The Ram 1500 Express Pickup is back in black! The brand is re-introducing the popular and value-priced pickup for the 2026 model year. It also marks the return of the Black Express package - which Ram says is one of the most popular trucks ever offered on the Ram 1500.
“The Express is the latest drop in Ram’s product offensive,” said Tim Kuniskis, CEO, Ram brand. “We started the 2025 model year with a new Ram 1500 and new Ram Heavy Duty lineup. With the platforms refreshed, we begin rolling out trim level enhancements.”
2026 Ram 1500 Express
The new 2026 Ram 1500 Express comes equipped with a standard 305-horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine. A 3.0-liter Hurricane SO I-6 rated at 420 horsepower is optional for $1,695.
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Photo: Ram.
Up front the Ram 1500 Express sports a badgeless monochromatic paint scheme with gloss black grille surrounds. It also features body-color front and rear bumpers. It's available in Diamond Black, Bright White, Granite Crystal, Forged Blue and Hydro Blue. Other features include:
- 20-inch wheels
- Adaptive cruise control
- Automatic emergency braking
- Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking
- Tow rating up to 11,550 lbs. (Quad Cab 2wd with 3.0L Hurricane SO engine)
- Black-bezel LED headlamps
- Interior accents in Liquid Graphite laser etched paint and Gridiron colors
“The sunset of our Ram 1500 Classic makes the Express a natural front-runner. We have 25 more product announcements planned within the next 18 months, ranging from mild to wild with something for every truck buyer,” said Kuniskis.
Black Express Package
The Black Express package has been a popular one both times it's been offered. The first in 2013 when Ram says orders accounted for more than 20% of the trucks coming off the Ram 1500 production line. The automaker says the package was equally popular in 2019.
Photo: Ram.
The 2026 Ram 1500 Black Express package is $995 and only available on the Quad and Crew 4WD variants. It adds a sport hood, black badging, black 20-inch wheels, side steps, LED fog lamps and an upgraded interior with black cloth bucket seats, a 7-inch gauge cluster and floor console.
Pricing and Availability
The new 2026 Ram 1500 Express will start from $44,495, including destination:
- Quad Cab 2WD - $44,495
- Crew Cab 2WD - $47,245
- Quad Cab 4WD - $48,345
- Crew Cab 4WD - $51,095
Orders are open now with availability in the third quarter of 2025. The pickup will be assembled at Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in Michigan.
Ram Express history
The first Ram Express hit the road in 1939. It served early America as a 78-horsepower regular cab pickup. (Gas engine options included a 217.8-cubic-inch or 230.2-cubic-inch flat-head six-cylinder engine.) The Express MSRP was $670 in 1939. Today, the average selling price for the historic pickup is $13,900. Ram (Dodge) T, V and W series trucks were produced from 1939 to 1947.
Photo Credit: Ram/Stellantis.