The 5.7-liter V8 is back and producing 395 hp
- The Hemi-powered Ram 1500 is finally headed back to dealerships.
- The truck features a 5.7-liter V8 engine developing 395 hp and 410 lb-ft.
- That’s less than the twin-turbo inline-six, which is also cheaper than the V8.
It’s a gr-eight day as the first Hemi-powered Ram 1500 pickups have left Sterling Heights Assembly and are headed for dealerships across the country. They’re expected to be in high demand as the truck brand received over 10,000 orders in 24 hours, following its unveiling in June.
As we’ve previously reported, Ram dropped the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 for 2025 and watched in horror as sales plummeted. While the situation is far more complicated than that, the company realized they made a mistake and quickly reversed course.
More: It’s Got A Hemi! 5.7-Liter V8 Returns In 2026 Ram 1500
That quick action resulted in the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 returning for 2026. It will be offered in the Big Horn, Express, Laramie, Limited, Longhorn, Rebel, Tradesman, and Warlock trims.
The engine produces 395 hp (295 kW / 400 PS) and 410 lb-ft (555 Nm) of torque. That’s a sizable improvement over the entry-level 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, but it trails the twin-turbo 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six by a considerable margin.
The Hurricane lives up to its name by churning out 420 hp (313 kW / 426 PS) and 460 lb-ft (623 Nm) of torque. This should, theoretically, make the Hemi a tough sell as the inline-six is more powerful and costs $1,200 less than the V8 in most trims.
However, as Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis explained to us this summer, some truck customers are “cylinder counters” and love V8s. The fear of losing them to competitors forced the company to spend 18 months bringing the Hemi back and it required a lot of hard work behind the scenes.
Ram Seems To Have Kept A Lid On Markups
Michael Gauthier/Carscoops
Despite seeing a huge surge in demand, Ram seems to be keeping a lid on markups. This could change as trucks trickle into the hands of dealerships, but a quick search reveals most V8-powered models are being listed at or below MSRP.
That’s an encouraging sign, so if your local dealership wants a markup, don’t hesitate to shop around.