Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Starting a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 inside the belly of a ferry boat is an excellent way to find out which of your fellow travelers share your enthusiasm for internal combustion. Some folks smiled, while others shot dirty looks in the general direction of the silver pickup that had just violently interrupted the relative tranquility of the Vancouver-to-Vancouver-Island ferry with eight cylinders screaming in their face. Given that several of the surrounding vehicles were silent hybrid crossovers, I suppose both reactions were to be expected.Ram infamously killed the HEMI in the 1500 for the 2025 model year, replacing it with the more powerful, technologically advanced Hurricane twin-turbo straight-six. Its customers responded about as calmly as you'd expect people with Mopar tattoos and high-octane fuel in their bloodstreams. So Ram reversed course, and the 5.7-liter HEMI returned for 2026 with 395 horsepower, 410 lb-ft of torque and a "Symbol of Protest" badge proudly affixed to the fender. More than 10,000 HEMI-equipped trucks were reportedly ordered within 24 hours of Ram's announcement of its return.AdvertisementAdvertisementAfter previously driving a HEMI-powered Ram 1500 Warlock at Mudfest, I spent a full week with a considerably more luxurious Canadian-market Ram 1500 Sport Night Crew Cab 4×4, covering about 500 kilometers around Vancouver and on a road trip to Saanich and Victoria with friends. And while my brain still has plenty of nice things to say about Ram's Hurricane six-cylinder, the six-year-old car enthusiast living somewhere inside my head reached his conclusion not three seconds after I pressed the starter button. It's good to have the V8 back.2026 RAM 1500 HemiCole AttishaMy Nearly $100,000 Ram 1500 Was A Very Canadian SpecificationA quick clarification for American readers: Sport is a standalone Ram 1500 trim in Canada, and the U.S. lineup is packaged differently. Ram's American range instead includes trims such as Big Horn, Laramie, Rebel, Limited, and Limited Longhorn. My Sport Crew Cab 4×4 started at $75,895 CAD. Silver Zynith paint, the Night Edition, Sport Level 1 Equipment Group, panoramic roof, Sport hood, power running boards, Bed Utility Group, 3.92 rear axle, and other equipment eventually pushed the sticker to $97,000 CAD, including destination. The HEMI itself added $1,500.2026 Ram 1500 Sport Night Crew Cab 4×4As TestedEngine5.7L HEMI V8 eTorqueHorsepower395 hpTorque410 lb-ftTransmission8-speed automaticRear axle3.92Wheels22-inchCanadian base MSRP$75,895 CADHEMI option$1,500 CADTotal as tested$97,000 CADNRCan combined economy13.3 L/100 kmObserved economyApprox. 17 L/100 kmThinking about selling your car? Get an instant cash offer online now. Click here to get started.2026 Ram 1500 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 eTorque engine bayRamPowertrain: 8.8/10Here's the slightly uncomfortable part for V8 evangelists: the standard Hurricane is better than the HEMI at quite a few things.5.7L HEMI V83.0L Hurricane SOInductionNaturally aspiratedTwin-turbochargedHorsepower395 hp420 hpTorque410 lb-ft469 lb-ftTransmission8-speed auto8-speed autoMax. 4×4 towing9,590 lbs.11,370 lbs.Max. 4×4 payload1,630 lbs.1,910 lbs.EPA/manufacturer 4×4 economy16/20 mpg city/hwyUp to 17/24 mpgThe Hurricane offers more horsepower, 59 lb-ft of additional torque, greater maximum 4×4 towing and payload capacities, and better fuel economy. So why am I still smiling? Because, as you'd expect, the HEMI doesn't care about spreadsheet comparisons. Its naturally aspirated throttle response is basically immediate. The eight-speed automatic suits it beautifully, and although Sport mode occasionally delivers a joltier downshift than I'd like, the transmission generally knows exactly what the engine wants. Then, perhaps more importantly than anything else, there's the noise.AdvertisementAdvertisementCanadian HEMI trucks get a performance-tuned exhaust as part of the returning V8 package, and it almost feels like Ram's apology letter has been written in decibels. In Normal mode, it's pleasantly restrained, but in Sport, the HEMI opens up even more, developing a deep, muscular bark that reverberates off buildings, making acceleration feel considerably more dramatic than its 395 horsepower figure would suggest. At full throttle, it sounds almost angry—like the engine is out for revenge against the Hurricane that briefly displaced it.The irony is that the Hurricane genuinely feels quicker in several circumstances. Its superior torque makes low-rpm acceleration effortless, while the HEMI needs higher RPMs to deliver its best. But that's also what I enjoy so much about it. The Hurricane prefers to settle into the lower part of its rev range and quietly get on with business, but the HEMI constantly begs you to be rough with it in a way that feels almost masochistic. So, of course, you can't help but oblige.2026 RAM 1500 HemiCole AttishaThe HEMI Vs. Hurricane Question Isn't Really About NumbersI've driven Ram's 540-hp high-output Hurricane extensively in a Tungsten, and I've experienced the standard-output version in the platform-related Jeep Grand Wagoneer. I'll have a standard-output Hurricane Ram 1500 for a full week later this year, which should make for an even more useful direct comparison. So far, my impression is simple: the Hurricane is smoother, torquier, more efficient, and represents what a modern truck engine can be. The HEMI, on the other hand, represents what some people still want a truck engine to be. Now, Ram no longer forces either buyer to justify themselves.Ford has maintained a similar strategy with the F-150: turbocharged six-cylinder engines coexist alongside the traditional 5.0-liter V8. Ram finally offers that choice again. That's more important to me than declaring one engine universally superior. In the U.S., the HEMI can cost $2,895 more than the Pentastar V6 on lower trims, or $1,200 more than the standard Hurricane on Laramie and Rebel; it becomes a no-cost alternative to the high-output Hurricane on Limited and Limited Longhorn models. Would I personally pay extra? Yes. Surely my brain would choose the Hurricane, but my heart would choose the HEMI every single time. I guess it would mostly depend on which organ fought harder when I signed the paperwork.Shopping for a new car? Click here to get a great deal on your next vehicle. Powered by Carvana, no haggle pricing, 100% online.2026 RAM 1500 HemiCole AttishaFuel Economy: Yes, The HEMI Is ThirstyUnfortunately, my heart tends to forget about my monthly bank statements. My Canadian sticker rates this configuration's fuel economy at 14.7 L/100 km city, 11.6 highway, and 13.3 combined. I managed roughly 17 L/100 km. Ouch. In fairness to Ram, that isn't representative of responsible normal use—I spent a substantial amount of time in Sport mode and regularly accelerated harder than necessary because I liked the sound of the exhaust—but that's not necessarily an egregious way to use this truck. You could call that a methodological flaw, but I'd call it an occupational hazard.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe truck's enormous fuel capacity disguises some of the pain. I only burned roughly a quarter of a tank during the week, but replacing it still cost about $75. That's the HEMI bargain: noise now, consequences later. The 2026 engine still uses Ram's 48-volt eTorque mild-hybrid system, which provides smooth automatic restarts and supplemental launch assistance. I barely noticed it doing anything, which is arguably how such a system should behave, but I did occasionally wish it made a more dramatic difference to fuel consumption.Interestingly, Ram is already moving in the other direction. The company has confirmed that it will begin phasing out eTorque and automatic stop/start on the 5.7-liter HEMI during the 2027 model year, with only a limited number of early trucks retaining the system during the transition. The upcoming 5.7-liter Rumble Bee similarly uses a non-eTorque HEMI while retaining cylinder deactivation. That'll make the engine simpler and even more old-school, and at this point, subtlety clearly isn't the objective anyway.2026 RAM 1500 HemiCole AttishaDriving: A Full-Size Truck That Doesn't Drive Like A ShedThe other thing that makes this Ram work is that the rest of the truck is remarkably refined. Ride quality is excellent. Despite my Sport Night riding on 22-inch wheels, Vancouver's rougher pavement rarely unsettled it, and the empty bed didn't introduce the nervous rear-end bounce I associate with less sophisticated pickups. On the highway, it's quiet enough that the HEMI's selectable personality is even more useful. Wind and tire noise stay well suppressed, and the V8 fades into the background until you deliberately wake it.The steering is accurate without becoming unnecessarily heavy. You never forget that you're piloting a full-size Crew Cab—my underground parking garage required several extra steering inputs and considerably more concentration than usual—but the Ram shrinks around you once in motion. On Vancouver Island's rural and twisting two-lane roads, I could even establish a surprisingly satisfying rhythm with it. Obviously, no one should ever confuse this with a sports sedan—there's body roll because, unlike in Gran Turismo 7, Earth's physics can't yet be altered by an over-the-air update. But it's controlled, predictable, and never nearly as cumbersome as its dimensions imply. In Vancouver, the Ram was just barely manageable, and once we left the city, it felt completely at home.2026 RAM 1500 HemiCole AttishaTechnology: 8.3/10My truck's $7,595 CAD Sport Level 1 Equipment Group added one of the most screen-intensive dashboards currently available in a pickup: a 14.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen plus a separate passenger display. It also included the 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, dual wireless chargers, smartphone-as-key capability, heated rear seats, a power tailgate, and plenty more. Thankfully, the 14.4-inch screen isn't nearly as ridiculous to use as it looks. Ram makes good use of the vertical area, menu organization is relatively intuitive, and wireless Apple CarPlay worked consistently throughout my test. The 360-degree cameras are clear and practically mandatory in a truck this big, especially when reversing in a downtown parking garage.2026 RAM 1500 HemiCole AttishaThe passenger screen is a bit less convincing. One of my friends played with it for a few minutes before essentially forgetting it existed. It can accept an HDMI input and play video for the passenger, which is neat, but it still strikes me primarily as the sort of feature that sells a truck during a showroom demonstration rather than fundamentally changing the ownership experience.2026 RAM 1500 HemiCole AttishaAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Harman Kardon system, meanwhile, is fantastic, although sometimes the best stereo was the one under the hood. The dual wireless charging pads were considerably less impressive. Both worked, but charged phones painfully slowly.2026 RAM 1500 HemiCole AttishaExterior: 8.7/10I think the current Ram 1500 is legitimately one of—if not the—best-looking American full-size trucks on sale today. Ford, GM, and Toyota have increasingly leaned toward styling their trucks like they're perpetually angry at whoever parked opposite them. The Ram still manages to look muscular without needing to visually threaten pedestrians with anything more than its emblem itself. The striking Silver Zynith paint job pairs particularly well with the Night Edition's black accents, and its 22-inch wheels are appropriately aggressive without being cartoonish, though their design is starting to look slightly dated. I'd happily steal the wheel design from the new Charger R/T and include it here.2026 RAM 1500 HemiCole AttishaInterior: 9.0/10The biggest surprise wasn't the returning engine—it was how convincingly this mid-upper-level Ram could impersonate a luxury SUV. The Sport isn't even the top of the range, yet its cabin felt roughly as premium as the Grand Wagoneer Limited Altitude I recently tested. Materials are pleasant, the seats are excellent, the ventilation works wonderfully, and the upright driving position feels appropriately truck-like without taking on an agricultural-grade personality. The giant center console is also legitimately useful, particularly its sliding cup holder section, which reveals another storage area beneath.2026 RAM 1500 HemiCole AttishaRear accommodations are even better. For our Vancouver Island trip, three adults, several bags, and a set of golf clubs presented virtually no challenge. We deliberately put the luggage inside the Crew Cab rather than leaving it vulnerable in the bed, and there was still enough space for my sister to stretch sideways across the back seat and sleep. The flat rear floor also hides Ram's excellent in-floor storage bins. You could theoretically fill them with ice and keep cans cold during a weekend trip, although I didn't test their capability as beverage coolers.AdvertisementAdvertisementThen we parked on the ferry. The power-sliding rear glass and panoramic roof gave the enormous cabin an almost open-air character as a warm ocean breeze moved through it while we waited to cross. Later, the empty pickup bed became a surprisingly excellent place for a card game. That's something even a three-row luxury SUV could never have replicated quite as naturally.2026 RAM 1500 HemiCole AttishaValue: 7.3/10Ninety-seven thousand Canadian dollars is a lot of money for anything that can also be had as a stripped-out work truck. I initially guessed this truck was closer to $80,000 CAD, what with all of its amenities, so seeing another $17,000 at the bottom of the sticker caught my attention immediately. But the value proposition here depends heavily on what you think you're buying. If you view this as fundamentally a work truck with leather seats, some black trim, and a loud exhaust, the price is difficult to swallow. If you view it as an alternative to a large luxury SUV—one that happens to bring enormous second-row space, a pickup bed, legitimate towing capability and a charismatic V8—the argument becomes considerably stronger.I might reconsider some of the options my tester had equipped. The $1,995 Night Edition is attractive, but a competent aftermarket shop could black out much of the truck for less if that's what I really wanted. I'd think hard about the $1,795 panoramic roof, too, even though I loved having it. Conversely, the power running boards were legitimately useful, the Sport hood suits the truck, and I'd absolutely pay the price for the HEMI. U.S. shoppers also have considerably more flexibility than this Canadian Sport specification offers. I'd personally configure something cheaper than my tester. But I'm glad the Ram lineup once again lets me make these kinds of choices for myself.2026 RAM 1500 HemiCole AttishaVerdict: 8.4/10—The Numbers Say Hurricane, My Heart Says HEMIThe 2026 Ram 1500 HEMI is, in many ways, absurd, and yet it's immensely lovable. Its central appeal isn't nostalgia, despite what some may tell you. Take away the HEMI name, the old commercials, and decades of cultural baggage, and I'd still enjoy this engine every time I fired it up. The naturally aspirated response is immediate, the V8 sounds fantastic, and the eight-speed works perfectly in unison with it. And most importantly, the engine still feels like it genuinely belongs in the Ram, even if the Hurricane feels like the more modern option.AdvertisementAdvertisementBuy a Warlock and the HEMI becomes the voice of a relatively straightforward, snarling off-road truck. Put it in something like my Sport, and suddenly you've got a surprisingly convincing luxury-SUV alternative with an entirely different personality. The Hurricane is still excellent—it's smoother, torquier, and more efficient, and buyers who want the upscale Ram experience without listening to eight cylinders announce every enthusiastic merge onto a highway will likely be much happier with it, but choosing between the two engines is no longer a decision Ram makes on your behalf.If you like the V8, you don't need to produce a towing spreadsheet, make an argument about long-term depreciation, or explain why naturally aspirated throttle response improves your quality of life. You can just buy the V8 because you like V8s, and, as far as I'm concerned, there's nothing irrational about spending your money on something you enjoy—so long as you can honestly afford it. On our Vancouver Island road trip, the Ram swallowed three adults and our luggage, cruised quietly down the highway, soaked up rough pavement, entertained us with its enormous cabin, and became a card table while waiting for a ferry. Then I pressed the starter and listened to the HEMI reverberate around the ship's vehicle deck, more eager than ever to disembark and drive off into the sunset. My brain knows exactly why the Hurricane exists, but I am eternally grateful that Ram finally remembered love comes from the heart.Autoblog aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the Reviews section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.