2026 RAM 1500: The V8 Is Back, and the Lineup Got Wider

The 2026 RAM 1500 lands with the broadest engine lineup the truck has had in years — including the return of the HEMI V8 after a model year away.

Here’s what’s available and how to choose.

The Engines

The 3.6L V6 with eTorque is the sensible entry. The mild-hybrid syst

em smooths stop-start and adds low-end response.

The Hurricane Standard Output is where most buyers should look. Four hundred twenty horsepower and 469 lb-ft from a twin-turbo inline-six beats what the old V8 made, with better efficiency. If you tow regularly, start here.

The Hurricane High Output produces 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft — the most powerful engine in the standard lineup.

The 5.7L HEMI V8 returns for 2026 on select trims after sitting out a model year. RAM brought it back in response to customer demand. If the V8 sound and character are what you want, ask us which trims have it and what’s on the ground — allocation matters here.

Towing and Payload

Up to 11,610 pounds of towing and up to 2,360 pounds of payload when properly equipped.

Both figures belong to specific configurations. Engine, cab, bed, axle ratio, and equipment all move them, and options eat into payload.

Bring us your trailer’s loaded weight and tongue weight, and we’ll check them against the door-jamb sticker on specific trucks rather than the brochure maximum.

Air Suspension

The available air suspension is one of the RAM’s genuine advantages over the segment. It improves ride comfort, lowers at highway speed for aerodynamics, raises for off-road clearance, and drops to make hooking up a trailer easier.

If you’re cross-shopping half-tons, drive them back to back on a rough road. That’s where the difference shows, and it’s the thing owners notice every day rather than once a year.

Interior

The RAM 1500’s cabin remains the strongest argument for the truck.

Screens: a standard 8.4-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, available 12-inch and 14.5-inch Uconnect displays, and an optional 10.25-inch front-passenger display for navigation or entertainment.

Rear legroom reaches 45.2 inches in Crew Cab models — genuinely comparable to a full-size sedan’s back seat, which matters if the truck does family duty.

Luxury touchpoints include available real wood trim and quilted leather. The Tungsten trim adds exclusive materials and ambient lighting.

Audio: a Harman Kardon system is available on upper trims, and the Tungsten comes standard with a 23-speaker Klipsch system.

An available panoramic sunroof on most trims.

Safety and Driver Assistance

Standard:

• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Blind Spot Monitoring with Trailer Coverage
• Lane Departure Warning

Available:

• Hands-Free Active Driving Assist for highway driving
• 360-Degree Surround View Camera
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go
• Rear Cross Path Detection and Automatic Parking Assist

Blind spot monitoring with trailer coverage is the version that actually helps when towing — it extends detection along the length of the trailer rather than stopping at the tailgate.

What About the Electrified RAM Trucks?

Worth addressing directly, because there’s been a lot of news and a lot of it has changed.

The RAM 1500 Ramcharger is a range-extended electric truck — not a conventional plug-in hybrid. The electric motors always drive the wheels, and the onboard V6 acts purely as a generator once the battery is depleted. That setup targets roughly 647 horsepower and 610 lb-ft with all-wheel drive, and towing up to 14,000 pounds.

Its launch has moved more than once. Ask us about current availability and ordering rather than relying on a spec page — that answer changes, and we’ll give you the real one.

The all-electric RAM 1500 REV has been cancelled. RAM ended the program citing slow demand for battery-electric half-ton pickups. If you’d been waiting on it, the Ramcharger is where that technology went.

Frequently Asked Questions

What engines does the 2026 RAM 1500 offer? A 3.6L Pentastar V6 with eTorque producing 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft, a 3.0L Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six in Standard Output producing 420 horsepower and 469 lb-ft, a High Output version producing 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft, and the returning 5.7L HEMI V8 on select trims.

Is the HEMI V8 back in the 2026 RAM 1500? Yes. RAM reintroduced the 5.7L HEMI V8 to the 1500 lineup for 2026 after discontinuing it the previous model year. Availability varies by trim, so ask us what’s on the ground.

How much can the 2026 RAM 1500 tow? Up to 11,610 pounds when properly equipped, with payload up to 2,360 pounds. Both figures apply to specific configurations, so check the door-jamb sticker on the truck you’re considering.

What is the Hurricane engine? RAM’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, offered in Standard Output at 420 horsepower and High Output at 540 horsepower. Both make more power than the V8 they originally replaced.

What is the RAM 1500 Ramcharger? A range-extended electric truck. The electric motors always drive the wheels, with an onboard V6 acting as a generator once the battery depletes. It targets roughly 647 horsepower, 610 lb-ft, and up to 14,000 pounds of towing. Ask us about current availability.

Is the electric RAM 1500 REV still coming? No. RAM cancelled the all-electric 1500 REV, citing slow demand for battery-electric half-ton pickups. The Ramcharger is the electrified truck in the lineup.

What screens does the 2026 RAM 1500 have? A standard 8.4-inch touchscreen with available 12-inch and 14.5-inch Uconnect displays, plus an optional 10.25-inch front-passenger screen.

Where can I test drive a RAM 1500 near Rome, GA? Greenway CDJR of Rome at 2500 New Calhoun Hwy NE in Rome, GA. Browse our RAM 1500 inventory or contact us at 706-622-3703.

Come Spec One With Us

Configuration matters more on a half-ton than almost anything else. Engine, cab, bed, and axle ratio all move the capability numbers, and with four engines available this year the choice is wider than it’s been in a while.

Browse our RAM 1500 inventory, the full RAM lineup, or our pre-owned inventory. If you need heavier capability, the RAM 2500 is the next step up, and our commercial department handles work-truck and fleet builds.

Check current offers and incentives, estimate a payment, value your trade, or apply for financing before you visit.

Our service department handles RAM maintenance and warranty work, and you can schedule service online any time.