The light-duty 2026 Ram 1500 has completely overhauled its powertrain lineup, replacing the traditional V8 with advanced, twin-turbocharged inline-six engines. It balances smooth everyday driving with serious work capabilities. For power, you can choose the standard 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with eTorque pushing 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. Stepping up to the 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six gives you a choice between a Standard Output version with 420 horsepower and 469 pound-feet of torque, or a High-Output variant making 540 horsepower and 521 pound-feet of torque. When properly configured with the Standard Output Hurricane engine and a 3.92 axle ratio, the maximum towing capacity reaches an impressive 11,610 pounds. If hauling cargo in the bed is your priority, the truck offers a maximum payload of 2,360 pounds when equipped with the Pentastar V6. As a best-in-class power feature, the High-Output Hurricane engine unleashes 540 horsepower, securing the title for the most available six-cylinder horsepower in its class.

When your trailer demands exceed standard half-ton limits, the 2026 Ram 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty models offer a commercial-grade frame and high-displacement muscle for massive loads. The standard gas engine is a robust 6.4-liter HEMI V8 delivering 405 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque. Diesel enthusiasts can opt for the 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel inline-six, which creates 370 horsepower and 850 pound-feet of torque. For absolute maximum capability, the Ram 3500 offers an exclusive High-Output Cummins variant pushing 430 horsepower and an earth-moving 1,075 pound-feet of torque. These powertrains grant the Ram 2500 a maximum towing capacity of up to 20,000 pounds and a payload of 3,930 pounds. The dual-rear-wheel Ram 3500 goes even further, scaling up to a massive 36,610-pound maximum towing capacity and up to 6,050 pounds of maximum payload capacity. For its best-in-class power feature, the High-Output Cummins diesel delivers 1,075 pound-feet of torque, giving it the highest available diesel torque in its segment to launch extreme trailers effortlessly.

Engineered explicitly for custom commercial upfits like cranes or flatbeds, the 2026 Ram Chassis Cab lineup (comprising 3500, 4500, and 5500 models) features a flat rear frame with a 50,000-psi steel strength rating. The standard commercial engine is the 6.4-liter HEMI V8 producing 375 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque, managed by a crisp TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic. For heavy-duty fleet operations, the available 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel inline-six produces 360 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque. This heavy commercial lineup delivers a massive maximum towing capacity of up to 34,540 pounds on diesel-equipped Ram 5500 configurations, while gas models can pull up to 21,240 pounds on the 4500 platform. When it comes to carrying the physical weight of heavy vocational equipment, the chassis yields a maximum payload capability of up to 12,260 pounds on gas-powered 5500 models and up to 11,530 pounds on diesel models. Best-in-class utility and power features include a class-exclusive standard Active Air Grille Shutter system that automatically adapts to engine load for optimal cooling, along with versatile power take-off capabilities that support auxiliary hydraulic equipment on both sides of the transmission.