The HEMI V8 Is Back: 2026 Ram 1500 Brings Power and Choice

[John Kloehr]

IIRCC the etorque is epa rated at 1mpg around town more than the regular hemi. I don’t know how real life that works out but from a corporate viewpoint that is a huge deal.
I have an etorque but share concerns about longevity issues of the system and would prefer a non-etorque. My around town mileage is supposed to be 18. I get 14.3 in my stock 22 rebel. Not impressed.

That sounds about right. And eTorque autostart is seamless compared to the earlier system using the starter. I too have nagging concerns about long-term reliability but most of them never have a problem. There is some comfort in it carrying an 80,000 mile warranty under emissions coverage. The nagging worry is due to known long waits for replacement parts.

 

[mikeru82]

It's actually one of the better start/stop systems on the market because it doesn't use the starter to restart the engine.

That's like saying the rope they are hanging you with is made of nylon instead of hemp so it's less abraisive on your neck. That was a joke btw.

Would I own one, no. But that the beauty of customer choice.

Agreed, I won't own one either. While we do have a choice of Hemi w/etorque or something else, it's be nice to still have the choice of Hemi with or without etorque.

 

[Ramboy13]

Within sane levels, I get better mileage in my Hemis if I put my foot into it a bit. Might be true for the new engine too. Don't go to "ticket-me" levels but get up to speed already.

 

[Ramboy13]

Right- I agree. I will say it’s much much easier to leave “sain” behind in the Hurricane.
Pretty sure I’ll be buying tires much sooner than planned. And again, I really do try to be easy on the skinny pedal.

 

[LRRP71]

That's like saying the rope they are hanging you with is made of nylon instead of hemp so it's less abraisive on your neck. That was a joke btw.


Agreed, I won't own one either. While we do have a choice of Hemi w/etorque or something else, it's be nice to still have the choice of Hemi with or without etorque.

Or at least a button to turn it off.

 

[John Kloehr]

Or at least a button to turn it off.

Really can not do that. The eTorque motor/generator charges the big battery and a DC to DC converter charges the little 12V battery under the hood.

The little torque boost off the line is not bad either, and the motor/generator is a lot better and faster at autostart than using the car starter motor. It also saves on brakes, something which does not show up in the fuel savings. Frankly, I would like a button to put eTorque into a hill descent mode for more engine braking on demand rather than when the system decides to engage it, and have the torque converter lock up on demand for this specific purpose. That would be a useful button.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Or at least a button to turn it off.

There is on the newer trucks

 

[John Kloehr]

There is on the newer trucks

If the newer ones do not have an alternator, then the button does not turn it all off.

 

[HSKR R/T]

If the newer ones do not have an alternator, then the button does not turn it all off.

It turns off the auto start/stop feature. Which is what was being discussed

 

[Madtrucker2021]

Then don't buy one. Yes it's for CAFE ratings. It's actually one of the better start/stop systems on the market because it doesn't use the starter to restart the engine. Would I own one, no. But that the beauty of customer choice.

I believe the Trump EPA is doing away with the stop-start system on vehicles. I have owned 3 Rams with it, and all did poorly on gas mileage

 

[John Kloehr]

It turns off the auto start/stop feature. Which is what was being discussed

If I set my top gear limit to 8, it does that too. A silly workaround or maybe programming artifact, but have not used it for that purpose. I feel eTorque is seamless and have not found a need to disable it. By the time I get from the brake to the gas, the engine is going. And it is smart enough to not shut off the engine if the AC is still working to keep me comfortable.

Both of these are not true in my partners Ford Ranger. The lag between brake and gas means the damn thing is not ready to go and the AC shuts down when the engine is trying to save gas, on that rig the disable button is a bit of a save but have to think ahead and push it. It is not seamless.

YMMV and I respect that.

 

[mikeru82]

It turns off the auto start/stop feature. Which is what was being discussed

Actually it's the etorque system that's being discussed, not just stop/start. You can permanently turn stop/start off with an autostart eliminator. But you're still stuck with the etorque system and all the issues that may come with it in time.

If I set my top gear limit to 8, it does that too. A silly workaround or maybe programming artifact, but have not used it for that purpose. I feel eTorque is seamless and have not found a need to disable it. By the time I get from the brake to the gas, the engine is going. And it is smart enough to not shut off the engine if the AC is still working to keep me comfortable.

Both of these are not true in my partners Ford Ranger. The lag between brake and gas means the damn thing is not ready to go and the AC shuts down when the engine is trying to save gas, on that rig the disable button is a bit of a save but have to think ahead and push it. It is not seamless.

YMMV and I respect that.

I think you're confusing MDS with stop/start. Setting the top gear to 8 disables MDS, not stop/start.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Actually it's the etorque system that's being discussed, not just stop/start. You can permanently turn stop/start off with an autostart eliminator. But you're still stuck with the etorque system and all the issues that may come with it in time.

Try to follow along with the comments being replied to. That chain of replies was talking about the start/stop feature. Don't believe me, click back to see.

 

[mikeru82]

Try to follow along with the comments being replied to. That chain of replies was talking about the start/stop feature. Don't believe me, click back to see.

This thread is about etorque. One recent post isn’t a chain of replies. But of course, you can’t ever admit when you make a mistake. The person who said there is a button to turn it off was quoting me. And I didn’t mention anything about stop/start.

You’re right of course, there is a button to disable stop/start. I’m pretty sure almost everyone who owns a truck with etorque knows that.

 

[HSKR R/T]

This thread is about etorque. One recent post isn’t a chain of replies. But of course, you can’t ever admit when you make a mistake. The person who said there is a button to turn it off was quoting me. And I didn’t mention anything about stop/start.

You’re right of course, there is a button to disable stop/start. I’m pretty sure almost everyone who owns a truck with etorque knows that.

Thread was about e-torque. I mentioned it has one of the best start/stop systems on the market

Then you replied to my comment. Someone else replied to you saying if only there was a button to turn it off. You assume they were talking about the entire e-torque system, but that's kind of amatrange assumption when part of your reply was to my comment about the start stop feature . Which wasnt an option on the early e-torque trucks.


Which is where I commented that there is a button on the newer trucks, because that is 100% fact.


Then you went off on your rant.

 

[mikeru82]

Thread was about e-torque. I mentioned it has one of the best start/stop systems on the market
View attachment 206410
Then you replied to my comment. Someone else replied to you saying if only there was a button to turn it off. You assume they were talking about the entire e-torque system, but that's kind of amatrange assumption when part of your reply was to my comment about the start stop feature . Which wasnt an option on the early e-torque trucks.
View attachment 206409

Which is where I commented that there is a button on the newer trucks, because that is 100% fact.

View attachment 206408
Then you went off on your rant.

Thanks for proving my point.
And for the record, all 5th gens w/hemi etorque have the button to disable stop/start. My daughter’s 2019 Rebel had it, and so did the 2020 Laramie I owned.

 

[John Kloehr]

Actually it's the etorque system that's being discussed, not just stop/start. You can permanently turn stop/start off with an autostart eliminator. But you're still stuck with the etorque system and all the issues that may come with it in time.


I think you're confusing MDS with stop/start. Setting the top gear to 8 disables MDS, not stop/start.

I wonder if I am in this case, thought it did both. I just leave the systems be and drive the truck as they just work.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Thanks for proving my point.
And for the record, all 5th gens w/hemi etorque have the button to disable stop/start. My daughter’s 2019 Rebel had it, and so did the 2020 Laramie I owned.

I proved my point in that the discussion, in the context I was replying to had shifted to be specifically about the start/stop. But nice try at flipping it

 

[mikeru82]

I wonder if I am in this case, thought it did both. I just leave the systems be and drive the truck as they just work.

Nothing wrong with that. I’d guess that the majority of people just let it do its thing.

 

[Madtrucker2021]

Or at least a button to turn it off.

agree I had in my life so far 9 Ram 1500 trucks, 2 used, the rest new from the dealership. And my new 2025 Ram 1500 Laramie Night Edition with fully loaded to the hilt is by far much better with fuel mileage than any truck I've had before. Plus, it is faster them the older one with the Hemi, yes sir, my 3.0 twin Turbo is a *** kicker.