Ram Truck aficionados who are about to step up from their decades-old Crew Cab 4×4 models to the most recent version of the 1500 Series half-ton pickups will be in for a surprise when it comes to what lies under the hood and where the prices sit for 2026.
The good news is the venerable 5.7L Hemi V-8 that was discontinued in 2024 is back, literally by popular demand. The 2026 pickups once again offer the legendary 395-horsepower powerplant as a $2,895 option for those who prefer a V-8 over the healthy 420-horsepower twin-turbo Hurricane I-6. Most of that Hemi love is centered around the deep-throated rumble that has made the venerable V-8 an icon.
So, how does the Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4×4 with the 5.7L Hemi compare to its turbo’d 3.0L I-6 stablemate? I spent a week and nearly 300 miles behind the wheel of each to find out.
The Warlock is third from the bottom of the 10 Ram trims, while the Rebel is upper mid-level. If you spend a lot of drive time in one of these pickups, and weekend with the family, the Rebel would be my first choice because of all the creature comforts and nice infotainment system. If it’s just weekday work truck use, the Warlock would suffice.
Trim level differences aside, the stealthily quiet Hurricane 3.0L flat outshines the Hemi. Powerwise, the only engine a Rebel comes with is the standard-output Hurricane I-6. Meanwhile, the Warlock comes standard with the 305-horsepower Pentastar V6, with the Hurricane ($1,695) and Hemi ($2,895) available as options for 2026.
Ram 1500 Specs
- Pickup: 2026 Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4×4
- Model/Trim: Warlock; Rebel
- Engine: 5.7L Hemi V-8; 3.0L Hurricane I-6
- Horsepower: 395 hp; 420 hp
- Torque: 410 lb.-ft.; 469 lb.-ft.
- Transmission: 8-speed 8HP75 automatic
- Axle ratio: 3.21:1; 3.92:1 (both w/electric-locking rear diff)
- Suspension: Bilstein 5100
- Tires: 33” LT275/70R18 Goodyear Wrangler A/Ts
- Fuel tank: 33 gals.; 26 gals.
- EPA mpg: 18/16/20; 20/18/24
- Observed combined mpg: 17.1; 19.2
- Tow rating: 11,320 lbs.; 11,610 lbs.
- 0-60 mph performance: 6.3 sec.; 5.1 sec.
- Price as tested: $62,230; $67,680
Pros
- Hemi GT throaty exhaust exhilarating
- Hurricane I-6 surprising acceleration
- Rebel creature comforts abound
- Rebel’s infotainment/electronics top-shelf
- Warlock trim fits work truck needs
- Rebel trim tailored to mid-level buyers
- Hemi runs on 87 octane
Cons
- Poor fuel economy of both
- Hurricane needs 89 octane; 91 for optimum power
- I-6 exhaust note nonexistent
- Tall step-in for those under 6 ft.
2026 Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4×4: Warlock vs. Rebel
There’s really no way to do an across-the-board comparison between the Warlock and the Rebel 1500s. The trim levels of these two Crew Cab shortbed 4x4s target two different pickup buyers. The Warlock is a work truck, the Rebel a mid-level package well-suited for family and equipped appropriately.
But, let’s dive into what both have to offer. I learned a lot spending time in both, back-to-back.
Rebel With a Cause
Designed for both on and off-pavement forays, the Rebel trim includes 33-inch tires, Bilstein shocks, skid plates, a 1-inch lift, and the standard-output 3.0L Hurricane I-6 that delivers faster acceleration and higher towing capacity than the 5.7L V-8 Hemi.
Inside the Crew Cab is an array of features that make getting comfortable — and staying comfortable — on every drive just like any upscale vehicle. The faux leather seating is very comfortable and fits all statures.
Eight-way-adjustable power fronts are heated, and the digital dash and steering wheel controls provide a plethora of information at one’s fingertips. The foot-tall display screen in the center stack makes quick work of navigation, information, and entertainment needs.
The power-adjustable pedals, part of the Rebel Equipment 1 Group option ($495), make it easy to switch from taller drivers to those shorter in stature — a plus when more than one person will be sharing driving duties. Likewise, the mirrors are both power-adjustable and heated. The power tailgate release is nice, as is having the 115V A/C outlet in the bed.
A Hurricane of Power
Two things struck me about the Hurricane I-6 under the hood of the Rebel. First, it needs to be fed mid-grade 89 octane, or premium 91 octane to make max power. That drives up annual fuel costs.
The second is fuel economy, which fluctuates greatly depending on how deep and how often your right foot tickles the 3.0L inline-six Hurricane’s twin turbos that help this new engine deliver a standard 420 horsepower and of torque. This new powerhouse is the only engine available in the mid-trim 1500 Rebel.
The 3.0L Hurricane will eat up the Hemi it replaces. There’s hardly a hint of turbo-lag, and not a passing lane it doesn’t like. Each turbo feeds three cylinders with an exceedingly smooth power delivery and rapid throttle response. It’s also stealthily quiet inside and out. The Hurricane I-6 hisses while the Hemi roars.
Fuel Economy Not the Best
While the factory pricing sheet lists the EPA mpg numbers at 20 combined, 24 highway, I never once saw the digital mileage readout exceed 21 mpg during my week driving the pickup along the Oregon Coast Scenic Highway, all the while staying at 55-60 mph on flat terrain.
Roll into the throttle and/or cruise above 60mph, and the mpg quickly drops into the upper-teens. City driving mpg hovered between 15 and 17mpg. Sadly, I was expecting much better fuel economy from the Hurricane I-6.
Granted, this Ram 1500’s 3.92 gearing and 33-inch all-terrain tires that are part of the Rebel package do affect the Hurricane’s fuel economy. Just be aware that the Rebel’s mileage numbers are very sensitive to throttle position.
Hurricane Has Plentiful Power
On the plus side, fuel economy is better than both the Hemi and the competitor’s small turbo’d engines under load, which should appeal to anyone using this truck as a recreational tow vehicle. The twin turbos also supply its power much more smoothly and quickly than the naturally aspirated 5.7L under the hood of the Warlock I drove.
On the plus side, the Rebel’s 3.92:1 gearing helps in the acceleration and towing categories compared to the Warlock’s 3.21:1 axle ratio. The Rebel also comes with the standard 26-gallon fuel tank, while the Hemi option in the Warlock includes a 33-gallon fuel tank. In both pickups, the driving range is well north of 500 miles.
Driving at Night a Pleasure
One of the many nice features of the 2026 Rebel 1500 is the exceptional functionality of its headlights. They are awesome, with really strong lighting down the road — and off to the sides of the road, illuminating the surroundings almost directly opposite the front doors.
This is just what a driver needs for maximum safety in rural and backcountry driving. Kudos to RAM engineering. In fact, all of the safety features in this pickup are stellar.
The infotainment and creature comforts that abound in the Rebel I drove made driving in city traffic, maneuvering through congested parking lots, and cruising the open highways and backroads a pleasure.
It’s the $64,445 base price (and $67,680 MSRP as tested) sticker shock that I’d have a hard time getting used to.
V-8 Hemi 2026 Ram 1500 Warlock
Immediately after closing the door on the Rebel, I took the keys to the Warlock. I drove it for a week on the Oregon Coast. The difference between the two trims is what you’d expect, switching from a mid-level, nicely trimmed pickup to a work truck.
The Warlock base price of $47,725 looks very attractive. But that’s short-lived because a handful of options quickly elevate its price.
Those include the Preferred Package Option (27B; $4,690), Trailer Tow group ($1,950), Hemi ($2,895), Bed Utility Group ($945), and another $1,145 for the spray-in bed liner and tri-fold tonneau cover. Add in the $2,895 destination charge and the price is suddenly $62,230.
Work Truck Interior, Truck With Off-Road Chops
That’s a chunk of change for what ends up still being your average work truck. The interior is cloth with a front seat that has a fold-down center console should the middle seat be needed. The rear seat is a conventional 60/40 fold-down variety.
I applaud the raised suspension on 33-inch Goodyear A/Ts, along with the electronic-locking rear diff that helps its off-pavement, off-road prowess just like the upscale Rebel.
A Hemi Under the Hood
The ride is pleasant with the mild hum of the Hemi always present. Like its mid-trim stablemate, the steering, braking, and traction performance is well-matched to give the driver a sense of security and enjoyment in whatever environment its driven.
My biggest attraction to the 5.7L V-8 is the exhaust. Ram Truck engineers know how to make the exhaust very pleasing to the ear of anyone who enjoys the sound of good ol’ American muscle. It’s deep. Throaty, but not obnoxious. Unlike the Hurricane I-6, the Warlock’s V-8 exhaust lets anyone in earshot know when you are digging deeper into the throttle.
Stance is identical to that of the Rebel. Ride quality is a little stiffer. You feel the road irregularities more than in the Rebel because the shock tuning in the latter is more refined to give a more comfortable ride. The plusher seats in the Rebel’s buckets also add to the nicer ride than you’ll find in the Warlock.
Creature Comforts Less So
Speaking of seating comfort, the Warlock interior is a noticeable step down from the Rebel. It doesn’t have power seats. Cloth, not faux leather. There are half as many controls on the steering wheel, and the overall dash layout is much more basic, as are the infotainment and climate control functions.
There’s no navigation, no array of exterior cameras to “see” around the pickup, like the Rebel. Mostly, the Warlock just sets off a buzzer warning when objects get too close to the body.
The trailer tow package ($1,345 option) is a nice touch for work- and recreational-trailer towing. Manual telescoping mirrors, with power-adjustable wide angles, help see what’s going on out back. So is having the 115V AC outlet in the bed, which is a convenient place to plug in a battery charger for cordless tools.
Hemi 5.7L Fuel Economy
Fuel economy is so-so compared to competitors. That’s disappointing. What I observed in a 100-mile test loop along the Oregon Coast between Florence and Coos Bay, maintaining 55-60 mph, was 17.9 mpg. The section of Highway 101 has very few hills. The spring weather was nice, and traffic was very light.
Just like the Hurricane 3.0L, the Hemi V-8 mpg is very sensitive to throttle. Dig deep more than a couple of times in passing lanes, or cruise above 60mph, and the mpg numbers are quick to tumble. As any gearhead knows, it takes fuel to make horsepower.
Ram 1500 Warlock vs. Rebel Conclusions
Overall, both the Ram 1500 Warlock and Rebel are solid packages. They are comparable in many functionality and pricing ways to those offered by their direct full-size pickup competitors.
Both of these Ram 1500s have more than enough power on tap to tow the type and size of trailers commonly used by half-ton owners. Both pickups are comfortable rides. Both exhibit the broad-shouldered look that has always been an attractive part of the Ram truck style. Where they fall a little short is in the fuel-economy arena.
