2026 Ram 1500 Crew Cab

If you ever questioned whether Ram listens to its customers, take a look at the 2026 Ram 1500. The 5.7-liter V8 is back. The value-oriented Ram Express is back. There’s more cool tech available, including a surprisingly useful screen for the front passenger. And none of this is “instead of.” These updates are in addition to the wide range of trim levels, many of which are aimed at off-roaders with varying degrees of expertise. The twin-turbo inline-6, which was intended to replace the V8, remains available for 2026, and the Ram continues to offer excellent capability while providing the best ride comfort available in a full-size truck.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of full-size trucks, including the Ram 1500.

Back to the future. What’s old is new again. However you want to look at it, Ram Truck has listened to consumer input and brought back the 5.7-liter Hemi V8. In addition, Ram did not want to alienate buyers shopping on a budget, so it reintroduced the value-priced Ram Express as a replacement for the Ram 1500 Classic, which was discontinued after the 2024 model year.

To compare, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Ford F-150 begin in the high $30,000s, while the Toyota Tundra and GMC Sierra 1500 are priced a bit higher. Keep in mind that the base price of the Ram 1500 is for a 4-door Quad Cab, whereas most rivals’ base prices are for regular cabs.

The upcoming Ram 1500 REV hybrid is expected to start at around $60,000.

Before buying a new Ram 1500 truck, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. On the resale value tables, the Ram 1500 trails the rest of this pack. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The Ram stands out from other half-tons with its compliant ride, thanks to standard rear coil springs instead of leaf springs. Yet even though the ride is comfortable, this truck doesn’t feel floaty or imprecise. There’s even an available adaptive air suspension that makes the ride even more comfortable. The seats are plush with the right amount of padding, and the cabin is quiet, making the Ram a great choice for long drives. Speaking of long drives, the Ram 1500 has caught up to its Ford and GM rivals by offering an available hands-free highway driving system, which we’ve found to work pretty well.

There are four engine choices here. While the base V6 engine has enough power for daily work and midrange towing, the 5.7-liter V8 returns as the gem of the line. Its power and towing capacity for the price make it a good buy, even though it is not as quick as the high-output version of the twin-turbo inline-6. That 6-cylinder engine is quick, and power delivery is smooth. Holy cow, it’s fast. The only thing it lacks is that addictive V8 growl.

Fuel Economy

The popular combination of base engine and 4-wheel drive (4WD) returns an estimated 21 mpg in combined city/highway driving. With the V8, it’s 18 mpg. Opt for the turbocharged 6-cylinder, and we’re looking at up to 21 mpg combined. The Silverado 1500 and F-150 are in the same general ballpark.

In addition to its reputation for a comfortable ride, the Ram is also known for trim-specific, highly detailed interiors that are both functional and equipped with intuitive tech. As is the way with pickups, the cheapest Tradesman version is really basic, while pricier top trims like the Limited are essentially luxury vehicles inside with real wood and leather. High-quality materials are seen throughout, including the stitched leather in the Tungsten and Limited trims, the added cowboy style of the Limited Longhorn, and the nicely integrated huge center screen and convenient optional passenger screen. There are multiple off-road-biased trim levels, with sporty accents, durable, weather-resistant materials, and screens that show helpful data while on the trail. Depending on the model, there are pleasant details, such as laser-etched accents and carbon fiber or metal accents, as well as fresh color schemes.

The Ram 1500 is available as a Quad Cab or Crew Cab, both of which have seating for up to six, three per row. However, the Crew Cab has almost 10 inches more rear legroom, at an expansive 45.2 inches. That’s almost two inches more than the F-150 SuperCrew. With both cab styles, there is plenty of storage, with a huge bin in the center console, plus more space under the folding rear seats.

Last year’s significant update gave the Ram chiseled styling that tidied up the front end quite nicely, without taking away any of the truck’s toughness. Each trim level gets its own grille design, and the Ram lettering and front belt line are above center. Fun fact: On the RHO, these letters are designed to let air pass through, helping cool the powerful engine. LED headlights come in at the Limited trim level, and Ram also offers steering-responsive front lighting. The taillights gain a jeweled look.

There are two bed lengths. The Quad Cab only comes with a 6’4″ bed. The Crew Cab is available with that length as an option, but the standard bed length is 5’7″. The longer bed/Crew Cab combo isn’t available with the HFE, Rebel, or RHO trims.

These beds also have lockable compartments on either side. Naturally, a spray-in bed liner is among the options, along with adjustable tie-down hooks and a deployable bed step. A power up/down tailgate is optional, and the multifunction tailgate with 60/40 barn doors is optional or standard, depending on the trim.

Multifunction tailgate
This optional feature can flip down like a regular tailgate or open out like a pair of barn doors, with a 60/40 split.

Trailer Reverse Steering Control
In addition to steering a trailer in the desired direction, this optional feature can also help the driver back a trailer in a straight line.

RHO
This off-roader comes with a specialist Bilstein suspension, 40% more suspension travel than a regular Ram 1500, a mighty 540 horsepower (zero to 60 mph in only 4.6 seconds), a performance exhaust system, 11.8 inches of ground clearance, 35-inch all-terrain tires, a Baja driving mode for desert racing, and a maximum towing ability of 8,380 pounds.

10.25-inch Passenger Screen
This optional screen, which features its own phone/video inputs, allows the front passenger to view their own content without distracting the driver. It can also allow the passenger to help with navigation and more, without having to take over the main screen.

Park Sense Active Park Assist
While the driver controls the throttle, brakes, and gear selection, this optional self-parking system handles the steering. It works for both parallel and perpendicular spaces.

Ram brought the 395-hp 5.7-liter Hemi back to the Ram 1500, and there was much rejoicing. This V8 has 410 lb-ft of torque and features variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation. It uses a 48-volt eTorque hybrid system that makes engine start/stop very smooth, while adding torque in certain situations, recovers energy through brake regeneration, and even helps smooth out transmission shifts. That eTorque system also comes standard with the V6 engine. The 2026 Ram 1500 lineup also includes a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 engine. The regular version makes 420 horsepower and 469 lb-ft of torque, and the High Output iteration generates 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque.

The base engine is a 305-hp 3.6-liter V6, a stalwart of the Ram/Jeep/Dodge/Chrysler family with a strong reputation. Output here is 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque.

All three engines connect to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Lower trims have RWD standard, with 4WD available either as an option or as a standard feature in higher trims.

Payload and Towing

The Ram 1500’s best payload capacity is 2,360 pounds, achieved with a 2-wheel-drive (2WD) Quad Cab Tradesman with the 6’4” bed and the V6. The maximum towing rating is 11,610 pounds, achievable with the same build and the inline-6.

For context, the Ford F-150’s top payload figure is 2,440 pounds, and its towing ability is 13,500 pounds. The Chevy Silverado 1500’s tow rating is 200 pounds shy of the F-150.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Ram’s new-vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. This is all typical for the class. Some manufacturers also offer free scheduled maintenance, however.

Safety Ratings

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) made this generation of Ram 1500 a Top Safety Pick, its second-highest accolade. However, the testing regimen gets tougher every year, so as of 2025, the Ram did not win an IIHS award (the 2026 model has not yet been tested). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave both cab variants of the 2026 Ram 1500 an overall score of five out of a possible five stars. All trim levels of the Ram 1500 come standard with Active Lane Management, blind spot monitoring with trailer coverage, rear cross-path detection, and adaptive cruise control.