The 2026 Ram 1500 Express Is Back and Starts at $44,495

The 2026 Ram 1500 Express Is Back and Starts at $44,495​

Kristen LeeWriterManufacturerPhotographerMay 05, 2025


The pickup will be available in either crew or extended cab layouts.



It's no secret new cars today are way too expensive. But to offer an attractive value proposition, Ram is bringing back the 2026 Ram 1500 Express. With a starting price of $44,495, it's lower than the average new-car price and makes it one of the most affordable Ram 1500 models you can buy.

The Ram 1500 Express can be optioned in either the crew or extended "Quad" cab layouts, and with a choice of rear- or four-wheel drive. You also get laser-etched interior trim, black bezel-surround LED headlights, a choice of five monochromatic exterior colors (black, white, gray, and two blues), body-color front and rear bumpers, 20-inch wheels, adaptive cruise control, and the 3.6-liter, 305-hp Pentastar V-6 motor as standard.



For an extra $1,695, you can select the low-output version of the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged Hurricane inline-six engine, which produces 420 hp and unlocks the ability to tow up to 11,550 pounds when installed in a Quad Cab with rear-drive.
Looking for some extra visual flair? The Ram 1500 Black Express Package includes a Sport hood, black badging and 20-inch wheels, LED fog lights, running boards, black cloth bucket seats, and a 7-inch gauge cluster. This package is available only on Quad Cab and Crew 4WD models, and costs just $995.

You can see the full 2026 Ram 1500 Express starting price breakdown below:

• Quad Cab 2WD: $44,495
• Crew Cab 2WD: $47,245
• Quad Cab 4WD: $48,345
• Crew Cab 4WD: $51,095

The Express replaces the discontinued Ram Classic and marks the return of a popular value-focused and practicality-minded choice. Pickup trucks can now be optioned to rival even the most opulent SUVs, but sometimes you just want a well-equipped, no-frills truck to get work done. This seems to be that truck.



Ram first offered the Black Express in 2013 and again in 2019. So, as much as we all love a hoo-rah Hemi-powered pickup, the 2026 Ram Express will no doubt benefit from the model's recent thorough midcycle update, which helped it earn the title of our 2025 Truck of the Year.

This is the first example of Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis' plan to launch 25 product updates over the next 18 months. Not all the rollouts are known just yet, but it's an aggressive schedule.
Order books for the 2026 Ram 1500 Express are now open, with deliveries scheduled to start in Q3 of this year.


https://www.motortrend.com/news/2026-ram-1500-express-first-look

 

[EdGs]

Absolutely. No Hemi = hard pass

 

[Jon NC]

They fooled my once with the Pentastar valve train, they won't fool me twice.

Ok, I'll bite.

I am in the market for a truck to replace a 2002 Ford ..... Had a 2022 quad cab with Pentastar for about 10 days.....

I don't set any speed records, haul very little, tow even less....

I have asked about negative Pentastar feedback...havent gotten any yet...

Don't mean to open a can of worms, but would like to hear your story.

Thanx in advance either way......

 

[Docwagon1776]

Ok, I'll bite.

I am in the market for a truck to replace a 2002 Ford ..... Had a 2022 quad cab with Pentastar for about 10 days.....

I don't set any speed records, haul very little, tow even less....

I have asked about negative Pentastar feedback...havent gotten any yet...

Don't mean to open a can of worms, but would like to hear your story.

Thanx in advance either way......

There were a few batches that ate cams for some reason or other, you'll see more about it on Jeep forums since Ram forums tend to be more hemi and diesel focused. Overall, it's a very solid engine.

 

[Yardbird]

Not changing oil enough or not using good oil, and dry starts are the main problem with the cam followers. If my trucks sits for any amount of time I hold the gas pedal to the floor and do two 5 second engine turnovers to pre-lube.

The main weak spot is the oil filter base leaking under the intake, which can be replaced. The engines don't just blow up unless ran out of oil.

My son had one of the early ones for many years and over 100k miles. There was a recall on the one head he had done on those early ones. Other than that, zero problems.