2026 RAM 1500 Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Write a reviewPros
Multiple powertrain options
Premium interior materials in high-end models
Luxurious and off-road-ready models offered
Cons
Advanced safety features are not standard
No base two-door work truck
American pickup truck buyers love V8 engines. Ram gives its customers what they want for 2026, bringing the Hemi engine back to the Ram 1500 line.
The Hemi V8 is back for the 2026 model year and now marked by what Ram calls a “Symbol of Protest” badge. As much as we’d like to say it’s better than ever, it’s actually the same as it’s ever been. The 5.7-liter Hemi spins out 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque, well below the less-expensive Hurricane turbocharged inline-six’s 420 hp and 469 lb-ft, and way behind the optional High Output Hurricane engine’s 540 hp and 521 lb-ft. But the fact that it’s an option at all will be enough to entice some buyers back to the Ram fold.
Verdict: There’s a lot to like about the 2026 Ram 1500, including its characterful Hemi V8. But if you’re looking for the best version of Ram’s popular pickup, you should think long and hard about how you plan to use the truck. With 10 trim levels and two cab sizes and bed lengths to go along with its four powertrain choices, there are plenty of ways to configure a Ram truck to your exact needs.
There aren’t any real changes to the Ram 1500’s interior or exterior for the 2026 model year. Ram already gave the 1500 a nip and tuck for 2025, so that’s not surprising. The big rig-inspired styling has been softened over the years to the point where the 2026 Ram 1500 can almost be described as graceful, but there are enough rough-and-tumble styling cues that the hard-working truck crowd won’t be put off.
There are several different styles of grille, depending on trim level, each with bold “Ram” lettering to emphasize that these trucks are no longer sold by Dodge. Tradesman, Express and Warlock models—which sit at the lower end of the pricing spectrum—wear blacked-out grilles. Big Horn and Laramie models in the heart of the lineup have bright chrome grilles, while high-end Limited and Limited Longhorn trucks get their own unique chrome fascias with more detailed shapes. The Rebel and RHO off-road models share a black grille that’s shaped differently than in other Ram 1500 models. At the top of the Ram 1500 line, the Tungsten model gets its own chrome-and-black grille mesh pattern.
The 2026 Ram 1500’s interior furnishings similarly mimic those of the 2025 edition, and they also vary by trim level. The entry-level Tradesman’s interior is pretty basic, with cloth seats and lots of plastic trim. Our Big Horn test truck had a bit more style, with etched trim providing some visual stimulation. The Laramie gets leather and looks especially smart in its available Bison Brown/Sea Salt Gray two-tone color scheme. Limited and Limited Longhorn trucks get open-pore wood trim, and the Tungsten boasts high-end leather surfaces that wouldn’t look out of place in a pricey European luxury car.
The base engine for the 2026 Ram 1500 remains a 3.6-liter V6 (with an eTorque mild hybrid system) that produces 305 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. We tested a truck with the reborn Hemi, which bumps those figures to 395 hp and 410 lb-ft, and also has the eTorque system for a mild bump in fuel efficiency. That’s plenty of power to get this full-size pickup up to speed in a hurry, and while the V8 goes about its business smoothly, it does not do so quietly. And that’s sort of the point. The 5.7-liter V8 engine brings a traditionally trucky rumble to the Ram ownership experience that the more powerful turbocharged six can’t match.
For as long as any of us can remember, American pickup trucks came equipped with powerful gasoline-burning V8 engines. The lack of the quintessential truck powerplant was a hindrance to the 2025 Ram 1500, and sales faltered because of it. So while it’s no surprise that the 5.7-liter V8 is back under the Ram’s hood as a $2,895 option over the cost of the standard V6, its specs can’t compete with those of the optional inline-six.
For $1,695 over the cost of the base V6—that’s $1,200 less than the V8—Ram offers its standard-output 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six that spins out 420 hp and 469 lb-ft of torque—that’s 25 more ponies and 59 more lb-ft than the Hemi. If you like to pay less money for more power, the turbocharged six is the obvious choice. It also delivers superior fuel economy (and runs on regular gasoline as opposed to the mid-grade recommended for the Hemi V8), albeit by just two additional mpg in a four-wheel-drive (4WD) truck.
If you want even more power, Ram also offers a high-output version of the Hurricane inline-six in select versions of the 1500 that produces 540 hp and 521 lb-ft. All engines are hooked to eight-speed automatic transmissions, with standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) in most models.
Buyers looking for maximum towing capacity will also need to select the turbocharged inline-six, but the differences between it and the Hemi V8 are minor. While the Hurricane is offered in the lighter Quad Cab body style for a max tow rating of 11,610 pounds, the Hemi can only be had in the larger Crew Cab truck. It’s still down a bit—11,490 for the Hurricane and 11,320 for the V8—but it’s so close that it barely registers.
It’s a similar story for payload. The truck’s max payload of 2,360 pounds is achieved with the base 3.6-liter V6 engine. The Hurricane turbo’s payload maxes out at 1,930 pounds for Quad Cab models or 1,490 pounds with the larger Crew Cab. The Hemi V8-powered Crew Cab maxes out at a slightly lower 1,320 pounds.
The 2026 Ram 1500’s interior is well laid out and easy to use. The vertically oriented central touchscreen is offered in three sizes. Even the smallest 8.4-inch unit is sufficient, but the Goldilocks-sized 12-inch unit feels more luxurious. The largest 14.5-inch unit feels like overkill, stretching well above the rest of the dashboard in a way that looks less finished than the smaller screens. Thankfully, Ram also provides physical audio and climate controls so you don’t have to rely solely on the touchscreen.
There’s plenty of room in the 2026 Ram 1500 Crew Cab for four adult passengers. Head, shoulder and legroom is abundant for both front- and rear-seat occupants. The smaller Quad Cab has significantly less rear-seat legroom (35.3 inches versus 44.8) and feels tight for six-foot passengers. There are cubbies galore in the Ram 1500 along with a massive opening in the center console that we could easily slide a 16-inch laptop into along with a pair of jackets and some gloves.
The RamBox cargo management system remains optional for the 2026 Ram 1500 and provides useful space on either side of the bed. The lockable and waterproof compartments are useful for stashing dirty gear that owners may not want to bring into the cab. Ram’s Multifunction Tailgate is split into two sections that can swing away, or be kept together for the gate to swing down.
Ram’s Uconnect 5 infotainment system is shared across the Stellantis portfolio. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard while, as noted above, screen configuration varies by model. In addition to the central touchscreen, most Ram 1500 trucks have either a 7-inch or 12-inch digital display directly in front of the driver, though base Tradesman models have a small 3.5-inch unit that displays less useful information. A 10.25-inch passenger screen is optional on mid- and upper-grade Ram 1500 models. It’s not visible to the driver, but passengers can use the screen for navigation or entertainment purposes. There’s also an optional full-color head-up display that helps the driver keep their eyes on the road.
A useful wireless charging pad that can charge two devices at the same time sits directly below the infotainment screen. A six-speaker audio system comes standard in the Tradesman, the Express, and the Warlock. Our Big Horn test truck had a nine-speaker system with a subwoofer. A Harman Kardon 19-speaker package is offered in the Laramie and Rebel, and standard in the Limited and Limited Longhorn. The top Tungsten trim gets an impressive 23-speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere audio system.
The 2026 Ram 1500 has a Tow mode (in addition to Auto, Snow, Sport and Off-Road) that's designed to offer extra stability and braking support when pulling heavy loads. There’s also an Integrated Trailer Health Monitor to keep track of a trailer’s vitals, a Trailer Reverse Guidance system and a Digital Rearview Mirror with Tow Mode that can show a split view of the truck’s sides and, if you mount an extra camera on the trailer, what’s happening behind.
Adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage and rear cross traffic alert come standard in all 2026 Ram 1500 trucks. Evasive Steer Assist, Intersection Collision Warning and traffic sign recognition are standard on the Tungsten grade, and can be added to other models via option packages.
Ram’s Hands-Free Active Driving Assist (ADA) technology is included with the Advanced Safety Group II package. While Ram’s system is truly hands-free, it does require the driver to stay alert, monitors attentiveness, and only works on certain roads. If the driver doesn’t react to a series of in-cabin lights and warnings, the seat will vibrate to remind them to keep their eyes on the road. It’s also a paid subscription package, but Ram offers a trial period of three years.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the 2026 Ram 1500 Quad Cab a five-star overall safety rating. The Crew Cab loses a star, though its frontal, side and rollover scores all match the smaller-cab truck’s ratings. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not released safety ratings for the 2026 Ram 1500 at the time of publication.
Pricing for a new Ram 1500 starts at $44,170 (including a large $2,595 destination charge) for the Tradesman trim with the base Quad Cab body style and a 6'4" truck bed. The 2025 Ford F-150 starts at $41,405 but the difference can largely be attributed to the fact that Ford still offers a standard two-door cab option (as does Chevrolet, which enjoys a similar base pricing advantage). The Toyota Tundra similarly comes standard with a four-door cab and starts at $43,355.
At the top of the lineup, the Ram Tungsten model’s $91,240 looks very high until you compare it to its competition, namely the $89,945 2025 Ford F-150 Platinum Plus. Both of those trucks make the V8-powered 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate’s $87,290 MSRP seem reasonable. General Motors’ 6.2-liter V8—used in both the Sierra 1500 and the Chevy Silverado 1500—has more horsepower and torque than the Hemi.
The powerful Hurricane inline-six adds $1,695 to the price of a Ram 1500 pickup truck. Buyers who wouldn’t have considered a Ram 1500 with the turbocharged six-cylinder but are interested in the Hemi V8 will have to fork out $49,815 for a base Tradesman with the larger crew cab body and a 5'7" truck bed, or $53,215 if they want 4WD.
"Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle them defines you. Ram screwed up when we dropped the Hemi—we own it and we fixed it,” Tim Kuniskis, CEO of the Ram brand said when the truck maker announced it was bringing the V8 engine back for 2026. While the V8 may very well be a popular pick for truck buyers, it is not a good value on paper.
