The Reborn Ram 1500 Hemi Is As Good As Ever: Review

No one at Ram may inform me precisely what the 2026 1500 Hemi’s “Image of Protest” badge meant. What are we protesting, I puzzled?

Client alternative was touted because the primary motive for the brand new badge, however realistically, the Hemi is again merely as a result of emissions rules are all of a sudden lax. In truth, the choice to place the Hemi again into the long-lasting light-duty truck was made in December, simply 9 months in the past, proper after a big nationwide occasion.

Now with Tim Kuniskis on the head of Ram (appointed similtaneously the choice to revive the V-8, no coincidence), all the model is staging a bounce again from weak gross sales. One Ram consultant stated that fifty p.c of returning clients demanded a V-8–an itch that the Hurricane inline-six couldn’t scratch. And when neither of Ram’s greatest opponents, Chevrolet or Ford, even hinted at killing their V-8 choices, clients moved elsewhere.

Thus, the V-8 is again, for simply $1,200 additional over a normal Hurricane I-6 and for no further cost over the high-output 540-horsepower model. It returns unchanged, with the very same horsepower and torque, the identical gasoline economic system, and with an entire lot of barely dodgy political connotation.

No matter odd model iconography, bringing the V-8 again is one thing price celebrating. For truck patrons who love simplicity, having the choice of an objectively less complicated (if lower-performing) V-8 versus a turbocharged six is compelling. In truth, I’ve a 2021 Ram 1500 Laramie with this precise powertrain within the household, a truck I’ve put tens of hundreds of miles on, sans the eTorque mild-hybrid system.

For 2026, the Hemi is mechanically equivalent to the engine that died in 2024. It now comes normal with the mild-hybrid system and has the identical output and gasoline economic system as earlier than. But Ram harassed that it was not a easy drop-in job, and making the V-8 work with the most recent technology of Ram’s electronics in comparison with the pre-2025 fashions was the first problem.

It took seven months of labor for Ram to completely validate and full the V-8’s transplant—solely sufficient time to make it work reliably, not sufficient to improve it. It’s arduous to disregard the truth that the V-8’s 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque are significantly lower than the SO I-6’s 420 horsepower and 469 pound-feet, which means you’re paying $1,200 extra to get much less efficiency, and paying zero {dollars} to get considerably much less efficiency than the HO’s 540 horsepower.

However with that engine improve, you do get three bonuses: A typical efficiency exhaust that’s really pretty loud, a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain guarantee, and the power to possibility the Hemi on any trim degree.

Picture by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

Professionals: Glorious Energy, Good Sound, Related Gas Financial system To I-6

The V-8’s advantage was by no means outright efficiency, neither is it in another main truck maker’s lineup. The F-150 EcoBoost outperforms the 5.0-liter V-8, but patrons nonetheless want the larger engine. Virtually, it’s the confirmed simplicity and sturdiness of a V-8 that attracts individuals in. Emotionally, V-8s soothe an historic area in our mind’s parabrachial nucleus.

V-8 good, our unconscious opines, because it grunts away in minimal, thrumming effort.

Picture by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

Picture by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

And the 5.7-liter Hemi is nearly as good because it ever was. It feels as highly effective because it did earlier than, even with the feature-laden Laramie I sampled. Even with much less energy than the Hurricane, I by no means needed for extra oomph, and located the Hemi extra linear and smoother in its energy supply.

The eight-speed ZF shifted easily but straight, with no wrinkles in its calibration. It felt precisely like my household’s 2021 1500, which is definitely a fantastic factor.

Picture by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

Cons: Lacks Energy In contrast To Different Out there Powertrains, No Significant Upgrades To V-8

That truck is pleasant to drive, and the revived Hemi Ram makes it that rather more interesting. In comparison with the Silverado and F-150, the Ram merely drives higher, with pretty, linear steering that has a robust sensation of heart, and suspension that’s not often juddery like most body-on-frame vehicles.

That is the Ram we knew and beloved earlier than the Hurricane, simply with extra powertrain decisions. Put merely: V-8 good.

So far as what Ram is protesting, I’m nonetheless unsure.

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Supply: Chris Rosales / Motor1