Hemi V8 engines are back in the Ram 1500 lineup for the 2026 model year, returning a loud and proud engine and exhaust note to this full-size truck. Never mind that it makes less power and is not as fuel efficient or as capable as the Hurricane turbocharged six-cylinder engine meant to replace it. Logic is not the point. Flexing is. And I cannot deny the Hemi’s mellifluous sound. Just know that it comes with a cost.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
The return of the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine as an option for some versions of the Ram 1500 is the big news for 2026. Otherwise, new Express, Black Express, Backcountry, and Rebel X versions of the truck are available. To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, America250 special editions debut in red, white, or blue paint and Big Horn, Laramie, and Rebel trim levels. Ram also introduces four new paint colors for 2026, including Molten Red Pearl, Silver Zynith, and Serrano Green Metallic.
Ram 1500 trucks are available in extended cab and crew cab body styles, equipped with a 6-foot-4-inch cargo bed, with a shorter 5-foot-7-inch bed available for crew cabs. Ten core trim levels are available, priced from $44,820 to $91,595, including the destination charge. Depending on the trim, you can equip a 2026 Ram 1500 with a V6, a twin-turbocharged inline six in standard or high-output specification, or a Hemi V8, all covered by a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
For this 2026 Ram 1500 review, Ram provided a test vehicle equipped with Limited trim, the returning 5.7-liter Hemi V8, and the following significant upgrades:
The test vehicle’s manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $89,430, including the $2,595 destination charge to ship the pickup truck from the Sterling Heights, Michigan, assembly plant to a dealership. The price does not reflect any current rebates, incentives, or price adjustments since Ram manufactured the test vehicle.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Ram builds an appealing, comfortable, and practical truck that exudes quality and sophistication. That is reflected in JD Power study results; the Ram 1500 ranks highest in the Large Light Duty Pickup segment in the 2026 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). However, Ram as a brand ranks below average in JD Power’s 2026 Initial Quality Study (IQS).
Equipped with 22-inch wheels and body-color bumpers, my test truck looked great, though I could have lived without the “Symbol of Protest” emblems on the fenders. The GT exhaust system’s bellowing gets the point across without slapping these on the paint.
Open the driver’s door, step up onto the power running board, and an upscale interior awaits. Like many other full-size trucks optioned to luxury levels, the look is cluttered. However, a few elements of the Ram 1500 Limited’s cabin seemed cheap. The overall ambiance strikes a balance between the clean-but-basic and the industrial, overwrought interiors of competing trucks.
Ram employs plenty of analog controls with protruding knobs that are easy to grasp even when wearing gloves. However, the test truck’s curved 12-inch digital instrumentation panel, large 14.1-inch center screen, smaller front passenger screen, and various shiny surfaces caused significant glare and reflections. After a few days, the accumulated dust and smudges also proved unappealing.
My test truck had heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats wrapped in leather with fabric trim. They felt firm at first but proved supportive over time. Rear passengers enjoyed significant room and a comfortable bench seat equipped with heating and ventilation, and the Ram’s rear doors open wide for easier entry and exit.
Storage space is outstanding, due in part to a configurable center console with seemingly endless room inside. Forward of the back seat, and underneath the mats, two hidden in-floor storage compartments are ready to stow items you would rather not leave out in plain view. The rear seat cushion also flips up to help maximize secure in-cab storage for larger items.
The test truck’s optional RamBox locking exterior storage panels are useful, and it has both a power-operated tailgate and a deploying step that make it easier to climb up and into the cargo bed. With Limited trim and the standard twin-turbo Hurricane engine, the Ram 1500 can handle a payload of up to 1,330 pounds.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Ram offers three different Uconnect 5 infotainment systems in the Ram 1500. Lower level trims have an 8.4-inch touchscreen, while upper trims include a 12-inch or 14.1-inch touchscreen. My test truck had the largest screen and the following features:
The Uconnect 5 infotainment platform has been around since 2021, and it is falling behind the segment leaders. That is mainly due to its hit-and-miss voice recognition capabilities. It struggles with conversational queries and commands, responds too slowly, and produces inaccurate results.
For example, when I asked for directions to the closest Chipotle in my Los Angeles suburb, it suggested one 240 miles away. The response to a request for a route to a hospital included an infusion center, an orthopedic doctor, and a cosmetic surgery center, in addition to the nearest hospital. Fortunately, you can bypass this tech by simply running Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, though neither Siri nor Google Assistant is a perfect solution.
In addition, I dislike the portrait-oriented display, and the screen’s gloss black housing contains climate control buttons that are almost impossible to see and use on sunny days due to reflection and glare. Add the dust and smudges, and it is simply a poor user interface. However, the Harman Kardon audio system rocks, so it is not all bad.
My test truck had a few technology upgrades, including a head-up display, a camera-based digital rearview mirror, and a separate touchscreen for the front passenger. Passenger screens are increasingly common, but no one in my household has ever used one in a test car, beyond curiosity when they first started appearing in modern vehicles.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Ram dropped its 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine for the 2025 model year, expecting that the more powerful, capable, and fuel efficient twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engines would satisfy the faithful. Nope. Ram buyers want a Hemi, and now, for 2026, a Hemi they shall have.
Equipped with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that Ram calls eTorque technology, the V8 musters 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque, which is 25 hp and 59 pound-feet less than the least powerful Hurricane twin-turbo six. The V8 also tows and hauls less weight, likely does not feel as strong when driving at elevation, and gets worse fuel economy.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), my test truck should have returned 18 mpg in combined driving. On my mountainous Southern California evaluation route, while driving in the Automatic 4-wheel-drive (4WD) mode and with the automatic engine start/stop system engaged, the Hemi V8 averaged 16.1 mpg. It is worth noting that the engine start/stop system operates transparently and restarts the V8 quickly. You can turn it off, but why bother if it is not an irritant?
Acceleration is satisfying, though it sometimes seems as if the engine makes more noise than motive force. There is no arguing that the Hemi does sound sensational, but the GT exhaust system creates too much racket, especially on quiet mornings. With its dual exhaust outlets aimed from my elevated driveway directly at my cranky neighbor’s house across the street, I am sure he likes me even less now. Out of consideration for others, a quiet start mode would be nice to have, but I suppose that would not represent much of a symbol of protest, would it?
Despite its optional 22-inch wheels, my test truck demonstrated an impressive ride quality. Credit goes to the 4-corner air suspension, which is standard with Limited trim. It successfully filters harshness and controls unwanted body motion, giving the Ram a smooth ride and, in combination with the oversized wheels and tires, remarkably capable handling.
The brakes hold up to abuse, too, and while the steering does not contribute much to the on-pavement dynamism, the Ram is genuinely fun to drive. My test notes say this: “It is really easy to imagine Ram building a street or track-tuned truck on this platform.” That is coming in 2027, in the form of the Ram Rumble Bee.
Though my test truck had 4WD, I did not venture off-road because the 22s and tires were better suited to pavement. In the past, I have driven the Ram Rebel and RHO well off the beaten path, and I can attest that either one is ready to rumble in the dirt.
I did not tow anything, either. If that had been on the agenda, my test truck, equipped with a 3.92 axle ratio, could have tugged as much as 9,590 pounds.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Ram equips every 2026 1500 pickup truck with these standard safety features:
That is a generous amount of technology for the base Tradesman trim level. In addition to those features, the Ram 1500 Limited adds a standard Active Driving Assist System, which pairs the adaptive cruise control (ACC) with lane centering assistance. As an option, my test truck featured a hands-free version of that technology, along with intersection turn assistance and automatic emergency steering.
While all of this seems impressive on paper, in reality, the technology behaves inconsistently enough to render its use questionable. For example, when driving on a freeway in dense fog, the ACC identified a slower semi-truck ahead almost before I could see it. That is good. But later, under clear, sunny conditions, the technology failed too often to be trustworthy.
In one situation, under brilliant blue skies, it suddenly shut off due to non existent “poor road conditions.” In another, during a hands-free lane change, the system quit halfway through the maneuver, causing the Ram to drift over the solid white lane line and onto the highway shoulder. While traveling on the 101 freeway in Ventura County, it also decided I was no longer traveling on a supported road and told me to take control, but then resumed hands-free operation less than two miles later.
There were other quirks, too, ranging from excessive hugging of the left-lane markers in curves, to late or inconsistent braking in moderate traffic. Frustratingly, none of these events occurred consistently, making them impossible to predict and heightening, rather than reducing, driver stress.
Making matters worse, when the technology worked as expected, it was smooth, refined, and accurate. That it proved so competent at times effectively made the sudden failures even more aggravating.
In crash testing, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Ram 1500 a four-star overall rating out of a possible five stars. Meanwhile, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the truck a mix of Poor, Marginal, Acceptable, and Good safety ratings. It does not receive a “Top Safety Pick” designation from the IIHS.
According to the 2026 IQS, the Ford F-150 ranks highest in the Large Light Duty Pickup segment, with the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Toyota Tundra ranked second and third, respectively.
According to the JD Power 2025 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, the GMC Hummer EV ranks highest in the Large Light Duty Pickup segment.
Other 2026 Ram 1500 competitors include the GMC Sierra 1500 and the Rivian R1T.
According to verified owners, the Ram 1500 earns an award as the highest ranked model in its segment in the 2026 VDS.
While the Ram 1500’s infotainment and safety technology leave something to be desired, this is an appealing full-size pickup truck that is enjoyable to drive.
Christian Wardlaw is a veteran automotive journalist with 30 years of experience in the field and has held automotive editorial leadership positions at Edmunds, JD Power, and The New York Daily News. Today, Chris owns a content agency called Speedy Daddy Media, and in addition to jdpower.com, his work appears on Capital One Auto Navigator, CarGurus, and Edmunds.
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