In a strange, but predictable, twist of events, the Ram 1500 Hemi V8 makes a return for the 2026 model year. What does that mean for you?
Ram just did something automakers hate doing; they backtracked. The 2026 Ram 1500 will offer the 5.7L Hemi V8 again after trying to push everyone toward the turbocharged inline-six Hurricane engine. We’ll dig into what dealer lots are telling us, how customers voted with their wallets, what this means for pricing, and why Ram’s about-face says a lot about the messy reality of transitioning away from beloved engines.
Customers don’t want six, they want eight
Despite the Ram Hurricane engine offering more power than the Hemi V8, many customers expressed displeasure at the lack of V8 options for the Ram 1500. Adding the Hemi V8 back to the mix gives Ram more truck engine options than it would have had without it, and the softening of regulations allows the brand to stick with V8 options for a while. The Hemi is a $1200 option on most models, which many truck shoppers will be willing to pay to have the engine they desire. Customer demand trends created the return of this Hemi engine, showing that people can impact corporate decisions, especially when it could directly affect the bottom line.
The Ram 1500 Hemi V8 return makes sense
Stellantis was on the opposite end of the spectrum with Ram trucks twice. It was the last domestic brand in the pickup truck market to offer a fully-electric truck, but those plans have since been thwarted and shuttered for a different angle to its automotive product planning. Strangely, while being last to the market with an electric truck, Ram was going to be the first domestic brand without a V8 engine under the hood of its trucks. That certainly rubbed a lot of customers the wrong way, especially with Ford and GM still offering eight cylinders in their trucks.
Does the V8 make sense?
Despite customer demands for the V8 engine, when you put the V8 vs turbocharged engines together and compare them, you find something interesting. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 returns the same way it left, providing 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, while also utilizing a 48-volt eTorque mild-hybrid system. The Hurricane 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine makes 420 horsepower in its standard model and 550 ponies from the high-output versions. It also makes more torque than the V8, putting 469 lb-ft to the wheels.
In terms of power output, the Hurricane engine makes much more sense than the Hemi V8.
What are the payload and towing comparisons?
Despite producing more power, the Hurricane engine can’t tow as much as the Hemi V8. Equipped with the standard-output Hurricane engine, the Ram 1500 can tow up to 11,500 pounds and carry up to 1,980 pounds in the bed. When equipped with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8, this truck tows up to 12,750 pounds and carries up to 1,810 pounds in the bed. These figures are pretty close, but the Hemi outpulls the Hurricane, which makes the Ram 1500 Hemi V8 return make sense for many owners.
A badging strategy that’s sure to catch on
One of the most American things you can do is protest. Ram embraces that with the “Symbol of Protest Badge,” which features a ram head on the front of an eight-cylinder engine block. It’s a sign that Ram shoppers are protesting the deletion of the Hemi V8 and demanding its return. This can easily help with dealer inventory strategies, which should include several Hemi V8-powered trucks on the lot to satisfy shoppers looking for the familiar Hemi V8 growl.
Which trims feature the Hemi V8 option?
Offering the old-school engine that customers desire as an upgraded option that adds to the price of the truck could be a stroke of genius. The Ram 1500 Hemi V8 return is featured in the Tradesman, Express, Warlock, Big Horn/Lone Star, and Laramie models. If you choose the Limited or Longhorn models, the V8 engine is a no-cost option, giving those high-priced trucks a slight break. Eventually, Ram intends to offer this engine in the Rebel trim as well, but the timing and pricing for that trim have not been announced yet.
Are you celebrating the Ram 1500 Hemi V8 return to the market, or do you think going backwards is a bad move for the brand? Would you rather drive the V8 Ram or have one of the other powertrains under the hood?
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