The 5.7L Hemi V8 returned to the 2026 RAM 1500 lineup after a one-model-year absence, and RAM has been discounting 2026 trucks hard to move them. The Hemi-return story is the news cycle this year. Internet forums called for it, dealerships pushed for it, and RAM brought it back.
The hidden story is what the spec sheet shows when the four 2026 engines line up next to each other.
The 3.0L Hurricane Standard Output inline-six produces 420 horsepower, 469 pound-feet of torque, and a maximum tow rating of 11,610 pounds. The 5.7L Hemi V8 produces 395 horsepower, 410 pound-feet of torque, and a maximum tow rating of 11,320 pounds. The Hurricane SO has more output and more towing capacity than the returning V8 across every measurable axis. The Hurricane HO version above it makes 540 horsepower and 521 pound-feet, putting the Hemi V8 third in the lineup on output and fourth on horsepower when the V6 isn’t counted.
The Hemi returning is the emotional decision. Whether to order it requires a different conversation.
Key Takeaways
- Hurricane SO out-tows the Hemi V8. 11,610 pounds maximum on the Hurricane SO vs 11,320 on the Hemi V8. A 290-pound advantage.
- Hurricane SO out-powers the Hemi V8. 420 hp / 469 lb-ft vs 395 hp / 410 lb-ft. The inline-six wins by 25 horsepower and 59 lb-ft.
- Hurricane SO wins on fuel economy by 2 mpg combined and one fuel grade. EPA 21 combined on regular 87 for the Hurricane vs 19 combined on midgrade 89 for the 2026 Hemi V8. The annual fuel-cost delta is roughly $480 at 15,000 miles.
- Hemi V8 wins on sound, character, and proven long-term reliability. Decades of service-life data on the 5.7L vs a Hurricane platform that only entered production for the 2025 model year.
- Pricing math varies by trim, but the Hemi runs cheaper at the dealer on day one. On Big Horn and Laramie, the Hemi V8 is a $1,200 upgrade over the standard Hurricane SO. On Limited and Longhorn, it’s a no-cost swap from the standard Hurricane HO. Stack RAM’s bonus cash, which has run heavy on 2026 trucks, and the V8 becomes the day-one price winner in every comparable trim.
- The Hemi makes sense if you want the V8. The capability case favors the Hurricane SO. The character case favors the Hemi. The math case depends on whether the fuel-economy delta over five years exceeds the upfront delta.
Why the Hemi Came Back
The 5.7L Hemi V8 disappeared from the 2025 RAM 1500 lineup when Stellantis pivoted the truck to the Hurricane inline-six platform across the board. The Hurricane was supposed to replace the V8 on capability, fuel economy, and emissions compliance, and on paper it did all three.
The market response was harsh. Dealer floors filled with Hurricane-equipped trucks that didn’t move at expected pace. Resale values softened on the new powertrain because buyers worried about long-term reliability on an unproven platform. RAM truck loyalists waited rather than buying. The conversation on truck forums treated the V8 deletion as an unforced error.
Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa announced the V8 return in February 2026, and the engine reappeared in the configurator for 2026 model-year trucks. Pricing varies by trim: the Hemi V8 is a $1,200 upgrade on Big Horn and Laramie (which have the standard-output Hurricane as standard equipment), a no-cost alternative on Limited and Longhorn (which have the high-output Hurricane standard), and a standalone engine option on Tradesman, Express, and Warlock. RAM has layered heavy bonus cash on 2026 trucks on top of that to clear demand quickly.
The Hemi return is a reasonable product decision. It also doesn’t change what the spec sheet says about which engine is most capable.
The Engine Matrix in Full
The 2026 RAM 1500 ships with four engine options.
The base trims (Tradesman, Express, Warlock) default to the 3.6L Pentastar V6 with eTorque mild-hybrid assist. The Hurricane SO is standard equipment on Big Horn and Laramie and a $1,695 upgrade on the lower trims.
The Hurricane HO is standard on Limited and Longhorn and a higher-priced option on select trims. The Hemi V8 returns as a paid upgrade on most trims and a no-cost alternative to the Hurricane HO on the Limited and Longhorn.
| Engine | HP | Torque (lb-ft) | Max Tow (lb) | Max Payload (lb) | EPA Combined (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L Pentastar V6 + eTorque | 305 | 269 | 8,130 | 2,360 | 22 mpg (regular 87) |
| 3.0L Hurricane SO | 420 | 469 | 11,610 | 1,930 | 21 mpg (regular 87) |
| 3.0L Hurricane HO | 540 | 521 | 10,000 | 1,490 | 17 mpg (premium 91) |
| 5.7L Hemi V8 + eTorque (returning) | 395 | 410 (+130 launch) | 11,320 | ~1,750 | 19 mpg (midgrade 89) |
The Pentastar V6 has the highest payload rating because it weighs less than the other three engines. The Hurricane SO has the highest tow rating because its torque curve and tow-tuned axle options combine for the broadest pulling band. The Hurricane HO has the highest output but a performance-oriented suspension setup that limits towing capacity. The Hemi V8 sits in the middle of the lineup on every meaningful capability metric.
The lineup ranking on capability, in order: Hurricane SO, Hemi V8, Hurricane HO, Pentastar V6. The ranking on output, in order: Hurricane HO, Hurricane SO, Hemi V8, Pentastar V6. The Hemi V8 never wins a category.
Capability: The Hurricane SO Wins
The maximum tow rating on the 3.0L Hurricane SO is 11,610 pounds. The maximum tow rating on the 5.7L Hemi V8 is 11,320 pounds.
The Hurricane SO has a 290-pound advantage.
That advantage exists because the Hurricane’s twin-turbo torque curve delivers peak pulling power across a broader rpm band than the Hemi’s naturally aspirated V8, and because RAM ships the Hurricane SO with optional tow-tuned axle ratios that maximize the engine’s capability for trailer duty.
The maximum payload rating on the Hurricane SO is 1,930 pounds. The 2026 5.7L Hemi V8 rates at roughly 1,750 pounds maximum per the Stellantis media release and corroborating press-fleet coverage. The Hurricane SO has a roughly 180-pound payload advantage as well.
A buyer towing a 9,000-pound enclosed car trailer or a 10,000-pound boat won’t notice the 290-pound capacity difference. A buyer towing closer to maximum will. The Hemi V8 buyer who wants to tow a 11,500-pound horse trailer is making a payload-capacity choice that the Hurricane SO buyer doesn’t have to make.
The capability case for the V8 is the case the Hemi historically owned, and on the 2026 spec sheet that case belongs to the Hurricane SO.
Output: The Hurricane SO Wins
The Hurricane SO produces 420 horsepower at peak and 469 pound-feet of torque. The Hemi V8 produces 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. The Hurricane SO has a 25-horsepower advantage and a 59 pound-foot advantage. Those aren’t trim-level differences. They’re substantial.
The torque advantage matters more than the horsepower advantage in normal driving.
Pickup trucks rarely run at their peak power band. They run at part throttle from a stop, at low rpm under acceleration, and at moderate rpm at cruise.
The Hurricane SO produces 90 percent of its peak torque from roughly 2,500 rpm onward, with the twin-turbo system spooled and delivering. The Hemi V8 produces 90 percent of its peak torque from roughly 3,800 rpm.
The Hurricane delivers more usable torque at the rpm a buyer actually drives in.
The trade-off is responsiveness at part-throttle tip-in. A naturally aspirated V8 with port injection responds to the throttle instantly. A twin-turbo six with direct injection takes a fractional moment to spool before the boost arrives. That fractional moment is the part of the driving experience the Hemi loyalist misses, and the spec sheet doesn’t capture it.
Fuel Economy: The Hurricane SO Wins
The EPA rates the Hurricane SO in a 4×2 RAM 1500 Crew Cab at 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined on regular 87 unleaded. The EPA rates the 2026 5.7L Hemi V8 in the same configuration at 17 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined on midgrade 89.
The 2026 calibration tightened, and RAM specified midgrade fuel.
The fuel-grade requirement is the new editorial finding. A buyer expecting to fuel a V8 work truck with regular 87 unleaded is going to be surprised at the pump. National average midgrade 89 runs roughly $0.30 per gallon above regular 87 as of mid-2026, with regional variation. The Hurricane SO is rated for regular 87 across all configurations.
The fuel economy gap is 2 mpg combined. At 15,000 miles per year, the Hurricane SO buyer spends roughly $2,360 annually on fuel at $3.30 per gallon regular 87. The Hemi V8 buyer spends roughly $2,840 annually at $3.60 per gallon midgrade 89. The annual delta is $480. Over a five-year hold, the cumulative fuel-cost difference is roughly $2,400.
That $2,400 fuel-cost delta over five years is the central piece of the buyer-decision math. On the engine pricing alone, the Hemi’s day-one advantage runs from roughly $1,200 on the trims where it’s a paid upgrade over the standard Hurricane SO to the full value of the Hurricane HO it replaces at no cost on Limited and Longhorn. RAM’s bonus cash, which has run heavy on 2026 trucks and stacks on top, widens that day-one gap further. The five-year fuel-cost delta then claws a substantial portion back, and the Hurricane SO’s operating-cost advantage keeps growing every year beyond the five-year mark.
Sound, Refinement, Character: The Hemi Wins
The capability case favors the Hurricane SO. The character case favors the Hemi V8 by a meaningful margin.
The Hemi 5.7 has a sound signature thirty years in the making. A cold start at 6 a.m. on a quiet street is its own auditory event. Mid-throttle acceleration produces the deep, layered combustion note that the V8 customer is buying the engine for. The Hurricane SO is quiet, refined, and almost transparent in operation, which is engineering excellence for some buyers and personality deletion for others.
The Hurricane SO comes paired with an active noise control system on Tradesman and Express trims that further reduces cabin noise at idle, cruise, and full throttle. The system uses microphones to cancel low-frequency engine noise, which makes the cabin quieter than the Hemi V8 cabin would be in the same trim, and which the V8 loyalist treats as actively unwanted.
Refinement also favors the Hurricane on absolute terms. The twin-turbo inline-six is smoother at idle, vibrates less at cruise, and produces less driveline shudder under load. The Hemi V8’s traditional cam-in-block, pushrod architecture trades modern smoothness for the character a portion of the buyer base demands.
This isn’t a category the Hurricane should be expected to win. The buyer for whom this category matters has already chosen the Hemi.
Resale, Reliability, and the Unknown Hurricane
The Hemi 5.7L has been in continuous production in RAM 1500 trucks since 2003. Two decades of warranty claims, technical service bulletins, and high-mileage owner experience exist on the platform. The known failure points (the early-generation MDS lifter issue, the exhaust manifold bolt failures on some production years, the camshaft and lifter wear pattern that appeared on certain MDS-equipped trucks) are documented and understood. A buyer ordering the Hemi V8 in 2026 has a clear picture of what could go wrong over a 200,000-mile service life.
The Hurricane platform launched for the 2025 model year. It has been in customer hands for roughly 18 months. Long-term reliability data does not yet exist. The known failure modes don’t yet have a population. The high-mileage service-life picture is theoretical.
That uncertainty matters more for some buyers than others. A fleet operator running trucks to 200,000 miles plus over six to eight years has a real exposure to Hurricane reliability risk. A retail buyer leasing the truck for three years and trading it in does not. A buyer financing the truck for 72 months and intending to keep it until paid off sits in the middle.
RAM’s 2026 warranty takes some of the edge off that risk. The 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain coverage that became standard on the gas lineup for the original owner covers the Hurricane’s turbochargers, high-pressure fuel system, and internal engine parts for a decade. It doesn’t erase the unknown-platform concern, and it doesn’t transfer to a second owner, but it does mean the original buyer isn’t carrying the full weight of the Hurricane’s unproven service life alone.
Resale-value patterns also favor the Hemi at the time of this writing. Used 2024 RAM 1500 trucks with the Hemi V8 are commanding modest premiums over equivalent Hurricane-equipped 2025 trucks in private-party transactions. The market doesn’t yet trust the new engine. That trust may build over the next three to five years as Hurricane reliability data accumulates, or it may not. Buyers planning to trade in the truck within five years should factor this in.
The Weekly Driver’s reliability database covers DT-generation RAM 1500 trucks 2019 through 2025, including engine-specific complaint and recall data.
Pricing: How the Numbers Actually Work
The Hurricane SO is a $1,695 engine option on Tradesman, Express, Warlock, and Big Horn trims. It is standard equipment on Laramie, Rebel, and most trims above. The Hurricane HO is a higher-priced option that appears in select configurations.
The 5.7L Hemi V8 pricing varies by trim. On Big Horn and Laramie, where the standard-output Hurricane is the included engine, the Hemi V8 is a $1,200 upgrade. On Limited and Longhorn, where the high-output Hurricane is standard, the Hemi V8 is a no-cost alternative. On Tradesman, Express, and Warlock, where the Pentastar V6 is the included engine, the Hemi V8 sits as a standalone engine option. On top of the engine pricing, RAM has run large bonus-cash programs on 2026 1500s that Hemi builds also qualify for.
All Hemi V8 builds include the 33-gallon fuel tank as standard equipment. Hurricane I6 builds ship with the 26-gallon tank as standard, with the 33-gallon tank available as a $445 option.
At the Hemi V8’s 19 mpg combined rating, the 33-gallon tank delivers roughly 627 miles of cruising range on a full fill; the Hurricane SO at 21 mpg combined on the 26-gallon tank delivers roughly 546 miles.
The Hemi V8 has the longer real-world range despite its worse fuel economy.
The Hemi V8 also adds the Mopar factory-installed cat-back exhaust as standard equipment.
For a Tradesman or Express buyer where the Pentastar V6 is the standard engine, the Hurricane SO is a $1,695 upgrade and the Hemi V8 is a separate engine option. Stellantis hasn’t published the exact Hemi V8 upcharge on these specific trims, but third-party press fleet coverage suggests it tracks close to the $1,200 figure that applies on Big Horn and Laramie. Whatever bonus cash is running stacks on top, and it has been substantial on 2026 trucks. At order time the Hemi typically lands a few hundred to a few thousand dollars cheaper than the equivalent Hurricane SO build. The five-year fuel-cost gap of roughly $2,400 then erodes that, and the Hurricane SO pulls ahead on total cost the longer you keep the truck.
For a Big Horn or Laramie buyer where the Hurricane SO is standard, the Hemi V8 is a $1,200 upgrade, so the V8 actually costs more up front before incentives. Bonus cash, when it’s running, can wipe that $1,200 out and then some. Even in the buyer’s best case, the roughly $2,400 five-year fuel penalty means the two engines land close to even over the hold, with the Hurricane SO ahead the longer you keep it.
For a Limited or Longhorn buyer where the Hurricane HO is standard, the Hemi V8 is a no-cost alternative, and any bonus cash applies on top. Against the roughly $2,400 fuel penalty over five years, the Hemi runs modestly cheaper across the hold while surrendering 145 horsepower from the HO baseline.
Bonus-cash programs come and go month to month, so treat any specific number as perishable. Strip the incentives out entirely and the math favors the Hurricane SO by a wider margin, because the structural engine-pricing gap is small and the fuel-cost advantage compounds every year you own the truck.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the Hurricane SO if:
- You tow trailers heavier than 9,000 pounds and want the capability margin.
- You drive more than 12,000 miles per year and care about fuel cost.
- You plan to keep the truck past five years and want the lower lifetime operating cost.
- You prefer modern, refined, quiet powertrains and don’t need V8 character.
- You don’t object to being an early adopter on a 2-year-old engine platform.
Buy the Hemi V8 if:
- You actively want the V8 sound and character. This is a category that matters.
- You’re trading in the truck within three to four years and the upfront savings matter more than the lifetime fuel cost.
- You’re a fleet buyer or a long-term keeper who values 20 years of proven reliability data over the Hurricane’s unknown long-term picture.
- You’re financing on a tight monthly payment and the $3,300 to $5,000 dealer-side delta moves the deal.
- You drive fewer than 8,000 miles per year and the fuel-cost delta is small enough to ignore.
Buy the Hurricane HO if:
- You want the absolute top output number in the lineup.
- You’re cross-shopping a Rebel or RHO configuration where the HO is standard or expected.
- You don’t tow heavy and you do value the 540-horsepower headline.
Verdict
The Hemi V8 returning to the 2026 RAM 1500 lineup is a product decision that responds to real customer demand. RAM was right to bring it back. The heavy bonus cash riding on 2026 trucks is a sensible market-clearing move.
The Hurricane SO is still the most capable engine in the lineup. It tows more, it makes more horsepower and torque, and it uses substantially less fuel. The buyer who wants the V8 for sound and character should buy the V8. The buyer who picks engines from a spec sheet should buy the Hurricane SO.
The marketing case for the Hemi return is louder than the capability case for it. That’s worth knowing before walking into the dealership.
Full engine specifications and configurator access for the 2026 lineup are on RAM’s official 1500 capability page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2026 RAM 1500 Hemi V8 back?
Yes. The 5.7L Hemi V8 returned to the 2026 RAM 1500 lineup after a one-model-year absence from 2025. It is a no-cost engine option on most trims, produces 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque, and tows up to 11,320 pounds. RAM has run heavy bonus cash on 2026 trucks that Hemi builds also qualify for, though the exact amount changes month to month.
How much horsepower does the 2026 RAM 1500 Hurricane SO make?
The 3.0L Hurricane Standard Output produces 420 horsepower and 469 pound-feet of torque. It is the volume engine option on the 2026 RAM 1500 lineup, available on Tradesman, Express, Warlock, and Big Horn trims, and standard on Laramie and above.
How much horsepower does the 2026 RAM 1500 Hurricane HO make?
The 3.0L Hurricane High Output produces 540 horsepower and 521 pound-feet of torque. It is the highest-output engine in the 2026 RAM 1500 lineup, appearing on Rebel, RHO, and select higher-trim configurations.
Does the Hurricane SO tow more than the Hemi V8?
Yes. The 3.0L Hurricane SO has a maximum tow rating of 11,610 pounds. The 5.7L Hemi V8 has a maximum tow rating of 11,320 pounds. The Hurricane SO has a 290-pound towing advantage when properly equipped.
What’s the fuel economy difference between the Hurricane and Hemi V8?
The Hurricane SO is rated by the EPA at 21 mpg combined (18 city / 25 highway) on regular 87 unleaded in a 4×2 Crew Cab application. The 2026 5.7L Hemi V8 is rated at 19 mpg combined (17 city / 22 highway) on midgrade 89 in the same configuration. The Hurricane SO has a 2 mpg combined advantage plus a one-grade fuel advantage, which together translate to roughly $480 per year in fuel-cost savings at 15,000 miles per year.
Is the Hemi V8 a no-cost option on the 2026 RAM 1500?
The Hemi V8 is a no-cost engine option on most 2026 RAM 1500 trims. The Hurricane SO is a $1,695 engine option on Tradesman, Express, Warlock, and Big Horn. On higher trims where the Hurricane SO is standard equipment, choosing the Hemi V8 instead is a no-cost lateral move, and Hemi builds also qualify for whatever bonus cash RAM is running on 2026 trucks.
Is the Hurricane engine reliable?
The Hurricane platform launched for the 2025 model year and has been in customer hands for approximately 18 months at the time of this writing. Long-term reliability data does not yet exist on the engine. Early ownership reports through forums and complaint databases have not surfaced systemic issues, but high-mileage service-life patterns will not be visible until the platform crosses three to five years in widespread use. Our year-by-year RAM 1500 reliability companion article covers the DT-generation complaint and recall data in detail.
Is the 5.7L Hemi V8 reliable?
The 5.7L Hemi V8 has been in continuous production since 2003 and has a long, well-documented reliability record. Known issues over its service life include the MDS (Multi-Displacement System) lifter and camshaft wear pattern on certain production years, exhaust manifold bolt failures, and the “Hemi tick” intermittent noise. The platform’s known failure modes are well-understood at this point and supported by an extensive parts and service ecosystem.
Which engine has the best resale value?
At the time of this writing, used Hemi-equipped 2024 RAM 1500 trucks are commanding modest premiums over equivalent Hurricane-equipped 2025 trucks in private-party transactions. Market acceptance of the Hurricane platform may grow over the next three to five years as reliability data accumulates, but buyers who plan to trade in the truck within five years should factor current resale patterns into the buying decision.
Should I order the Hurricane or wait for a Hemi V8 build?
If you want the V8 character and sound, order the Hemi V8. If you want the most capable engine on a spec-sheet basis, order the Hurricane SO. Both are available in current 2026 production. There is no “wait for” decision required; both engines are on order banks at dealerships.
Manufacturer Disclosure
FCA US LLC provided a 2026 RAM 1500 Express Crew Cab 4×2 with the 3.0L Hurricane SO engine for a seven-day press loan that informed this analysis. Full review of the loaner is available here.
Michael Kahn
Michael Kahn is the writer, photographer, and publisher behind The Weekly Driver. He cares about how cars drive and what they're like to own. He covers automobile industry news, car shows and events, and new car reviews. The reviews come from behind the wheel: day trips that favor back routes, treating a good meal as half the reason to go. He directs and produces the visual media, matching each car to a setting and mood that fit it. When he's not reviewing new cars, Michael races paddleboards, camels, and ostriches, along with the occasional exotic car on the racetrack, and has driven in every state and country visited.
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