The Hemi V8 is Back Under the Ram 1500’s Hood, But There’s a Price to Pay

2026 marks the triumphant (or so Ram would like you to think) return of Hemi V8 to Ram’s 1500 lineup. The automaker, profiting off the Trump administration’s relaxation of emission rules, has brought the once-ubiquitous engine configuration back after discontinuing it in 2024.

Even though both versions of the six-cylinder Hurricane engine are more powerful than the eight-cylinder engine they replaced, the guttural sound of the old-school engine will likely be enough to seduce buyers in 2026. Indeed, now that order books are open for the big engine model, we know that every V8 Ram 1500 sold here will be equipped with the high-performance exhaust system in 2026.

As with the rest of the industry, though, prices for models equipped with the engine have increased. It’s worth mentioning that the mighty Hemi will get a bit of help from the brand’s eTorque mild hybrid system, which improves acceleration from a standstill as well as fuel economy.

And so, fans of the V8 are no doubt wondering how much it will cost to get their hands on Ram’s newest 1500 equipped with its most old school engine and, happily, the automaker has just announced pricing. Naturally, we decided to dig up the brand’s old pricing sheets so that we can do a little comparing and contrasting.

To get behind the wheel of a 2026 Ram 1500 V8, buyers will have to part with a minimum of $68,185. That amount will get you a into the Tradesman trim, which, in 2024, would only set you back $58,245 when the V8 was under its hood.

For 2026, Ram is introducing two new trim levels: the Express and the Warlock, which start at $69,685 and $71,880, respectively. Naturally, price comparisons aren't possible. Next up, though, the Big Horn trim has an MSRP of $71,985. Two years ago, the same trim level cost just $58,045 when equipped with the same engine.

Prices jump up from there, with the Sport trim starting at $79,190. The last time it was available, it started at just $67,895. Today, the Ram Rebel V8 has a list price of $81,190, while in 2024, its starting price was $69,945. Higher in the lineup still, the Ram 1500 Laramie commands an MSRP of $86,690, in excess of $10,000 more than the same model in 2024, when its starting price was $74,875.

Admittedly, there’s even a steep price increase when it comes to inline-six-equipped models. The Limited trim started at $84,145 in 2024. In 2026, the same trim costs $96,940 when the Hurricane I6 is selected, but getting it with the V8 will mean shelling out even more cash: $98,440, to be precise. What’s more, the buyers will have to pay more to get less power, as the V8 makes 394 hp to the Hurricane I6’s 540 hp.

Finally, at the top of the lineup, the Ram 1500 Long Horn V8 is selling for $99,540 this year, whereas in 2024, the base price of the luxurious pickup was $79,845.

In short, prices are rising. However, because the engine was discontinued for a year, which may have artificially increased demand, buyers may be willing to accept the increase. If that’s all a little rich for your blood, the base V6 engine is still around, which helps keep prices in check. Buyers should even keep an open mind when it comes to the Hurricane I6, for which Ram is offering significant incentive pricing.