Does Everyone Hate The V8 Ram?

Issue #174

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In The Know

​So, everyone hates the Ram 1500 V-8?

When Stellantis announced that it would relaunch the Hemi V8-powered Ram 1500, America was excited. After all, it marked the return of a combination that had been a part of American culture. 

When we talk about American pickup trucks, we envision the V8 powering them. People were so excited that Ram saw a spike in orders: 10,000 units within 24 hours.

That chaotic reaction was in July of this year. By October, the company had seen a 10% increase in sales, as this article explains.

So, what do people think about it now? Is the fever dying down, or is it still riding high?

It depends on who you ask, but there’s one clear thing. It didn’t wow audiences when it should have. After all, the inline-6 Ram just doesn’t have the same ring to it, and it all has to do with performance. 

However, before talking about that, let’s go back in time. 

In early 2024, Ram announced that it was ending production of the Hemi V-8-powered 1500. The idea was to replace all of them with the Hurricane Inline-6 to comply with emissions standards. This article covers more about how the company announced it.

However, in a matter of months, the company had backtracked after the current government announced that it would double efforts with ICE engines. So, for 2026, the Hemi V8 Ram was returning, but it added nothing new. This isn’t a criticism, although this article does bash the new RAM.

​It’s literally what Ram did. The company restarted where it had stopped. 

The 2026 V8 Ram made exactly the same power and torque as in 2024, 395 hp and 410 lb-ft, respectively. It has the same transmission and the same rear-end ratios. You can read more about this lack of variety here.

So, for most buyers, it was a return to the past. That’s not exactly what they wanted, and this was bad news because, as this article explains, it was selling fast.

In reality, it makes sense to see disappointment in people. After all, if we compare the V8 Ram with the Hurricane Inline-Six, we’re comparing a 2024 vehicle against a 2026 option, which comes with a new Hurricane engine. So, the 2024 version is automatically a dud, right?

This article disagrees, for one good reason.

We can nitpick the differences and compare them. For example, the V8 has no turbo lag. It has a lot more towing capacity, almost 2,000 lb more than the Hurricane-powered option. Granted, it now has plenty of recalls, but who doesn’t? You can read more about them here.

Then, there are other differences, but the essence of why the Hemi V8-powered Ram exists is one and one alone. 

Because it’s a V8. That’s why comparing it to the Hurricane is a mistake. When it returned, it caused a ruckus, with due reason.

The reality is that, if you want practicality, most other options within the Ram 1500 lineup will work. But, if you need, or want, a V8 Ram, it’s always good to know you can buy one.