Within the battle between custom and expertise, custom scores a win.
Within the battle between custom and expertise, custom simply scored a serious victory—a minimum of conventional Ram 1500 patrons did. Right here’s the deal…
Ram up to date its standard, and very-well regarded, 1500 pickup truck for the 2025 mannequin yr. Modifications included freshened styling, up to date security tech, a brand new Tungsten high trim degree, and, and that is huge, alternative of the long-serving Hemi-brand V8 with the brand new Stellantis Hurricane turbocharged six.
Hemi is Again!
The Hurricane engine ought to be a slam dunk “what’s to not love?” addition to the Ram 1500 powertrain portfolio, given its larger energy and improved gas economic system. However that, sadly, hasn’t confirmed to be the case.
Ram 1500 Gross sales
Ram 1500 gross sales had been down considerably within the first quarter of 2025 (about 79,000 gross sales versus 89,000 in Q1 in 2024) regardless of the freshening. Per social-media grumbling, and apparently Ram’s personal analysis, Ram consumers would like an old-school V8 to a direct-injection, turbocharged six, even when the six serves up superior efficiency. These consumers made their choice clear by not shopping for Rams, so it appears.
Although the long-term planning people at Ram would probably want to depart the Hemi V8 previously, Stellantis has a fiduciary obligation to shareholders to return a revenue—and it seems the important thing to making a living on the Ram pickup is to equip it—once more—with a Hemi engine. So, that’s what Ram has finished.
For 2026 the Ram 1500 will once more be accessible with the favored 5.7-liter V8, although availability is considerably restricted. And, for folk on crew tech, the Hurricane engines aren’t going wherever.
Availability
Right here’s the deal:
On lower-level trim ranges (Tradesman, Specific, Warlock, Massive Horn, and Lone Star) on which the three.6-liter Pentastar V6 with “eTorque” mild-hybrid help is commonplace, the Hemi V8 might be a $2695 choice. This is identical worth because the standard-output (420-horsepower) Hurricane engine choice for 2025. Additionally, the price of the Hemi engine for the Specific, which is new for 2026, could also be decrease.
On standard trim ranges (Laramie, Restricted, Insurgent, and Longhorn) on which the standard-output Hurricane engine is commonplace, the Hemi V8 might be a $1200 choice. Lastly, on fashions that come commonplace with the high-output Hurricane engine (540 horsepower) (Restricted and Longhorn), the Hemi might be a no-cost choice.
Additionally geared up with the high-output Hurricane motor, the off-road-ready RHO, and ultra-luxury Tungsten fashions won’t be accessible with the Hemi.
The 2026 Hemi V8 is rated at 395 horsepower and is provided with the model’s eTorque system. That’s down 25 horsepower from the usual Hurricane engine, and down a full 145 horsepower from the high-output model.
The Hemi engine arrives for the 2026 mannequin yr, which begins quickly for Ram. Manufacturing of the ’26 Rams, no matter engine, begins later this month.
Ram Basic
Whereas we’re with regards to Ram 1500 gross sales, it ought to be famous that availability of the Ram Basic, a reduced various to the usual Ram primarily based on the 2009-2018 technology of the truck, was discontinued after 2024.
As a consequence of plant allocation logistics, Ram isn’t any lengthy in a position to construct each variations of the pickup. The Basic, an incredible various for consumers with restricted budgets, typically ran $2000-3000 under the traditional truck, however was solely provided in a restricted variety of configurations. It’s understood that the price of updating the Basic to the brand new Hurricane drivetrain would have been prohibitive.
Ram has not shared gross sales numbers for the Basic variants particularly, nevertheless some estimates put that determine as excessive as 35 % of whole Ram 1500 gross sales, relying on mannequin yr.
In contrast to the Hemi engine, the Basic won’t be returning to the 1500 lineup. Ram is rolling out the 1500 Specific for 2026, a brand new trim degree that options distinctive sporty trim, and worth pricing. You’ll be able to learn extra in regards to the 2026 Ram 1500 Specific right here.
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Hemi Photos
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