The revived Hemi V8 from Ram will cost you $2,895.

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      After two years of uncertainty and concern, it appears that the Mopar scene is thriving again. The answer is clear: the 5.7-liter Hemi is making a comeback, making its initial appearance not in a new Dodge performance sedan or coupe, but rather in the Ram 1500. It's 2025, and trucks are leading the charge.

      But there has to be a catch, right? The standard- and high-output (HO) Hurricane I6 engines in the Ram already deliver ample power and torque, meeting the demands of Truck Stuff™ that individuals like Joel Feder typically expect from a V8. These engines were designed to take over the role left vacant by the Hemi when it was eliminated from future plans by former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. This makes the Hemi seemingly unnecessary, and redundancies are usually a nightmare for corporate accountants. The critical factor here is profitability, and in this instance, you're looking at nearly three thousand dollars to add two cylinders (and a basic hybrid system) to your 2026 Ram 1500.

      On the surface, the Hemi upgrade costs $1,200, but there’s an additional caveat: that price reflects the assumption that you have already selected the option for the standard-output (SO) Hurricane I6, which costs $1,695. To calculate the true cost of the upgrade, you need to combine the two, totaling $2,895. This price remains consistent from the Tradesman up to the Big Horn and Lone Star trims. The Laramie and Rebel come with the SO Hurricane as standard, so you'll only need to pay the upgrade price for the Hemi. It's important to note that the Rebel cannot yet be configured this way; Ram has indicated that this option will become available later in the model year.

      If you choose the Limited or Longhorn trims, where the HO Hurricane is standard, you can select the Hemi at no additional cost. However, if you're looking at the RHO or Tungsten trims, the Hemi isn't available at the moment.

      Without complete pricing details for the 2026 Ram 1500 lineup, comparing the cost of entry to competitors is challenging. Ford offers a basic F-150 with the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 for around $41,000; the lowest-priced 5.3-liter Chevy will be a few thousand dollars more.

      Assuming Ram does not raise the base price of the Tradesman for the new model year, the least expensive Hemi you could purchase would be slightly over $45,000. However, while Ram has not yet disclosed its 2026 pricing strategy, CEO Tim Kuniskis hinted that the $40,000 half-ton pickup is effectively discontinued. The outgoing 2025 Ram 1500 Tradesman starts at $40,275 before destination fees. Draw your own conclusions from that information.

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