Another year, another new Ram 1500.
The popular full-size pickup has now been without its iconic V8 in Australia for two years, as the ‘Hurricane’ straight-six has instead found its way into four variants of Ram Trucks Australia’s 1500 range since the latest DT-series received its MY25 facelift locally. First were the Laramie Sport and Limited, then came the off-road Rebel, and now there’s this: the 2026 Ram 1500 Express Black Edition.
The Express badge returns after a two-year absence but, as before, it still signifies the cheapest variant in the 1500 range. It’s no small price difference, either – the Black Edition is more than $30,000 cheaper than the Laramie Sport positioned above it.
That’s been achieved through minor mechanical tweaks and a very stripped-back interior, and there’s no doubt the lower price point aims to generate an uptick in sales. The Ram 1500 is the only American pickup to be less popular so far this year, even if it’s still among the best-sellers. Uncharacteristically, it was outpaced by the Ford F-150 in May 2026.
To see what this budget-oriented truck is all about, Ram invited media to a test drive throughout central Victoria. Is the Express the value hero that full-size pickup buyers have been waiting for?
How much does the Ram 1500 cost?
The introduction of the Express slashes the 1500’s entry price by more than $30,000, to $109,950 before on-road costs.
|
Model |
Price before on-road costs |
|---|---|
|
2026 Ram 1500 Express Black Edition |
$109,950 |
|
2026 Ram 1500 Laramie Sport |
$141,950 |
|
2026 Ram 1500 Rebel |
$141,950 |
|
2026 Ram 1500 Limited |
$159,950 |
It’s worth noting that while it wears the Black Edition name, Ram Trucks Australia has no plans to introduce any other 1500 Express locally. That’s despite the option of a chrome-clad version existing in the US.
Like all other Australian-delivered Rams, this version of the 1500 undergoes a 12-hour procedure to convert it from left- to right-hand drive, using only factory-backed components. This work is carried out in Melbourne by Walkinshaw Automotive, which is also responsible for engineering and developing Ram Trucks Australia models.
As for rivals, the 1500 Express competes with other base-spec American trucks. The Ford F-150 XLT starts at $114,950 before on-roads, while the Chevrolet Silverado LTZ Premium starts at $134,990 plus ORCs.
There’s no stripped-back version of the Toyota Tundra available in Australia, which means the range starts at a hefty $155,990 plus ORCs for the Limited.
To see how the Ram 1500 stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
What is the Ram 1500 like on the inside?
This is by far the most utilitarian 1500 we’ve seen since the model range was updated last year, so much so that it’s almost jarring if you’ve spent time in any of the more generously equipped variants.
In Australia, American pickups are mostly associated with two things: being very large and very luxurious. The Express certainly has the size factor nailed, but it’s not too far of a stretch to liken its interior fittings to those you’ll find in a base-grade HiLux WorkMate.
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Maybe that’s extreme, but here’s some context: they both have a plastic-clad steering wheel, cloth upholstery, and a 7.0-inch instrument cluster display, while the Toyota even has a larger 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen compared to this Ram’s 8.4-inch unit.
The kicker is that you can get into a WorkMate for as little as $33,990 before on-roads – nearly $76,000 less than the 1500 Express. That difference is nothing to sneeze at, even if you’re a full-size pickup fanatic.
Now, we don’t expect people to be cross-shopping Rams and HiLuxes, so this is just to give some perspective on how stripped-back this 1500 feels. When you look at this pickup in isolation, we’re pleased to report that the interior is still quite an enjoyable place to spend time.
The best part is how spacious it is. It feels like your front passenger is sitting in a different postcode, with the two of you separated by a great expanse of a centre console that lends itself to properly relaxed armchair cruising.
That said, there’s quite a lot of scratchy plastic in here. We can forgive the dashboard and centre console, but the armrests on the doors are rock-hard and very uncomfortable.
At least there are good seats, which remain comfortable but are noticeably less plush than the leather-wrapped units seen higher up in the 1500 range. Adjustment is manual-only, and there’s no heating or ventilation, even if the cloth upholstery is a little more cold-weather-friendly.
The seats also sit quite high, giving you a commanding view of everything around you. It almost feels like you’re piloting a tank, mostly due to the relatively narrow windscreen and the huge bulging bonnet out front.
Then there’s the tech. This is a prime example of where Ram has saved the most money with the Express, as the 8.4-inch touchscreen looks almost aftermarket compared to the flashy 14.4-inch vertical touchscreen in every other 1500.
The size of the Ram’s interior also makes the smaller screen look tiny. It doesn’t claw back any brownie points on functionality either, as it’s generally a very basic system with less detail than the larger alternative. That’s not to say it doesn’t work, because it still does its job without too much fuss.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, though you might notice a touch of lag from time to time. The system’s native software is also workable, and there are plenty of settings to mess with if you know where to look.
Arguably, the most significant advantage of having a smaller touchscreen is that the climate system has reverted to an entirely physical setup. The glossy buttons on either side of the 14.4-inch screen were always quite fiddly, so the panel of traditional dials here is a welcome change.
You also get large physical switches to enter tow mode or play with the parking sensors. These would otherwise be on the screen, so this is again quite handy if you’re often going to be putting your 1500 to work.
Unfortunately, you get far fewer USB ports in the Express, and there are no HDMI ports or wireless phone chargers either. There’s still a 12V outlet in a small tray above the centre stack, which leads us to the point of storage.
It’s also worth mentioning the instrument cluster. In the Express, it’s only partially digital, featuring a 7.0-inch screen flanked by two analogue gauges. There are only a handful of on-screen menus to flick through here, and it’s just as simple as it needs to be.
The Express has just as much storage capacity up front as any other 1500, if not a little more. There’s still the cavernous centre console, which is incredibly deep and fitted with a sliding tray up top, allowing you to move it out of the way if you need to access the larger bin below.
There’s also a two-tier storage compartment under the central armrest, and a rubberised phone holder up front. It’s all very practical, and it’s good that the 1500’s configurability here hasn’t been compromised.
In fact, storage has actually benefitted from the lack of flashy tech. The other 1500s get a somewhat pointless screen in front of the passenger with limited functionality, which the Express replaces with a far more useful shelf.
Given the size of the dashboard, this isn’t some dinky, low-profile shelf either. It can actually hold things without them sliding out under hard acceleration, and it’s supplemented by reasonably sized storage bins in the door cards.
As before, there’s still only one steering column stalk on the left-hand side for the wipers, indicators and the like, with the gear selector taking the form of a dash-mounted dial. This will be weird for some at first, but it’s easy to get used to.
As ever, the second row is impressively spacious. Legroom and headroom are never going to be an issue regardless of front seat position, unless you’re freakishly tall.
Three fully grown adults can comfortably pack in back here, with ingress aided by a fixed (rather than auto-deploying, as in pricier Ram 1500s) metal side step running the length of the cab. That’s necessary given the lofty floor height, which is as high as it is in part to remove the need for an intrusive driveline hump, making it completely flat.
Unsurprisingly, the space in the rear is sparsely equipped, limited to just rear-facing air vents and cupholders on the back of the centre console. There aren’t any USB ports or seat heating, and there isn’t even a fold-down armrest.
Instead, storage was Ram’s priority. The bench seat folds up to open up the floor if you need to transport cargo inside the cab, while the floor carpet hides two small cubbies inboard of the rear doors.
In the context of Australia’s most popular dual-cab utes, the massive tub out back is more than 200mm longer than that of the Ford Ranger dual-cab’s. The tailgate itself is also damped, but there’s no power assistance as with other 1500s.
A spray-in bedliner is still standard, but don’t expect to find the clever RamBox storage containers on either side of the tub – much like the Rebel – in an effort to maximise tub space.
Indeed, the tub width is quoted at 1295mm without those containers, compared to 1270mm with them. That might be splitting hairs, but there’s no denying that it’s an impressively practical loading area.
Other standard fittings include a handful of tie-down points, lights on either side of the bed, fold-down steps for easier access, a heavy-duty tow bar, and a full-size spare wheel. There’s unfortunately no tonneau cover as standard.
|
Dimensions |
Ram 1500 Express Black Edition |
|---|---|
|
Length |
5916mm |
|
Width |
2474mm (incl. mirrors) |
|
Height |
1971mm |
|
Wheelbase |
3672mm |
|
Tub length |
1702mm |
|
Tub width |
1295mm |
|
Tub depth |
543mm |
|
Tub volume (SAE) |
1.5m³ |
To see how the Ram 1500 stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
What’s under the bonnet?
The Express gets the ‘Standard Output’ tune of Ram’s new 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six Hurricane engine, which means it produces 313kW of power and 635Nm of torque. It utilises an eight-speed auto, but being a stripped-back base model, it lacks full-time four-wheel drive.
|
Specifications |
Ram 1500 Express Black Edition |
|---|---|
|
Engine |
‘Standard Output’ 3.0L twin-turbo petrol inline-6cyl |
|
Power |
313kW |
|
Torque |
635Nm |
|
Transmission |
8-speed auto |
|
Drive type |
Part-time four-wheel drive |
|
Fuel economy (claimed) |
10.7L/100km |
|
CO2 emissions (claimed) |
– |
|
Emissions standard |
Euro 5 |
|
Fuel tank capacity |
98L |
|
Fuel requirement |
91-octane regular unleaded |
|
Kerb weight |
2491kg |
|
Payload |
1014kg |
|
Braked towing capacity |
4500kg |
|
Gross vehicle mass (GVM) |
3505kg |
|
Gross combination mass (GCM) |
7711kg |
For context, all other Ram 1500 variants get a full-time ‘4WD Auto’ mode, while the flagship Limited is the only one to get the ‘High-Output’ Hurricane delivering 403kW and 707Nm.
We didn’t get enough time in the Express during Ram’s local launch to record a representative real-world fuel economy figure, but a circa-100km drive with a heavy skew towards highway speeds returned a reading of 11L/100km.
To see how the Ram 1500 stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
How does the Ram 1500 drive?
If the interior left you a little underwhelmed, we’re confident the driving experience will draw you back in.
At the heart of it all remains the ‘Standard Output’ Hurricane, but don’t let that pedestrian moniker fool you. The force-fed inline six still boasts more than 300kW and 600Nm, which is enough for a six-second 0-100km/h time – insane for a vehicle this big and heavy.
The standard fitment of highway-terrain tyres also makes it less skittish than the all-terrain rubber-equipped Rebel, so the powertrain feels just a little less rowdy here. Whether that’s wanted in a hulking pickup will depend on who you’re asking.
Indeed, the Black Edition’s wild side is easy to expose. The key mechanical difference is that it lacks the 4WD Auto setting of other 1500s, making it as rear-wheel drive-only on the road. This is also the case with the similarly low-spec F-150 XLT.
If you adopt a heavy right foot – particularly with some steering lock applied – it’s more than happy to break traction. The stability control is quick enough to jump in and prevent any Mustang-style tank-slappers, even if it can’t pre-emptively dull power output to prevent any slipping.
It’s difficult to go without mentioning the V8 that’s missing under the bonnet, which the 1500 has historically been known for. But given the Express’s more budget-minded positioning, we’d argue this is the most logical application for the Hurricane we’ve seen in Australia so far.
Both performance and efficiency are objectively better than those of the Hemi V8, and it can still tow 4.5 tonnes for people who use large caravans, boats or other machines. Yes, it lacks the iconic rumble of an old-school V8, but we don’t think the straight six itself sounds horrible.
The Express package actually makes for a pickup that’s quite enjoyable to drive. Power is plentiful and predictable, a trait aided by the competent eight-speed auto that never seems to stumble.
And when it comes to ride and handling, you’d expect a truck of this calibre to have no issues ironing out pockmarked Victorian roads. That remains true even with this comparatively basic pickup, in which the suspension damping and cabin refinement remain impressive.
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With so much vehicle around you, it’s also logical that road noise is quite well-muffled. All these things combine to make the Express a very comfortable cruiser, but the fact it makes 100km/h feel slow means it’s incredibly easy to creep beyond the speed limit.
The steering is appropriately weighted, even if the wheel’s large-diameter rim contributes to a lighter feel. This big truck remains easy to pilot on bendy roads, and even narrow-ish lanes aren’t too much of an issue given the lane-keeping system isn’t too intrusive.
Body control is similarly quite good, but the front tyres will audibly complain if you’re particularly hasty on turn-in. There’s nothing about the vehicle’s behaviour that will shock you, provided you can get used to the sheer heft of the thing.
The only real complaint we have is that a fair bit of wind noise appears at cruising speeds, but even that isn’t a dealbreaker. It does, however, reveal that this base-spec sound system is lacklustre.
Overall, we were surprised at just how simple the driving experience is here. There aren’t even any on-road drive modes to play with; it’s truly a case of get in and go.
And that’s exactly how a base ute should be. Granted, the Express isn’t going to be passed around like a fleet-owned base HiLux would, but it’s hardly going to be a garage princess – it’s ready to go whenever it’s needed, regardless of who’s driving.
It also offers some configurability where it matters. There’s no lane-centring, but drivers can switch between adaptive and passive cruise control on a whim, and both work exactly as they should. There are also plenty of sensors around to help with parking, but a surround-view monitor would still be nice.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to put the Express through its paces off-road, but it still has all the requisite four-wheel drive modes should you need to hit the trail. Except perhaps for substantial ground clearance – but off-roading is more the Rebel’s bread and butter anyway.
To see how the Ram 1500 Rebel performs off-road, check out our video review below:
|
Off-road dimensions |
Ram 1500 Express Black Edition |
|---|---|
|
Track front and rear |
1741mm (front) |
|
Ground clearance |
217mm (front axle) |
|
Approach angle |
20.2º |
|
Departure angle |
21.7º |
|
Ramp breakover angle |
18.7º |
To see how the Ram 1500 stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
What do you get?
The Express Black Edition sits at the bottom of the Ram 1500 range, bringing the lineup to four variants.
2026 Ram 1500 Express Black Edition equipment highlights:
- Standard Output Hurricane engine
- Part-time four-wheel drive
- 20-inch black alloy wheels
-
- 275/55R20 tyres
- Full-size alloy spare
- Auto reflector LED headlights
- LED front fog lights
- Sport performance bonnet
- Black exterior accents:
-
- Grille
- Badging
- Side mirror caps
- Door handles
- Fixed side steps
- Plastic steering wheel
- Cloth upholstery
- Manual front seat adjustment
- 7.0-inch instrument cluster display
- 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 6-speaker sound system
- 2 x USB-A ports
- 2 x USB-C ports
- Second-row in-floor storage bins with removable liners
- Damped tailgate
- Kick-down tub step
- Heavy-duty tow bar
- Four tie-down points in tub
Ram 1500 Laramie Sport adds:
- 20-inch painted or polished alloy wheels
- Full-time four-wheel drive (4WD Auto)
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Panoramic sunroof
- Trailer brake controller
- Electrochromatic rear-view mirror
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Leather upholstery
- Power-adjustable front seats
-
- 8-way adjustment
- Driver’s memory
- 2-way power lumbar
- Heating
- Ventilation
- Heated outboard rear seats
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 14.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 10.25-inch front passenger infotainment touchscreen
- Satellite navigation
- Dual wireless smartphone chargers
- 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
- 5 x USB-C outlets
- 1 x HDMI port
- Power-adjustable pedals
- Dual-zone climate control
- Proximity entry with push-button start
- Automatic lowering and retracting side steps
- Power tailgate with one-touch close function
- Power sliding rear window
- Rear privacy glass
- Lockable, drainable and illuminated RamBox storage compartments
- Spray-in tub liner
- 5 drive modes:
The Laramie Sport removes the sport performance bonnet in favour of a regular bonnet, and swaps out most of the black exterior elements for chrome.
Ram 1500 Rebel adds:
- Electronic rear differential lock
- 18-inch gloss-black alloy wheels
- 32-inch Falken Wildpeak 275/65/18 all-terrain tyres
- Bilstein off-road dampers
- Sport performance bonnet
- Underbody skid plates
- Unique grille
- Rebel decals
- Powder-coated front and rear steel bumpers
- Red and black interior
- Proximity lighting with Ram logo projection
It misses out on RamBox cargo units, power side steps, fold-down rear centre console and ventilated front seats.
Ram 1500 Limited adds (over Laramie Sport):
- High Output Hurricane engine
- Electronic rear differential lock
- 22-inch black alloy wheels
- Air suspension with three modes (Normal, Aero and Off-Road)
- Projector LED headlights and tail-lights with unlock animation
- Daytime running lights
- Sport performance bonnet
- Digital rear-view mirror
- Massaging front seats
- Ventilated outboard rear seats
To see how the Ram 1500 stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
Is the Ram 1500 safe?
The Ram 1500 hasn’t been tested by ANCAP, but it does have plenty of safety features.
Standard safety equipment highlights:
- Front, front-side and curtain airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
-
- Pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Lane departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Reversing camera
- Tyre pressure monitoring
The 1500 Limited adds:
- Driver fatigue detection
- Evasive steering assist
- Intersection assist
- Traffic sign recognition
- Surround-view camera
To see how the Ram 1500 stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
How much does the Ram 1500 cost to run?
All Ram vehicles sold in Australia are backed by a relatively short three-year, 100,000km warranty. Servicing for the 1500 is required every 12 months or 12,000km – whichever comes first.
|
Servicing and Warranty |
Ram 1500 |
|---|---|
|
Warranty |
3 years, 100,000km |
|
Roadside assistance |
3 years, 100,000km |
|
Service intervals |
12 months or 12,000km |
|
Capped-price servicing |
– |
Ram Trucks Australia doesn’t offer capped-price servicing.
To see how the Ram 1500 stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
CarExpert’s Take on the Ram 1500 Express Black Edition
Bringing the Express back to the Ram 1500 range makes a lot of sense, and it now means Australia’s best-selling full-size pickup is also the cheapest.
The strengths aren’t compromised. It’s still spacious, comfortable, and fast, with this base-spec variant proving to be a better application for the Standard Output Hurricane. That’s still unlikely to sway the V8 die-hards, but that’s where juggernauts like the TRX and Rumble Bee could come in.
There are still downsides, however. $110,000 is quite a lot of money, and standard equipment like a plastic steering wheel, cloth upholstery, and a basic infotainment system can make it difficult to see exactly where that money is going.
Of course, a big part of it is the local remanufacturing process, which involves Australian workers on Australian wages stripping each vehicle down to its ladder frame and fitting them with conversion components that meet Ram’s own quality standards, guaranteeing the factory warranty and backing of Ram Trucks Australia.
So, the new 1500 Express is solid, and its commanding on-road experience and overall capability offset much of the cost-cutting evident inside.
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