2026 Ram 1500 Review

• The available High-Output 3.0L Hurricane engine delivers 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque.
• Properly equipped configurations offer up to 11,610 pounds of towing capacity or up to 2,360 pounds of payload capacity.
• An available 14.5-inch touchscreen gives drivers a large central display for infotainment functions.

Maximum horsepower and touchscreen size highlight two strengths of the Ram 1500. Its available High-Output Hurricane engine delivers more horsepower than the highest-output factory powertrains in the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, and Toyota Tundra.

Figures compare factory equipment across each model’s lineup, not equivalent base trims. Tundra horsepower represents combined hybrid-system output. Screen measurements are diagonal. Silverado EV and Sierra EV are separate models and are excluded.

Horsepower describes an engine’s ability to perform work, but it’s only one part of choosing a truck. Your trailer weight, cargo requirements, preferred equipment, and driving impressions should also guide the decision.

According to Edmunds’ 2026 Ram 1500 HEMI V8 first-drive review, ride comfort and the V8’s distinctive sound stand out, while the Hurricane engines offer stronger performance numbers¹. That gives shoppers a useful test-drive agenda: compare engine response, listen to the powertrain, and see how the truck feels over roads similar to your daily route.

The Ram 1500 offers four engine choices, each paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. That transmission selects gears for you as speed and driving demands change.

Maximum towing figures require specific configurations and proper equipment. Availability varies by trim, cab, drivetrain, axle ratio, and other equipment. The Hurricane engines use two turbochargers to help force additional air into the engine and generate power. The Standard-Output version achieves the lineup’s highest towing rating, while the High-Output version delivers its highest horsepower.

The Pentastar V6 and HEMI V8 use eTorque, a mild-hybrid system that assists certain engine functions. It supports engine stop/start operation and can provide assistance during initial acceleration; you refuel the truck with gasoline rather than plugging it in.

The Ram 1500 offers up to 11,610 pounds of towing capacity and up to 2,360 pounds of payload capacity when properly equipped. These ratings describe different jobs. Towing capacity concerns the trailer the truck can pull. Payload includes the weight carried by the truck, such as passengers, cargo, and trailer tongue weight pressing down on the hitch.

The maximum towing and payload figures apply to different configurations and should not be treated as a combined allowance. Available features help make loading, storage, and hitching more practical:

• The available RamBox Cargo Management System provides secure, illuminated storage along the bed sides, helping keep smaller equipment organized.
• The available Multifunction Tailgate uses 60/40 split swing-away doors that open up to 88 degrees, giving you another way to reach cargo.
• Available telescopic trailer tow mirrors extend and retract to help improve your view around a trailer.

Available Trailer Hitch Line-Up Assist can also steer the truck toward alignment with the trailer tongue while you control the brakes and accelerator. It supports the hitching process without replacing your responsibility to check positioning and surroundings.

The available 14.5-inch Uconnect touchscreen brings infotainment functions onto a large central display. Uconnect is the truck’s interface for supported entertainment, connectivity, and other functions.

Available wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility let you access supported smartphone apps through the vehicle’s interface. Available dual wireless charging pads provide charging space for two compatible devices, helping the driver and front passenger keep their phones powered.

An available 10.25-inch front-passenger interactive display gives your passenger a separate screen for supported functions. It’s designed to be viewed from the passenger seat, allowing them to interact with their own display. Available Hands-Free Active Driving Assist adds another layer of support on approved roadways. Under appropriate operating conditions, it can help manage speed, following distance, and lane centering while allowing hands-free operation.