This fall, Ram dealers will be as popular as the house passing out full-size Snickers on Halloween. Get there early. They may run out.
The 2026 Ram 1500 Hemi is on its way.
Stellantis management’s decision to unceremoniously drop the beloved V8 from its bestselling pickup was a mistake on the scale of another French CEO — Napoleon; they made a movie about him — invading Russia as winter neared.
Ram sales cratered. Next thing you know, there’s a new boss, and a renewed commitment to listen and talk to the customer.
After a crash engineering program that will be the stuff of legend, the Hemi’s back where it belongs: under the brawny hood of the 2026 Ram 1500 light-duty pickup.
And it’s just as good as fans wanted, complete with a rumbling exhaust system that used to be pricey and a whopper of a fuel tank for early buyers.
There’s also a brilliantly designed new badge: A V8 engine with a ram’s head, destined to be a favorite on fenders, T-shirts and coffee mugs. Ram calls it the “Symbol of Protest.” A little over the top, maybe, but full marks for acknowledging a mistake and correcting it quickly.
The people spoke; Ram listened.
2026 Ram 1500 trim levels
How powerful?
The 5.7L Hemi produces 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque in the 2026 Ram 1500. The eTorque mild-hybrid system is standard. The pickup will be able to tow up to 11,320 pounds and haul 1,650 pounds in its cab and bed.
Ram never stopped building Hemis completely, by the way. It continued to offer them on bigger 2500/3500 heavy-duty pickups. Still, reengineering the updated 1500 in a few months was a titanic challenge — not to mention convincing suppliers to resume production of parts they stopped making more than a year ago.
The 5.7L Hemi is available on nearly every trim level of the 2026 Ram 1500. It’ll be added to the Rebel model later in the model year. While Ram hasn’t officially confirmed it for the two top trims — RHO and Tungsten — sources close to the program say that’s coming.
Engineering changes to accommodate Hemi
How much will the Hemi cost?
The Hemi’s a $1,200 option over the 3.0L SO (standard output) six-cylinder engine — which is more powerful than the Hemi, but that’s another story. The SO straight-six itself is a $1,695 option from the base 3.6L V6 that’s the Ram 1500’s base engine.
The Hemi comes with a sport exhaust system that used to be a $1,700 option. A 33-gallon gas tank that added $495 will be standard on an undetermined number of early-production trucks.
Dealers are taking orders now.
Driving impressions
I spent an afternoon driving a well-equipped Laramie crew cab around the rolling country just west of Detroit.
It’s exemplary. Not just the engine, but the whole truck.
The exterior is beefy and recognizable at 100 yards. Interior trims range from basic to luxurious, but all feature easy to use controls, physical switches and dials for key functions and one of the auto industry’s best touch screens and infotainment systems.
The Hemi remains everything that made it a favorite: Throttle response is immediate. The upgraded exhaust system is a delight, burbling happily at idle, accompanying acceleration with a happy snort.
I rolled down the windows to savor every decibel, rolling through the countryside on a perfect late-summer day.
Powerful Hurricane engine available, too
The Ram 1500 has been a terrific pickup for years.
The lack of a Hemi didn’t change that — the 3.0L Hurricane engine that briefly replaced it is outstanding, generating more power than a 5.7L Hemi — but the quickest way to alienate people is to remove a favorite before proving the alternative is better. Ram is acknowledging its customers are grown-ups capable of smart decisions. The Hurricane engines will build their own fanbase, now that people know they have a choice. In the meantime, Ram will happily cash every $1,200 check.
Why buy a 2026 Ram 1500 Hemi?
It’s not that complicated. Give the people what they want. Offer them choices. Ram briefly forgot that, but holding it against the brand now is like scolding a puppy for the mess it made yesterday.
“Good Ram. Have a Snickers.”
2026 Ram 1500 Hemi at a glance
Rear- or four-wheel drive full-size pickup
Seats five
Model driven: Ram 1500 Laramie crew cab 4×4
Base price: $41,025 (excluding $2,195 destination charge)
On sale: September 2025
Model tested: Ram 1500 Laramie crew cab 4×4
Price as tested: $79,230 (excluding $2,195 destination charge)
Output: 395 hp @ 5,600 rpm; 410- foot-pounds of torque @ 3,950 rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
EPA estimated fuel economy: 17 mpg city/23 highway/19 combined. 89 octane mid-grade gasoline.
Wheelbase: 140.8 inches
Length: 228.4 inches
Width: 81.2 inches
Height: 77.6 inches
Ground clearance: 8.7 inches
Payload: 1,650 pounds
Towing capacity: 11,320 pounds
Assembled in Sterling Heights, Michigan
(This story has been updated to include new information.)
Contact Mark Phelan: mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2026 Ram 1500 Hemi: Giving the people what they want, plus a sweet exhaust note
Reporting by Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
