Last week, I was invited to come to the Chelsea Proving Grounds in Michigan to test the 2026 Ram 1500 with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8. The mighty Hemi was removed from the half-ton lineup for the 2025 model year, but after loads of negative input from long-time customers and some key changes in industry regulations, the company has brought the engine back to the Ram 1500. The engine is unchanged from the 2024 model year, so it offers 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, but the GT exhaust system is standard on all Hemi models. As factory exhaust systems go, the Hemi GT exhaust sounds pretty fantastic, so those folks who demand the V8 note are really in for a treat with the 2026 Ram 1500.
While I currently own a Hurricane-powered 2025 Ram 1500 Big Horn, I previously had a Hemi-powered Ram 1500 Laramie that served me well for over over 150,000 hard miles. I have also tested plenty of pre-2025 Ram 1500 models with the 5.7-liter Hemi, so I knew what to expect from the 2026 models, but it was nice to feel and hear the Hemi once again. With the aforementioned output of 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, the Hemi has 25 less horsepower and 59 lb-ft less torque than the standard output Hurricane I6, but the power delivery of the naturally aspirated V8 creates a very different driving experience compared to the twin turbocharged six cylinder.
When launching from a stop, the Ram 1500 with the 5.7-liter Hemi provides more instant-on throttle response than the Hurricane and when cruising at speed, putting the pedal to the floor allows the power to hit right away compared to the boosted six engine. Neither of those points should come as a big surprise, as while the Hurricane is not a “laggy” engine, all forced induction engines take a second to build boost and power, whereas the V8 just jumps into the power right away. Now, to be clear, I am not suggesting that the Hemi with 395 and 410 is quicker or faster than the Hurricane with 420 and 469 – because that isn’t the case at all – but the naturally aspirated V8 has the hard hitting throttle response that you would expect from a Hemi while the Hurricane takes a second to spool up.
To showcase the advantages of the power delivery of the Hemi, the Ram Trucks team had two cool exercises for the 2026 Ram 1500 with the 5.7-liter – towing a 1979 Dodge Ram Lil Red Express pickup and racing around an autocross course.
I have already used my 2025 Ram 1500 with the Hurricane to tow the horse trailer and car trailer thousands of miles. When towing the gorgeous classic pickup with the 2026 Ram with the Hemi, I found that I didn’t have to apply as much throttle to get the weight moving. Since there is no boost to build, the Hemi gets up into its powerband pretty quickly, easily getting up to speed with a trailer in tow.
The Hemi has an advantage in situations where there is the need for a quick shot of torque, such as pulling away from a stop light or merging into traffic, while the Hurricane shines brighter on any longer mid-range pulls.
As for the autocross course, it might seem a little ridiculous to take a large four-door, half-ton pickup, but the trucks handled the turns surprisingly well…and it should be noted that the trucks being used for the autocross had the fixed suspension system, not the adjustable air suspension setup. What the autocross did allow us to do was hammer the throttle, spin the tires a little and use all of the horsepower in a safe, confined area. In short, we got to experience the quick power delivery of the Hemi in a way that would not be reasonable on public roads while also learning that the crew cab pickups handle surprisingly well.
In addition to offering quicker torque response, the Hemi V8 sounds a whole lot better, thanks in part to the standard GT exhaust system. I believe that this is the loudest factory exhaust system that I have experienced in a non-performance model, like the TRX, Raptor R, etc. There is a lovely roar to life on startup and when you ask for power on the move, the Hemi sounds absolutely fantastic. However, when cruising at speed and when not asking for power, the Hemi is surprisingly quiet in the cab with the windows up. In other words, the exhaust is loud and sounds great, but it also won’t make you and your passengers deaf on a long highway drive. The video below provides a great example of the exhaust in action.
Many people demanded the return of the Hemi to the Ram 1500 and it is here, but prospective buyers will have a tough choice to make. The Hemi costs $1,200 more than the Hurricane even though it has less horsepower and torque – but it sounds great, so will people pay more for less power with a beautiful exhaust note? We are about to find out, as these new Hemi-powered trucks are shipping to dealerships now. Dealerships were quick to order thousands for inventory, but we will have to see how well they sell when customers have the chance to drive Hemi trucks and Hurricane trucks back-to-back.
Patrick Rall is a professional writer and photographer with a passion for all things automotive. Having grown up in his father’s performance shop, he spent extensive time at the oval track and drag strip – both driving and wrenching on various types of vehicles. In addition to working as a writer, Patrick previously worked as an automotive technician before moving on to a business office position with a chain of dealerships, and this broad spectrum of experience in the industry allows him to offer a unique look on the automotive world. Follow Patrick on Twitter, Facebook and on Youtube.
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