I want to say hello to my old friend, the 5.7-liter Hemi because it is BACK! Oh, how I’ve missed the rumble of the exhaust, the sensation of being thrown against the seat when I floorboard it, and the rednecks pulling up next to me asking: That thing got a Hemi? The answer is YES, it has a Hemi with not six-but sixteen spark plugs. In case you didn’t know, the Hemi has two spark plugs per cylinder. Special thanks go to Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis, who has been on the Car Pro Show, for doing what most automotive CEOs do not: He listened to his customers. So refreshing! Therefore, I welcome for the week a 2026 Ram 1500 Limited Longhorn, the very top-of-the-line!
Performance
I will take a departure from my normal review template to give you a refresher course on this historic engine. The returning 5.7-liter Hemi V8 in the 2026 Ram 1500 delivers 395-horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque, essentially matching the output that made it a mainstay of the previous-generation truck. It remains a naturally aspirated, pushrod V8 engineered for broad low-end torque, smooth power delivery, and the kind of durability Ram loyalists have come to expect. It is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and all Limited Longhorn trim levels come as 4-wheel drive.
Ram identifies the Hemi as an eTorque, which is a belt-driven mild-hybrid setup that adds a 48-volt motor-generator unit and a small lithium-ion battery pack to the 5.7-liter Hemi. The system provides up to 130 pound-feet of supplemental launch torque, smooths start/stop events, and improves low-speed drivability without changing the engine’s rated horsepower or torque. There are emblems on the raised hood to tell you it is an eTorque, but even cooler than that, the fenders have the Symbol of Protest Badge, which is the official designation given by Ram for the V-8 emblem (the Ram head over a V8-block graphic with exhaust-pipe styling) that appears on 2026 Ram 1500 pickups equipped with the V8. It’s more than just an emblem — it’s been codified as an actual line-item on the 1500’s window sticker package when you option the V-8.
So, if you are old school and just can’t stomach the thought of anything that doesn’t have 8-cylinders, you are in luck. Just know there are sacrifices. The six-banger Hurricane engine has much better stats. So, before you snub the new 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight six-cylinder Hurricane engine, F-150 and Tundra have both gone to twin-turbo sixes with great success. The Hurricane is putting out 420-horses, an amazing 468 pound-feet of torque, and this engine is silky smooth. If you choose, you can go up to the High Output version and go to 540-horses. The engine is smoother, is more fuel-efficient, and it will tow 11,560 pounds. One plus of the V8 is it is super simple. I watched a video a listener and friend sent me from a technical guy, and he said over and over how simple the Hemi was. He also raved about the sound of the engine, and I agree 100%, it sounds terrific, and you don’t get that with the Hurricane.
Exterior
On to the exterior, besides the awesome emblems, the Limited Longhorn presents a premium look with an updated grille, refined LED headlights and taillights, and optional 22” wheels wrapped in 285/45 tires.
This truck in Granite Crystal Metallic looks terrific, it has a nice amount of chrome surrounding the side windows, and chrome exhaust tips finish out the rear view. This is a really good-looking truck and it is clear that this is a luxury truck, not your average work truck.
Interior
Inside, the Longhorn keeps its signature cowboy-luxury theme, and the front seats are a major part of that identity. They’re premium, full-grain leather buckets with intricate Longhorn-specific stitching, tooled-leather accents, and branded embossing on the seatbacks. Ram continues to use a saddle-inspired color palette with contrast piping that reinforces the Western aesthetic.
Both front seats are 12-way power adjustable with power lumbar, heating, ventilation, and standard memory settings for the driver. Oh, and yes, they will massage you! The cushioning is thick yet supportive, tuned for long-haul comfort, and the bolstering is moderate so drivers of all sizes can settle in easily. Ram also integrates its upscale details here: perforated leather, real metal trim, and belt-buckle-style motifs that have defined the Longhorn cabin for more than a decade. In short, they’re luxury-grade seats with a Western accent — built for comfort, dressed for show, and immediately identifiable as Longhorn.
Technology takes a big step forward with the 14.5-inch portrait-style Uconnect 5 touchscreen, which is standard on upper trims. It manages virtually every major vehicle function, including navigation, audio, wireless smartphone integration, climate control, seat and steering-wheel heat, drive modes, trailer profiles, camera views, lighting, and detailed vehicle settings. It also serves as the hub for connected services, over-the-air updates, customizable widgets, and multi-panel split-screen layouts. A passenger-side screen is new, giving the right-seat rider their own display for devices and functions.
The center console in the Limited Longhorn is a wide, leather-topped unit with open and covered storage, a configurable sliding tray, multiple USB-A and USB-C ports, dual cupholders, and a deep bin sized for larger items, all finished with the trim’s signature Western details. There are also dual standup cell phone chargers there.
Moving to the cavernous back seat, which has the same super-nice materials as the front does, it feels like a premium cabin, not an afterthought, with impressive stretch-out space. The Crew Cab’s wide-opening rear doors make entry easy, and once inside, passengers get generous legroom, a comfortably reclined seatback, and upscale leather with detailed stitching unique to the Longhorn. Amenities include rear HVAC vents, heated seats, multiple USB-A and USB-C ports, and a 115-volt outlet. The flat floor makes the middle position far more usable than in many trucks, and the rear seats flip up to reveal under-seat storage or fold out a flat load surface for securing gear inside the cabin. Large side windows and a power sliding rear window add to the sense of space, making the back seat every bit as comfortable on long drives as the front.
The 5-foot-7-inch bed in the Crew Cab configuration offers wide, flat load walls, stout tie-downs, LED bed lighting, and a spray-in liner that keeps the surface durable and quiet. Ram’s signature multifunction tailgate opens conventionally or barn-door style for easier step-in access, and the cargo-management rails make it simple to secure odd-shaped loads.
The bed outlets provide 115-volt power for tools or gear, and the tailgate can be lowered from the key fob when your hands are full.
Standard Features
The 2025 Ram 1500 Limited Longhorn comes standard with LED headlamps and taillamps, power-deployable running boards, a damped tailgate, and the Longhorn’s signature premium exterior trim.
Inside, it includes full-grain leather seating with filigree accents, real wood and metal trim, heated and ventilated front seats, the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 14.5-inch Uconnect touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10-speaker Alpine audio system, dual-zone climate control, a household-style 115-volt outlet, multiple USB ports, the Longhorn floor console, and the full suite of Ram storage solutions including under-seat compartments and the reconfigurable center console.
On the safety side, the Ram is loaded: lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and active lane management are all present. New this year is traffic sign recognition and a drowsy driver alert system, making the truck not only powerful but also smarter about keeping you safe.
My review truck for this week has $8,600 worth of options including $295 for the color, $595 for GT exhaust which sounds awesome by the way, trailer tow package is $1095, the bed utility group is $545, the big trailer towing mirrors are $795, $1,595 gets you a huge Panoramic moon roof, the multi-function tailgate is $1,095, and the 22” wheels run $2,095.
Driving the 2026 Longhorn with the Hemi once again feels fantastic, but that’s not to say I didn’t like the six cylinder Hurricane, because I did. The mild hybrid system gives you torque that is always on tap when you push hard on the gas pedal. I’ve often talked about how quiet Ram trucks are inside and how well they ride, and this 2026 is the best yet.
Fuel economy is not a reason to get back to the Hemi, it’s not great, but you can’t have it all, right? It’s rated at 16 city and 20 on the highway, but if you like to hear the exhaust sing, you won’t get there. Price wise, trucks have just gotten damned expensive these days and this one is no exception with an MSRP of $86,205 but I can’t imagine anything that this one doesn’t have and it’s the top-of-the-line.
Overall, the 2026 Limited Longhorn brings together the features that define Ram’s top-tier craftsmanship—premium leather with Longhorn-specific detailing, warm-chrome exterior accents, and the full character of the trim’s Western-luxury identity—while bundling it with the standard 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with eTorque and its supporting hardware. It effectively sets the stage for the truck’s upscale feel before any add-on equipment, delivering the core Longhorn look, powertrain, and interior refinement that separate it from the rest of the lineup. This can be your pickup OR it can be your luxury car.