Key Points in This Review:
- The 2026 Ram 1500’s newly available Hemi V-8 makes less power and costs more than the truck’s turbocharged inline-six engine, but it makes better sounds.
- Other aspects of the Ram 1500 Hemi V-8 driving experience, like braking, steering, and ride and handling, are similar to other Ram 1500s.
- More affordable trim levels, like the Warlock and Lone Star, offer nicely finished interiors, while the high-end Longhorn brings a western-style motif.
The full-size pickup truck class is a game of numbers. An automaker will release a horsepower, torque or towing number that’s trumpeted as “best in class” — only to be eclipsed by a competitor when its new pickup rolls out. This perpetual one-upmanship is part of what makes the return of the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine to Ram’s 1500 light-duty pickup so interesting; it’s less powerful but more expensive than its twin-turbo six-cylinder counterparts.
Related: He(mi) Is Risen! Ram Resurrects Famed V-8 Option for 2026 1500 Pickups
Rated at 395 hp and 410 pounds-feet of torque, the Hemi V-8 isn’t the most powerful engine in the 1500 lineup by a long shot; it’s less powerful than both the regular-output twin-turbo inline-six engine, which makes 420 hp and 469 pounds-feet of torque, and the high-output version of this engine, which makes an impressive 540 hp and 521 pounds-feet. And despite its lower output, the Hemi costs $1,200 more than the regular-output six-cylinder and is a no-charge option versus the high-output six.
Makes the Right Sounds
- Takeaway: With its burble at idle and roar when accelerating, the Hemi V-8 sounds glorious, and the powertrain overall is well tuned and responsive.
So, why would you pay more for less power and torque? The reason becomes clear the moment you press the start button and the Hemi V-8 fires to life with a satisfying V-8 burble that turns into a roar when accelerating. Ram was smart to make the GT exhaust system that had previously been available for the Hemi V-8 standard, as it lets you better hear what you’re paying for: those satisfying V-8 noises. The exhaust system has a nice tune overall, letting you hear enough of the engine when cruising to know what’s under the hood while not being so loud to be annoying on a longer trip. And when you get into the gas pedal and the eight-speed automatic transmission kicks down, that exhaust note is ratcheted up immediately.
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One of the most impressive aspects of the Hemi V-8 powertrain is its responsiveness. Part-throttle kickdowns happen swiftly, and the automatic transmission works well in general with the V-8. And despite all the noises the V-8 makes, it’s a smooth, refined engine. Perhaps not as silky as the twin-turbo six-cylinder, but not far behind.
The rest of the Ram 1500 driving experience is much the same as it was in the refreshed 2025-model-year truck. Braking response is good for a full-size pickup, with more pedal feel and linearity than you get in other trucks. The Ram steers with a light touch, but it’s easy to put the truck where you want whether you’re on-road or off.
Ram also had a trailer loaded with a classic pickup that was hitched to a Longhorn trim level, and the Hemi V-8 pulled this setup with ease, readily accelerating the truck up to highway-merging speeds. I could feel the trailer tugging the truck a bit, but it wasn’t excessive. This trailer’s combined weight of 6,100 pounds was well below the Hemi-powered Longhorn’s maximum towing capacity of 9,960 pounds, but it’s not out of the realm of what an owner might hitch to their truck. The Ram’s available towing mirrors have power adjustments for both the upper and lower mirror sections, which is nice, but the mirror housing is big and, combined with the nearby front roof pillars, can block your view when checking for cross traffic at an intersection.
Interior and Technology
- Takeaway: Even lower trims of the Ram 1500 have good interior quality, but the available 12-inch infotainment touchscreen was noticeably laggy.
Besides the high-end Longhorn model, Ram also had less expensive trims available to drive, including the Texas-themed Lone Star. Rather than the Longhorn’s intricate western-style stitching and open-pore wood trim, the Lone Star interior has simpler materials, but its touch points are still nice, with rubberized door-panel surfaces and a high-grade feel to the cab’s switches and buttons. The fabric-trimmed driver’s seat has firm cushioning, but it was comfortable for me, and I like the versatility offered by the available front bench seat that lets you have three-across seating or room for two with a large armrest in between.
The Ram 1500 has a standard 8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen, and portrait-style screens that measure 12 or 14.5 inches are available. The 12-inch screen had a noticeable amount of lag when going between menus like navigation and audio, which was concerning to see in a brand-new vehicle. In our experience, touchscreen lag only gets worse the older the vehicle gets.
Make Mine a Hemi
- Takeaway: The Ram’s high-output six-cylinder is an impressive engine, but it lacks the wonderful noises that make the Hemi V-8 a more compelling powertrain.
The power and refinement of the Ram 1500’s high-output six-cylinder engine is impressive, and it was one of the reasons a Ram 1500 Tungsten won our 2024 Full-Size Pickup Truck Challenge, beating luxury trucks from Ford and GMC. However, when compared to the Hemi V-8 with its glorious roar, it feels like you’re only getting half the experience with the six-cylinder engine because those desirable noises just aren’t there.
Ram says that 40% of customers would switch brands if a V-8 wasn’t available, which is a huge number when you consider how much brand loyalty there is in the full-size pickup class. This statistic alone makes you wonder why Ram would have ever even considered dropping the Hemi V-8 from the 1500 lineup. That’s now water under the bridge, I guess, and if you can’t wrap your head around the pricing of the V-8, a short drive is all you need for your heart to convince you.
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