official details about an updated truck, it’s expected to receive a notable upgrade, with the potential for the return of its Hemi V8 engine.
2026 Ram 1500 Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Ram 1500
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Ram 1500
Ram hasn’t detailed the entire 2026 truck lineup, but the automaker has announced a new Express trim, which arrives with a surprisingly reasonable price. It’s also possible that Ram introduces a new TRX trim, as the return of the V8 engine has been rumored since its parent company, Stellantis, picked up a new CEO earlier this year.
Design
There are no surprises with the Ram 1500’s styling. It features a clean look with a large, upright grille, slim headlights, and a beefy curb presence. Ram offers a range of wheel designs, depending on the trim, and the 1500 is available with a quad or crew cab body style. Buyers also have the choice to add graphics to some trims, such as the RHO.
Powertrain
Ram discontinued the V8 engine option after the 2023 model year, but the inline-six-cylinder engines that replaced it are nothing to sneeze at, even if people are clamoring for the return of the Hemi. The base engine is a 3.6-liter V6, making 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. Two twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engines are available, with the standard mill making 420 horsepower and the high-output version offering 540 horsepower. Neither of those engines reaches the heights achieved by the outgoing V8, but rumors have pointed to its return and the potential for a new TRX trim, substantially boosting the truck’s performance potential.
Interior
The Ram 1500 can seat up to six people with a front bench seat, but buckets cut the capacity to five. Vinyl upholstery is standard in the base Tradesman trim, but cloth is available. Higher trims add leather or premium leather upholstery options, heated front seats, ventilated front seats, massaging functions, power seat adjustments, and more. Both cab configurations offer generous interior space, though the rear middle seat is cramped in all models.
Technology
Ram equips a standard 8.4-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other standard tech includes Bluetooth, USB ports, six speakers, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and more. Two screen upgrades are available, including 12- and 14.4-inch displays. Higher trims also add upgraded stereos, including a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system or a 23-speaker Klipsch Reference Premier audio system.
Safety
The 2026 Ram 1500 hasn’t been crash tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) yet, but it’s reasonably well-equipped with advanced driver-assistance tech in all trims. Features include automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warnings, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Available features include a head-up display, a 360-degree camera system, intersection turning assist, a hands-free driving assistance system, and more.
Pricing and Release Date
As of the time of this writing, Ram hasn’t released pricing for the 2026 truck. That said, it’s expected to land with a slight price bump over its predecessor, which started at just over $42,000. If the TRX returns, expect a price tag reaching or exceeding $100,000.
