Two Very Different Ways To Spend Around $70,000 on a Truck

Cory Fourniquet |

Jun 24, 2026

For 2026, the 5.7L HEMI V8 is back in the Ram 1500, and we recently spent time with two very different versions of that formula: a 2026 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4×4 and a 2026 Ram 1500 BackCountry based on the Big Horn/Lone Star trim.

One leans into luxury. The other leans into rugged utility.

Both make a pretty strong case.

The HEMI Is The Headline Here

Both trims came equipped with the HEMI V8 (Photo by Cory Fourniquet)

Let’s be honest. The biggest story here is sitting under the hood.

Both trucks are powered by the 5.7L V8 HEMI MDS VVT eTorque engine with stop/start. That means 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and 4×4 capability.

No, it is not as powerful as the Hurricane High Output inline-six. No, it is not the most efficient option in the lineup. But for a lot of truck buyers, that misses the point.

This engine has character. It sounds right. It feels familiar. And for a brand like Ram, bringing the HEMI back feels like an acknowledgment that some buyers still want their truck to feel like a truck.

Ram felt compelled to bring back the HEMI because the brand says 40% of buyers in this market will walk away from an entire brand if no V8 is offered. In a segment traditionally known for brand loyalty, the V8 formula seems nearly as important.

The Laramie Is The Comfortable Choice

The Laramie is a nice balance of ruggedness and luxury (Photo by Cory Fourniquet)

The 2026 Ram 1500 Laramie is the entry point into Ram’s more luxurious truck experience.

Our tester came in Serrano Green Metallic with a Bison Brown and Sea Salt interior, and it absolutely looked the part of simplistic luxury. This is the truck for someone who wants everyday comfort without going all the way to Limited or Tungsten territory.

Inside, the Laramie gets leather-trimmed bucket seats, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, power adjustable pedals with memory, and a reclining 60/40 split-folding rear seat.

The rear seat is one of Ram’s biggest strengths. There is a ton of legroom, smart underfloor Ram Bin storage, a flat load floor, easy-folding seat bottoms, rear air vents, USB-C ports, cupholders, and a center armrest with built-in storage. Oh, and they recline too!

For road trips, school runs, weekend errands, and long drives across Texas, this is a very easy truck to like.

The BackCountry Has The Better Rugged Look

The BackCountry is meant to live off-road (Photo by Cory Fourniquet)

The BackCountry takes a different approach.

Instead of chrome and polish, this truck leans into black trim, body-colored elements, tow hooks, raised ride height, and heavy-duty shocks.

The Tank exterior paint works well with the black two-tone treatment, and the BackCountry details give this truck a tougher personality without stepping all the way up to Rebel.

The BackCountry also brings practical hardware, including an electronic locking rear axle.

It is not as plush as the Laramie, but that is the point.

The Cabins Show Two Different Priorities

The Laramie is built for luxury without breaking the bank (Photo by Cory Fourniquet)

The Laramie cabin feels like the truck you buy when comfort matters every single day.

You get the larger 14.4-inch Uconnect 5 Nav touchscreen, a 12-inch digital driver display, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio, dual wireless charging, and the front passenger interactive display.

That is a lot of tech.

The BackCountry still feels modern, but it is more straightforward. It gets Uconnect 5 Nav with a 12-inch touchscreen, a 7-inch color cluster display with physical gauges, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a power driver seat, rear underseat storage, rubber floor mats, and plenty of USB ports.

One thing we actually like about the BackCountry: no passenger screen. Ram offers that feature on higher trims, but in a truck like this, the cleaner dash layout feels like the better choice, and the extra hidden storage is more usable, too.

The Bed And Cargo Features Matter

The split-opening tailgate on the BackCountry is a useful touch (Photo by Cory Fourniquet)

Both trucks bring real utility, but they do it differently.

The Laramie tester had a power tailgate that made it simple to close, even if your hands are full. That makes it feel more premium and more feature-rich, especially if you regularly use the bed for road trips, work gear, sports equipment, or weekend projects.

The BackCountry tailgate features a unique split-opening mechanism that serves as both a traditional drop-down tailgate and barn doors. This design allows for easy access to the bed without the need to reach over a lowered tailgate.

The Price Gap Shows the Differences in Customer

The BackCountry has a more simplistic dash (Photo by Cory Fourniquet)

The Ram 1500 BackCountry tester came in at $68,040 as tested. The Laramie came in at $74,595 as tested.

This gap shows that these two trucks are clearly aimed at different buyers with different tastes, proof Ram builds a truck for anyone.

The Laramie gives you more luxury, better rear-seat comfort, bigger screens, premium audio, and more upscale materials.

The BackCountry gives you a tougher look, off-road equipment, a more practical personality, and a lower price.

For families who use a truck as their everything vehicle, the Laramie is hard to beat. For buyers who want the rugged look and more useful truck attitude without jumping to Rebel money, the BackCountry makes a lot of sense.

Final Thoughts

The Laramie is the nicer choice of the two, but that doesn’t mean its better (Photo by Cory Fourniquet)

The 2026 Ram 1500 Laramie is the comfortable, road-trip-ready, near-luxury truck. It has the better cabin, better tech, better rear seat amenities, and more premium touches.

The 2026 Ram 1500 BackCountry is the tougher-looking, more rugged, more straightforward option. It skips some of the luxury extras but still gives you the HEMI V8, 4×4 capability, off-road hardware, and everyday usability.

Choosing the right truck depends on what you want wrapped around it.

2026 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4×4 Specs

Powertrain

5.7L V8 HEMI MDS VVT eTorque Engine with Stop/Start
395 Horsepower
410 lb-ft of Torque
8-Speed Automatic 8HP75 Transmission
Electronic Shift-On-Demand Transfer Case 4×4

Drive Modes

Configurable Drive Mode
Drive Mode Select with 5 Modes:
- Auto
- Tow
- Snow
- Sport
- Off-Road
Select-Speed Off-Road Cruise Control

Fuel Economy

EPA Fuel Economy 16/20/18 MPG city/hwy/cmb
Regular Unleaded Fuel
Annual Fuel Cost: $3,150
Fuel Economy & Greenhouse Gas Rating: 3
Smog Rating: 4
5.6 Gallons Per 100 Miles
You Spend $7,250 More in Fuel Costs Over 5 Years Compared to the Average New Vehicle

Chassis, Suspension, Wheels, and Tires

20-inch x 9.0-inch Aluminum Chrome-Clad Wheels
275/55R20 OWL All-Season Tires
Full-Size Spare Tire
Trailer Brake Controller
Electronic Locking Rear Axle
Front Extra-Heavy-Duty Shock Absorbers
Rear Extra-Heavy-Duty Shock Absorbers
Front and Rear Stabilizer Bars
Anti-Lock 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
Electric Power Steering
Fuel Tank Skid Plate
Steering Gear Skid Plate
Transfer Case Skid Plate

Exterior Features

Exterior Color: Serrano Green Metallic Exterior Paint
Bi-Function LED Projector Headlamps
Automatic High-Beam Headlamp Control
LED Front Fog Lamps
LED Tail Lamps
Proximity Approach/Departure Lamps
Power Deployable Running Boards
Tow Hooks
Rain-Sensitive Windshield Wipers
Class IV Receiver Hitch
Power Tailgate
RamBox Cargo-Management System
Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover
Deployable Bed Step by Mopar
4-Adjustable Cargo Tie-Down Hooks by Mopar
Rear Wheelhouse-Liners
G/T Exhaust

Interior Features

Interior Color: Bison Brown / Sea Salt Interior Colors
Leather-Trimmed Bucket Seats
8-Way Power Adjustable Driver Seat
8-Way Power Adjustable Front Passenger Seat
Radio / Driver Seat / Mirrors / Pedals Memory
Heated Front Seats
Ventilated Front Seats
Rear 60/40 Split Folding / Reclining Seat
Heated Second-Row Seats
Front Passenger Interactive Display
Dual Wireless Charging Pad
Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
Heated Steering Wheel
A/C with Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control
Power Adjustable Pedals with Memory
Seating for 5
60/40 Split-Folding/Reclining Rear Seat

Technology and Connectivity

12-inch TFT Color Driver Information Display
Uconnect 5 Nav with 14.4-inch Touch Screen Display
SiriusXM 360L with 3-Month Trial
Ram Connect Connected Services with Trial
19-Speaker Harman Kardon Premium Sound
Head-Up Display
Digital Rearview Mirror
Surround-View Camera System
115V Exterior Outlet
12-Way / 1-Way Trailer Connector
4G LTE Wi-Fi Hot Spot
400W Inverter

Safety and Driver Assistance

ParkView Rear Back-Up Camera
Active Driving Assist System
Active Lane-Management System
Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go
Blind-Spot and Cross-Path Detection
Full-Speed Forward-Collision Warning Plus
ParkSense Front and Rear Park-Assist
Pedestrian Emergency Braking
Remote-Start System
Hands-Free Active Driving Assist System
Traffic Sign Recognition
Evasive Steering Assist
Intersection Collision-Assist System
Drowsy Driver Detection
Advanced Brake Assist
Electronic Roll Mitigation

Pricing

Starting Price: $64,880
Destination Charge: $2,795
Price As Tested: $74,595

Additional Details

Final Assembly Point: Sterling Heights, Michigan, U.S.A.
Country of Origin, Engine: Mexico
Transmission: United States
U.S./Canadian Parts Content: 55%
Major Source of Foreign Parts Content: Mexico, 39%

2026 Ram 1500 BackCountry Specs