Looking to Buy - 6 vs 8 cylinder?

[Jszlaga]

I’m a rookie so apologize in advance if this is a silly question. Looking to make a new purchase. Do I grab a 2025 with the 6 banger or do I build a 2026 with the v8 coming back? Any general consensus on here amongst the gang of which is better/preferred? Pros and cons of each? Thanks in advance.

 

[zlman]

2026 Ram Hemi will have Etorque. I own a 2020 Etorque, it was great until the MGU failed(alternator for Etorque) and my truck sat at the dealer for 41 days waiting for a replacement.
I won’t buy another v8 with it, I’ll tell you that.

 

[Reverse]

Not discounting the previous poster's experience - I can totally see how he would not want to repeat that experience. However - I own a 2020 with 193,000 miles on it that has had no etorque problems - so mileage can vary. Looking to trade in about a year (end of warranty), and I'll probably go for a V-8 again. Even with the etorque and VVT it's a simpler setup than twin turbo I-6. The prices of new trucks have become ridiculous though. I'm actually considering an F-250 since that is relatively speaking a cheaper deal than a 1500. Car market is crazy.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Personally, I'd go with the Hurricane for the better performance. Anyone that says it is more "complicated" than a Hemi with vvt, MDS, and etorque is fooling themselves.

 

[boomtastic]

I had a 2019 Limited with the hemi. It served me well for 117k miles, but then started throwing check engine lights. I was told the code could have been anything from a sensor under the intake manifold to a wiped out cam lobe. I traded it in for a 2025 Limited with the SST HO engine. Other than missing the hemi rumble (my old truck was straight piped) I'm completely happy with the new truck and the 6 cylinder. It's stupidly fast, comfortable and has all the options. My dealer even covered the powertrain up to 100k. There have been reported issues with the new truck - mostly electrical stuff, but that could happen with either engine. Drive both and pick what you like.

 

[1923bob]

I have a Hemi with the e- torque no trouble.

 

[LOWRMPG]

I’m a rookie so apologize in advance if this is a silly question. Looking to make a new purchase. Do I grab a 2025 with the 6 banger or do I build a 2026 with the v8 coming back? Any general consensus on here amongst the gang of which is better/preferred? Pros and cons of each? Thanks in advance.

If you're asking that question, the answer you're looking for is get the V8 (because there is no comparison between the two motors, the TT is far superior in power, the debate is more of which one do you personally believe is reliable). So, with that, get a 2024 don't worry about a 2025 and save yourself a ton of money.

 

[RamBum]

I've had two Hemi Rams (a 2008 and a 2023 with a 2017 Eco Diesel in between) and I loved them both, but I really prefer my 2025 Limited with the Hurricane HO. It's smooth and quiet and I've had zero issues so far. I miss the Hemi rumble of course, but that's about all I miss!

 

[Jszlaga]

Thanks for all the input so far. I’m leaning the 2025 direction because I’m hoping to snag a big discount. Seems like most people with the Hurricane HO actually seem to like it.

 

[Dallas Aggie]

Had a 2019 Limited with Hemi that I drove 140,000 miles with no engine issues outside of the exhaust manifolds.

Now have a 2025 Limited with the 3.0L Hurricane high-output twin-turbo inline-six.

I do not miss the Hemi, this new engine will pin you to the seat when you floor it.

 

[boomtastic]

Had a 2019 Limited with Hemi that I drove 140,000 miles with no engine issues outside of the exhaust manifolds.

Now have a 2025 Limited with the 3.0L Hurricane high-output twin-turbo inline-six.

I do not miss the Hemi, this new engine will pin you to the seat when you floor it.

Ugh, I totally forgot about the exhaust manifold issues. I had one (the passenger side) replaced on my 2019 too.

 

[G Gerard]

I’m a rookie so apologize in advance if this is a silly question. Looking to make a new purchase. Do I grab a 2025 with the 6 banger or do I build a 2026 with the v8 coming back? Any general consensus on here amongst the gang of which is better/preferred? Pros and cons of each? Thanks in advance.

My personal preference in a full size is always a V8, unless you are going diesel. I have found them to have the greatest longevity. My last vehicle had 300K and still ran great with negligible oil consumption.
That said, everything I have heard and viewed about the straight six twin turbo Hurricane is very impressive. It sounds like a beast. A straight six has traditionally been a pretty bullet proof throughout history. I believe the Ford 300 is regarded as one of the greatest engines ever.

 

[RedFred]

I had 2 hemi's, both without the e-torque. I now have a 2025 Laramie with the standard output Hurricane inline 6 tt and I feel like I couldn't go back to the same old hemi. The only thing I miss about the hemi is the V8 rumble on cold starts. If they came out with a new, more powerful hemi without any e-torque system, I would consider it in the future.

 

[Scram1500]

I had 2 hemi's, both without the e-torque. I now have a 2025 Laramie with the standard output Hurricane inline 6 tt and I feel like I couldn't go back to the same old hemi. The only thing I miss about the hemi is the V8 rumble on cold starts. If they came out with a new, more powerful hemi without any e-torque system, I would consider it in the future.

Like if they find their balls and make a SRT 1500

 

[jc1003]

Get the 3.0 twin turbo. You won't regret it.

 

[2025 Ram Limited]

I had a 2019 Limited with the hemi. It served me well for 117k miles, but then started throwing check engine lights. I was told the code could have been anything from a sensor under the intake manifold to a wiped out cam lobe. I traded it in for a 2025 Limited with the SST HO engine. Other than missing the hemi rumble (my old truck was straight piped) I'm completely happy with the new truck and the 6 cylinder. It's stupidly fast, comfortable and has all the options. My dealer even covered the powertrain up to 100k. There have been reported issues with the new truck - mostly electrical stuff, but that could happen with either engine. Drive both and pick what you like.

I agree...stupidly fast. I love it to.

 

[azzx]

Personally, I'd go with the Hurricane for the better performance. Anyone that says it is more "complicated" than a Hemi with vvt, MDS, and etorque is fooling themselves.

Agreed - loved my Hemi, but the SST is at a diff. level. I can imagin that the high output version will be insane.

 

[G Gerard]

I had 2 hemi's, both without the e-torque. I now have a 2025 Laramie with the standard output Hurricane inline 6 tt and I feel like I couldn't go back to the same old hemi. The only thing I miss about the hemi is the V8 rumble on cold starts. If they came out with a new, more powerful hemi without any e-torque system, I would consider it in the future.

Not discounting the previous poster's experience - I can totally see how he would not want to repeat that experience. However - I own a 2020 with 193,000 miles on it that has had no etorque problems - so mileage can vary. Looking to trade in about a year (end of warranty), and I'll probably go for a V-8 again. Even with the etorque and VVT it's a simpler setup than twin turbo I-6. The prices of new trucks have become ridiculous though. I'm actually considering an F-250 since that is relatively speaking a cheaper deal than a 1500. Car market is crazy.

Hi There,
I am curious what warranty you have with a year left given its a 20 with 193K. I am looking for an after market warranty since my RAM one is about to expire and the ones I have reviewed do not have the service life that you have.

 

[WXman]

I strongly disagree with post #4 and my buddies who are service writers would tell you the same. The Hurricane is an overly complex, overly expensive engine. It has flaws that will really begin to show themselves in a few years when more of them have higher mileage on them, and labor times are typically much greater to repair them vs the traditional V8. The fuel economy isn’t better than the V8 in the real world. Resale won’t be as good. And driving the 3.0 isn’t as enjoyable because it lacks the heart and soul of the V8.



Does the 3.0 outperform the 5.7? Possibly, but the difference is so small it’s not worth the drawbacks.

 

[HSKR R/T]

I strongly disagree with post #4 and my buddies who are service writers would tell you the same. The Hurricane is an overly complex, overly expensive engine. It has flaws that will really begin to show themselves in a few years when more of them have higher mileage on them, and labor times are typically much greater to repair them vs the traditional V8. The fuel economy isn’t better than the V8 in the real world. Resale won’t be as good. And driving the 3.0 isn’t as enjoyable because it lacks the heart and soul of the V8.



Does the 3.0 outperform the 5.7? Possibly, but the difference is so small it’s not worth the drawbacks.

Big difference in performance. There's a local guy that comes to my local drag strip where I work with a SO Bighorn running 8.7 1/8 mile times, stock. The fastest Hemi Rams I've seen at the track were all 9.5 or slower, with most being low 10s . I got my BTS to 9.3, but that was with a Pulsar on performance mode, and very good DA on a cool fall night.

Complexity is very subjective. It's a new engine the dealer techs aren't used to it, so it's going to seem complex to them. What it doesn't have is e-torque, VVT, or MDS. All systems that can fail and overly complicated an otherwise simple pushrod V8.