2026 Ram 1500 Engine Options Guide

There is a lot to like about the Ram 1500, so much that it can be hard to keep track of it all. That’s because Ram knows that the key to a successful pickup truck is versatility, an ability to choose the options that make it perfectly suited to whatever task you need to use it for. While choosing the cab or box length you need is pretty straightforward, choosing the right engine is a little more complicated, as there are a few different aspects to consider. That’s why we put together this guide, so you can be sure when you make your choice.

Ram 1500 Engines - Power Output

Four different engines are offered with the 1500, with each one offering different strengths. The standard power plant is the 3.6-liter Pentastar® V6. The largest of the three engines, the Pentastar® also offers the highest payload capacity, a popular feature for work trucks. For those who are more interested in towing, there are a couple of options: the 5.7-liter HEMI® V8 or the 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane inline-6, which offer very nearly the same towing capacity. And while the standard-output Hurricane is impressively powerful already, there is a high-output version that turns up the performance quite a bit.

Ram 1500 Engines By Trim

Knowing which engine is best for whatever you need to do is an important first step, but it’s only so useful if you’re not sure which trims offer which engines, as no one trim is available with all four engines. For some trims, like the RHO, there is a specific engine that is a part of what makes the trim what it is, while others offer a bit more flexibility. With 10 different trims to choose from, it’s easy to find one with the engine and equipment that you need.