2026 Ram 1500

Name: 2026 Ram 1500
Brand: Ram

Release Date: Available now

Estimated Price: Starting at $43,620

The 2026 Ram 1500 stands out with its luxurious interior and smooth ride. It's plenty capable for towing and hauling, too. There are some downsides, but overall we think the Ram 1500 is a great choice for a light-duty pickup.Read full review

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2026 Ram 1500 Review

Pros

Excellent performance and power from diverse engine lineup
Comfortable ride and quiet cabin
Lots of interior storage spaces for small items

Cons

Lower maximum payload and towing capacity than competitors
Infotainment feels dated and screen response is laggy
Top trims are very expensive

What's new

V8 engine returns to the Ram 1500 lineup
New powertrain warranty has you covered for 10 years/100,000 miles
Part of the Ram 1500 generation introduced for 2019

Overview

Written by automotive expert Gabriel Vega Cortés

11/13/2025

The current-generation Ram 1500 gets many things right. It's spacious, comfortable and good-looking. It's available with all the driver assistance tech you'd ever want, and despite being a truck, it rides more like a luxurious SUV. And yes, if you need to do truck stuff, it'll do that too. You can potentially tow more than 11,000 pounds in the Ram 1500, and there's even the Ram 1500 RHO version, which features a specialized suspension and meaty all-terrain tires to help make it a formidable off-road vehicle.

Edmunds spotlight: A new-ish V8 engine

The significant news for the 2026 Ram 1500 is the return of a V8 engine. Ram had discontinued it last year and introduced a new turbocharged six-cylinder engine, but it seems that consumer demand has warranted a V8 revival. The V8 comes with a new mild hybrid system that helps smooth out the operation of the engine stop-start system. It has a standard sport exhaust, too. It's loud and delivers a great engine note. However, this V8 option largely detracts from the things that make the 1500 such a compelling truck, such as its quiet cabin and luxurious feel.

Competitors to consider

If a rowdy V8 engine is a must-have, consider the Ford F-150, the Chevrolet Silverado or the GMC Sierra, competitors that offer one. If not, the Toyota Tundra is a compelling alternative, boasting a rugged exterior design. All of these rivals offer a wide variety of trims ranging from more off-road-ready to some that are genuinely luxurious.

What's it like to live with?

Edmunds' test team purchased a Ram 1500 to better convey what the ownership experience is like. Our Ram 1500 stands out as a go-to vehicle for road trips, particularly when covering vast distances. We also like its plush interior and powerful 540-horsepower engine. But we have experienced our fair share of electronic glitches. Check out our Ram 1500 One-Year Road Test to read our test team's evaluation of the truck over the long haul.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

Driven, tested, rated by automotive expert Gabriel Vega Cortés

Very Good

7.5

out of 10

We drove the 2026 Ram 1500 on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Driving experience: 0-60, engine & performance

8.3/10

How does the Ram 1500 drive? The return of the V8 isn't the upgrade we'd hoped for. It sounds great but is significantly weaker than the truck's inline-six engine. In our testing, the Ram 1500 with the V8 took 6.9 seconds to hit 60 mph. The standard-output turbo six-cylinder sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.2 seconds. The higher-output engine (540 hp) does it in 4.7 seconds, which is much quicker than other full-size trucks.

Despite light steering with little road feel, the Ram 1500 handles predictably and carries its weight well, never feeling sloppy around corners. It feels more connected than other full-size pickups. The large windows offer excellent visibility, although the truck's high sides often obscure shorter objects around the truck. And if you like to get dirty, the Ram RHO is always down for a good time, with ample ground clearance and impressive high-speed off-road ability.

The latest 1500 also offers Ram's new hands-free driver assist system. It worked well in our testing, rarely requiring the driver to place their hands back on the wheel. Other aids are also helpful with lane centering, accelerating and braking smoothly.

Comfort: seats, ease of use, and getting in & out

8.1/10

How comfortable is the Ram 1500? Thanks to its rear coil-spring suspension in place of traditional leaf springs, the Ram 1500 rides more comfortably than any of its contemporaries. The top-notch seats also offer excellent support, and front and rear headroom and legroom are excellent. There's a wide range of steering wheel and seat adjustment, so finding a good driving position is easy. Getting in and out can be tricky without the optional running boards or lowering air suspension, though. Wind and tire noise is also well managed, adding to the feeling of cabin tranquility.

For those hauling precious human cargo, the cavernous rear seat makes installing car seats a breeze. You'll find tons of room to maneuver. As in many full-size trucks, the top LATCH anchors are simple fabric straps that can be a bit awkward to tighten, but it's a minor inconvenience. Once a car seat is installed, there's so much space left over you could practically walk around it to get to the other side of the cab.

In-cabin tech: infotainment & phone integration

7.8/10

How’s the tech? Our Tungsten test truck packed a 14.5-inch touchscreen and a passenger display with a privacy filter. The flashy display looks great, but clunky software and sluggish menus make even simple tasks like seat adjustments a hassle. While Apple CarPlay gets a generous two-thirds of the screen, Android Auto is squeezed into a third with lackluster widgets. On paper, the Ram 1500 has loads of tech features, but not everything works smoothly, so our scoring dips here.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

Storage: cargo space & space for small items

8.5/10

How’s storage and cargo? The jumbo-sized cabin is matched by excellent storage capacity. A large storage bin sits between the front seats (on models not equipped with a front bench) with a floating center portion where the cupholders are located. This island can be moved forward or back for more storage as needed. When it's slid all the way back, there's enough room for a sizable bag or purse.

The back seat also folds up and offers a small cargo area. It's not lockable, so items can't be secured. There's also no flat floor that some other pickups offer.

Value: cost, features & warranty

8.1/10

Is the Ram 1500 a good value? If you only need a simple work truck, there are more affordable full-size pickups with more capability than the Ram 1500. But if your priority is comfort and daily driving, with still robust capabilities for work and weekends, then the Ram is an expert blend of both worlds. The 1500 is not the cheapest truck of the bunch, but you get what you pay for in both interior quality and performance.

Ram's warranty has increased significantly for 2026. You're covered by a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. This makes it the best of any full-size truck. There's no complimentary maintenance, so oil changes and tire rotations are on your dime.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

MPG: gas mileage & fuel economy

3/10

How’s the fuel economy? Fuel economy varies based on powertrain. The best fuel economy is an EPA-estimated 23 mpg combined with the base engine and rear-wheel drive. Four-wheel-drive versions with the straight-six turbo engines get between 17 mpg (high-output engine) and 19 mpg (standard-output) combined. The V8 truck averages 18 mpg combined.

These are decent results, but you can achieve better mpg with the F-150's hybrid powertrain or the Silverado 1500's available diesel engine. On our evaluation route, the Ram 1500 Tungsten with the high-output engine got 19 mpg combined, slightly better than the EPA estimate.

X factor

3/10

Reliability is a significant concern with the Ram 1500 and many Stellantis vehicles Edmunds has tested. During our One-Year Road Test with the Ram 1500, we encountered numerous issues that cast serious doubt on its long-term dependability — a critical drawback for potential owners.

That said, the Ram 1500 does have its strengths. Its bold styling and vocal V8 engine add some much-needed thrills to the driving experience. Inside, this Limited trim impresses with premium materials and a spacious, luxurious cabin. While your experience may differ, based on our testing, owning a Ram 1500 feels like a roll of the dice.

2026 Ram 1500 trim level differences

The 2026 Ram 1500 is a full-size light-duty pickup. It's available in two primary configurations: the four-door Quad Cab and the roomier crew cab. The Quad Cab only comes with a 6-foot-4 long cargo bed, while the crew cab comes with either a 5-foot-7 short bed or the long bed. For trim levels, Ram offers the Ram 1500 in Tradesman, Express, Bighorn (called Lonestar in Texas), Warlock, Laramie, Rebel, RHO, Limited and Tungsten.

Which 1500 trim does Edmunds recommend?

Given how pricey some of the 1500's top trim levels can be, we recommend opting for the midtier Laramie trim. This trim is available with both rear-wheel and four-wheel drive, and Ram offers a range of options to help you customize the truck to your liking. We suggest sticking with the standard turbocharged six-cylinder engine rather than opting for the new V8. It's quicker, quieter and less expensive. It's the point in the range where you get more for less.

2026 Ram 1500 videos

Ram 1500 Hemi V8 vs. Hurricane Inline-Six: Which Is the Better Truck?

The people have spoken, and for the 2026 model year, the Ram 1500 is once again available with the much-loved Hemi V8 engine. But, while full of character, is the Hemi really better suited for the Ram than the more powerful Hurricane inline-six? Edmunds’ Emme Hall puts the two head-to-head in this comparison test.