2026 RAM 3500 Reviews

The Ram Dakota has only just been confirmed by the brand's most senior American executive, but already the mid-sized monster seems locked in for an Australian launch to do battle with the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and BYD Shark 6.

After years of on-again, off-again teasing, evasion and false-starts, recently-installed Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa has confirmed a Ram Dakota ‘mid-size’ pick-up for North American production in 2027.

It’s official - Ram has pulled the plug on its fully electric pick-up before it even made it to showrooms.

Ram is preparing to return to the midsized ute market globally, to take on the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, BYD Shark 6, Isuzu D-Max and more, with Australia looming front-and-centre. Expected to resuscitate the long-dormant Dakota badge when it debuts possibly as early as next year, the one-tonne pick-up range will slip underneath the full-sized DT-series 1500 Hurricane dual-cab series in both size and price.

Ram is considering a V8 comeback for Australia’s best-selling full-sized American ute, which might include the return of the TRX high-performance flagship.

To borrow a line from Mark Twain, reports of the death of the V8 engine are greatly exaggerated.

Australia's big-ute best-seller, the Ram 1500, evolves with the Rebel, as a Ford Ranger Wildtrak-style sporty off-road value proposition. Based on the Laramie Sport and aimed directly at the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2, the Rebel gains a suspension lift and other 4x4-focused gear, yet retains the sophistication that's made today's 1500 a segment favourite. And its twin-turbo six is a gem.

Will the Ram 1500 Big Horn turn into the 1500 Warlock instead as the big US truck value opener? With the introduction of the DT Series II “Hurricane” facelift earlier in 2025, the old Big Horn from $119,950 has not yet been replaced, leaving the Laramie Sport as well as newly-released Rebel that both commence at $141,950 as the 1500 range entry points. But with comparatively slow sales of the superseded version (despite being the last of the Hemi V8s – for now), it appears that a completely different grade is in the pipeline, to slip in between. Yet to be confirmed for Australia, the expected new Warlock grade would be a comparatively affordable and more youth-orientated take on the ‘cheapest’ Ram 1500.

Stellantis, parent company of Jeep, Ram, Peugeot and Leapmotor, has reportedly put its ‘AutoDrive’ self-driving software on hold over concerns there is no demand for it among buyers.

Ram predicts its latest big ute will be a best-seller in its range.