Ram ditched the HEMI V-8 for the updated, 2025 Ram 1500, pissed a ton of folks off, and brought it back for 2026. But does the old engine work in the new truck?

What’s Good: Proper V-8 rumble emitted from the now standard performance exhaust. Smooth and quick shifts from the eight-speed automatic.

What Could Improve:  Price! You need to pay nearly $3k to get the Hemi in the lower trims of 1500. And you sacrifice peak power to boot.

My Conclusion: The correct sounds emanate from under the hood again. V-8 power just feels right. And all the modern tech inside suits the old school muscle just fine.

OVERVIEW

Ram quickly realized its mistake for the updated, 2025 Ram 1500: ditching all V-8 options from its full-size pickup. For 2026, all three six-cylinder options remain. But the 5.7-liter HEMI that bolted in to the 2024 truck returns for the 2026 model year. In fact, Ram already started shipping examples to dealers as of this writing.

You cannot, however, get the HEMI as standard equipped in any 2026 1500. But you can option all but two of the trims with one. That includes the Tradesman, Express, Warlock, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, Rebel, Longhorn, and Limited trims. Only the RHO and Tungsten stick with the high output (H.O.) Hurricane straight-six as their only powerplant choice.

In the Tradesman, Express, Warlock, and Big Horn/Lone Star, plan on spending an additional $2895 to swap in cross-plane V-8 rumble. In the Rebel and Laramie, you need to fork over $1200. Because the Limited Longhorn and Limited come standard with the H.O. Hurricane, Ram will trade in the V-8 free of charge. But know that the least expensive HEMI 1500 runs $46,115.

For a full rundown of exactly how the new truck feels on the road, check out my Gear Junkie 2026 Ram 1500 review.

Return of the Rumble

The big task of equipping the updated Ram truck with the old-school HEMI was getting all the electronics to talk to each other. Simply put, the HEMI didn’t speak the new language. I spoke to Dan Stagner, the Vehicle Synthesis Manager at Ram, He explained it like this.

“The engine actually bolted right back in,” Stagner said. “But the electrical architecture of the 2025 was upgraded such that we had better bandwidth for the CAN (CAN Bus) network, faster speeds, and more security so all of the modules on the vehicle that interact with the engine had to be re-calibrated, re-configured, new messages. All these things had to be re-integrated and matched to the HEMI engine.”

Stagner and team achieved a full development program on a very compressed time schedule, which included headed to the other side of the world to find appropriate weather to tune in traction control, etc. And it worked. The 5.7-liter fits like a glove and operates as smoothly as ever.

powertrain

Bolstering the six-cylinder engine line-up, Ram now offers four engine choices. Ram still equips the lower trims trucks with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, it makes 305 horsepower and 271 lb.-ft of torque. You also get help from a 48-volt mild hybrid system to get the truck moving at low engine speeds.

From there, upgrade to the standard output or S.O. Hurricane engine. The turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder smoothly spins up 420 horsepower and 469 lb.-ft of torque. That’s a big jump in both output and smoothness, courtesy of the I-6 configuration’s natural balance.

From here, things go a tiny bit pear shaped. The 5.7-liter produces 395 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft of torque, noticeably less than the S.O. Hurricane. Yet it costs more. But, allow yourself to get a bit emotional.

This engine sounds better, the vibrations feel better, and that makes the experience more rewarding. I also noticed extra linearity in power build up. Being a naturally aspirated engine, there’s no spinning up turbos to cause weird surges or lags of power. You also get nice crisp shifts and satisfying power immediately after the shift occurs. Beautiful.

From there, the H.O. Hurricane turns up the wick to spit out 540 HP and 521 lb.-ft of torque. In terms of performance, it still clearly reigns supreme. Trust me. I drove this engine in my 2025 Ram 1500 review. It hustles.

Towing and Fuel Economy

Full size trucks handle heavy loads with little trouble these days. Returning the HEMI to the line-up keeps the trend alive. The maximum towing capacity of the V-8 equipped Ram comes from the Tradesman with the Crew Cab and shorter, 5-ft 7-in bed. It’s 11,320 lbs.

V-8s do tend to stay thirsty. But the HEMI benefits from its own 48-volt mild hybrid system, as well as variable-valve-timing and cylinder deactivation technologies. Ram says it manages 17 miles per gallon in the city, 23 mpg on the highway, 19 combined. Once final EPA numbers arrive, I’m sure that will vary with trim and drivetrain, but it’s a competitive place to start.

Chassis

Fortunately, very little changed for the 1500 beyond the HEMI’s return. I say fortunate because Ram tuned a nicely balanced suspension. It offers a good compromise between ride comfort and handling competency. In fact, Ram felt so confident about such things, they set up a autocross course to test the truck’s agility and it passed with ease.

The truck responds to your inputs smoothly, understeers at the limit, and makes it stress free to recover from a slide. And, once recovered, you can hear the roar of the V-8 as you motor off into the sunset. Moreover, the seats provide nice levels of support and plenty of comfort. 

Inside

Just like the chassis, very little changed from the updated, 2025 Ram 1500. You still get an up to 14.5-in, portrait mounted center display. The Big Horn test truck where I spent much of my time used a 12.0-in version, which suited me fine. And you can equip trucks with heated and ventilated first and second row seats. Not to mention a heated steering wheel.

Then there’s the massive levels of space when you go for a Crew Cab version of the truck. Suitable for the starting line-up of pick your favorite NBA team, there’s mountains of leg, knee, hip, shoulder, and headroom. And that’s both the first and second rows. Not to mention the usual bevy of usb ports and cupholders to hold and charge all the important things of a road trip.

Conclusion

To celebrate the return of the HEMI in the Ram 1500 line-up, the GT Exhaust, formally a $1700 option, comes standard in 2026. The sound of the engine plays a huge role in the V-8s return, might as well turn up the volume a touch. And keep it loud for a while, Ram also installs the larger, 33-gallon gas tank as standard on the HEMI Rams.

And while the analytical side of me questions charging more for a less powerful, less efficient engine in a full-size truck. The emotional side reminds me why it’s worth it. The Ram feels better with a V-8 under the hood. It’s a more pleasant experience.

And that makes it a superior engine.

Competitors

Chevrolet Silverado
Ford F-150
Toyota Tundra

Specifications

2026 Ram 1500 Lone Star Crew Cab 4×2: 4-door, 5-seat, truck
Base price: $50,475 (includes $2195 destination charge)
Price as Tested: $61,655

Powertrain: 5.7-liter V-8
Peak Power: 395 horsepower at 5600 rpm
Peak Torque: 410 lb.-ft at 3950 rpm  
Transmission: eight-speed automatic transmission
Drive: rear-wheel-drive

Fuel Economy in MPG
17 city
23 highway
19 combined

Dimensions
Length: 232.4 inches
Width: 81.2 inches
Height: 77.4 inches
Wheelbase: 144.6 inches

Weights and Capacities
Curb weight: 5198 lbs.  
Interior volume: 131.9 cu ft
Truck bed: 5-ft 7-in

Calculated weight to power (lbs./HP): 13.2:1 (launch control power)
Mfr’s claimed 0-60 mph: na seconds
Mfr’s claimed Top Speed: na mph
Government classified size: standard pickup truck 2WD

Options: 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, $2895; big horn level 2 equipment group, $2770; trailer tow group, $1345; on-board system with 120v 2kW power, $995; bed utility group, $945; spray-in bedliner, $595; towing technology group, $595; tri-fold tonneau cover, $550; cluster with 12-in TFT display, $245; Hydro blue pearl paint, $245