2026 Ram 1500 Rebel X First Drive: Still No V-8RamEvery once in a while, a marketer's plan is so good, it comes true in ways they could only dream of. The 2025 Ram 1500 Rebel X was supposed to be a one-year-only special edition celebrating 10 years of the Rebel off-road trim, but customers loved it so much that Ram decided to bring it back for the 11th anniversary year. You still can't get it with a V-8, though.What Is X, Anyway?In case you've forgotten, the Rebel X is mostly an appearance package. It combines the Rebel Level 2 equipment group with the dual-pane panoramic sunroof, console shift lever (replacing the dash dial), and paddle shifters from the G/T package, exclusive leather and vinyl seats with embroidered Rebel X logos, a console badge, and bedside graphics. The closest thing to a mechanical upgrade is Rough-Road Cruise Control, a low-speed (up to 20 mph) off-road cruise control that disables automatic emergency braking and lightens up the steering.RamTo solve for X, you must first get a Rebel, which only comes in the crew-cab and short-bed configuration. Once you do that, you're required to add that $2,795 Rebel Level 2 equipment group, which includes the 14.4-inch infotainment screen, 19-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry, power-folding and auto-dimming exterior mirrors, Wi-Fi hotspot, passenger-side display, twin wireless phone chargers, auto wipers, power-adjustable pedals, heated and cooled power front seats, heated rear seats, and a 115-volt outlet in the bed.AdvertisementAdvertisementFrom there, you can add the $3,495 Rebel X package, which gets you those other features mentioned above. Doing so requires you to also select a $495 two-tone paint job, of which three of the nine color schemes are free, the rest an extra $295. Do all that and factor in destination charges, and your $68,240 Rebel is now a $74,530 Rebel X.RamIs It Six-Grand Cooler?Apparently so, given it was so popular that Ram brought it back despite the anniversary having passed. No one said the party had to end, so it didn't. Thankfully, it's easy to see what you're getting for the extra outlay. You know you're paying for that Level 2 package that you might've bought anyway, and if you want the stuff from the G/T package, that's $3,095 itself. That and the paint job, and there's your six grand already, not including the seats, bed graphics, and the exclusive Rough-Road Cruise Control. Basically, you're getting those last three items thrown in for free.What you're not getting, though, is the newly returned Hemi V-8. The Rebel X is only available with the 3.0-liter Hurricane SST twin-turbo inline-six, which, to be fair, makes more power and torque, gets better fuel economy, is quicker in our testing, and tows more. We asked why, especially considering the regular Rebel gets the V-8 back as a $1,200 option, and a Ram spokesperson told us the Rebel X is intended to group all the best equipment into one package, and the Hurricane is the more advanced engine.RamDoes It Drive Any Differently?You'd think not, and you'd be correct. To be sure, we took it for a spin outside Fort Worth, Texas, on our way up to an off-road park where we could verify its off-road credentials. The Rebel can be credited with kicking off the midgrade off-road segment that every other truck manufacturer has jumped on, and its credibility remains untarnished. With no changes to powertrain, suspensions, or tires, it drives exactly like the standard Rebel on-road and off.AdvertisementAdvertisementWe verified this by wheeling around an old quarry full of big rocks and deep mudholes, the latter resulting from recent rain. The 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires dug right into whatever surface we drove them over and never missed a beat even though we didn't bother to air them down. For maximum off-road capability, our test truck was fitted with the optional air suspension, which allows you to increase the maximum ground clearance from the Rebel's 9.1 inches to 10.2 inches but adds another $1,995 to the tab. Even do, the underbody skidplates were called into action a couple times.We wanted to test the Rough Road Cruise Control in particular, and we're left whelmed. Ram already offers off-road cruise control on the regular Rebel, but this one uses the forward-looking radar and a camera to read the terrain ahead and adjust throttle, brakes, steering weight, and ride height automatically. We didn't really notice it doing any of that, making us think this is a feature for off-road beginners who need as many variables as possible handled for them so they can focus solely on where they're going. If you're a seasoned off-roader, we're not yet convinced it alone is worth getting the Rebel X package.RamShould I Just Get the RHO?When it comes to Ram trims, it boils down to what you want to do with your truck. It's true that once you put air suspension on the Rebel X, you're at price parity with the far more extreme RHO, but then you're comparing a base RHO to a well-equipped Rebel X. To get all the comfort items from those packages and equipment groups the Rebel X makes you buy, you'd have to spend $9,995 on the RHO Level 1 equipment group, and there goes your price comparison.If all you care about is going the fastest and hardest off-road, the RHO is your truck. Forget all the bells and whistles, and you'll go way farther in the dirt than a Rebel X for the same money. If you do like your gizmos and such, the Rebel X is still a very capable off-roader with all the fancy features for the same money.AdvertisementAdvertisementOr, you know, you could just get a regular Rebel and spec the exact features you want. It might not end up saving you any money, but you could have the V-8 and no unnecessary extras. Regardless of how you choose to spend your money, however, the Rebel, Rebel X, and RHO are good for it.Photo credit: RamPhoto credit: RamPhoto credit: RamPhoto credit: RamAdvertisementAdvertisementPhoto credit: RamPhoto credit: RamPhoto credit: RamPhoto credit: RamAdvertisementAdvertisementPhoto credit: RamPhoto credit: RamPhoto credit: Ram
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