Ram 1500 Express Returns When We Needed it Most

Ram is reintroducing the 1500 Express for model year ‘26, the big selling point of which is a starting sticker price of $44,495 with destination, placing it firmly in the bottom rungs of this fullsize truck’s price ladder.

The Ram 1500 Express is available in both Crew and Quad cabs, and two- or four-wheel-drive powertrains. A 2WD Crew Cab, the first upgrade over the 2WD Quad, starts at $47,245. The 4WD model follows a similar pricing structure, starting at $48,345 for the Quad and $51,095 for the Crew.

Standard is a Stellantis stalwart, the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, rated here at 305 horsepower; however, the standard-output version of the group’s Hurricane inline-six is available, a $1,695 addition rated at 420 horsepower. A Hurricane-equipped Quad Cab 2WD is able to tow up to 11,500 lbs., perfect for many folks’ weekend excursions, while adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking will make the weekday drive a tad less stressful.

Styling is rather subdued thanks to a number of black accents, like the headlight bezels and grille surrounds, which sync up with the Diamond Black paint or add a bit of contrast to the others (Bright White, Granite Crystal, Forged Blue and Hydro Blue). The Black Express package, a $995 add-on for Quad and Crew 4WD units, throws in a sport hood, side steps and LED foglights; and the badges and 20-inch wheels are finished in black, as are the cabin’s cloth buckets. A 7-inch gauge cluster and floor console round out this upgrade.

All models will be assembled at the Michigan-based Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, available for order now and arriving in the third quarter of this year.