The 2026 Ram 1500 Brings Back Hemi V8 Power

TL;DR

The 2026 Ram 1500 revives the Hemi V8 after one year away, offering familiar V8 sound despite the Hurricane 6-cylinder being more powerful and equally efficient.

Key Points

• 1.The Hemi V8 returns for 2026 after just one year away. Ram dropped the V8 after the 2024 model year, replacing it with the Hurricane 6-cylinder, but brought it back due to customer demand for the V8 sound and character.
• 2.Reintegrating the Hemi required significant engineering work. The truck received a new electrical system in the interim year, forcing Ram to modify the Hemi extensively and even ship trucks to New Zealand for cold-weather testing after Michigan's winter had already passed.
• 3.The Hurricane 6-cylinder is objectively superior on paper. It produces 420–540 hp versus the Hemi's ~400 hp, runs 0–60 in ~4.5 seconds vs. ~6 seconds for the V8, and achieves equal or better fuel economy.
• 4.The GT performance exhaust is now standard with the V8 for 2026. Ram made it standard to amplify the Hemi's signature grumble, and a fender badge featuring a V8-shaped Ram silhouette reinforces the powertrain identity.
• 5.Both engines are outgunned on towing capacity by rivals. The Ram's max tow rating of ~11,500 lb falls short of Ford and GM trucks, which can approach or exceed 13,000 lb with their top engines.
• 6.The Ram Limited's interior stands out as class-leading at ~$75,000. It features stitched leather, open-pore wood, a giant vertical touchscreen with configurable widgets, a fully digital gauge cluster, a rear-camera mirror, and a passenger-side entertainment screen.
• 7.Unique quirks include RamBox storage, air suspension key-fob lowering, and hidden Easter eggs. The locking side-bed compartments total 8.5 cu ft, the air suspension can be lowered via the key fob for loading, and the center console lid is printed with trigonometric equations and historic Ram model images.
• 8.Reliability concerns remain the truck's biggest weakness. Despite rating it as potentially the best full-size truck in materials, tech, and driving experience, Doug warns of poor Stellantis reliability scores and Lemon Law stories, awarding it 50/100 on the Doug Score.