2026 Ram 1500 Rebel X Review: The Hurricane Six Is the Real Off-Road Hero

Cory Fourniquet |

Sep 28, 2026

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Ram tossed me the keys to an $81,565 2026 Ram 1500 Rebel X and expected me to put it through its paces in its natural environment. So I took it to Barnwell Mountain, just outside of Gilmer, Texas, and did exactly that.

My buddy Justin rode along on camera duty, and it was 101 degrees outside. We spent a few hours crawling over iron ore rocks, working through a creek crossing, and squeezing down trails cut so deep into the dirt that the trees were growing at eye level. By the time we wrapped up, I knew who this truck is for, what it does really well, and the one thing Ram still needs to fix.

The Hurricane Inline-Six Is the Star of the 2026 Ram 1500 Rebel X

Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six engine in the Ram 1500 Rebel X — Under the hood sits the Standard Output 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six, good for 420 horsepower and 469 lb-ft of torque. (Photo by Cory Fourniquet)

First, you have two engine choices on the Ram 1500 Rebel X. The standard engine is the Standard Output version of the 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six, and yes, it is spectacular. It makes 420 horsepower and 469 lb-ft of torque and pairs with an eight-speed automatic. You can also option the HEMI V8 and get that “Symbol of Protest” on the fender. However, you cannot get the High Output Hurricane here. For that, you have to step up to the RHO.

Don’t let the Standard Output label fool you, because this engine is that good. To see what it could do, I switched to Sport mode, which also shuts off traction control. Then I planted my left foot on the brake, stood on the throttle with my right, and let go. The Ram 1500 Rebel X lunged forward and hit 60 MPH in 6.05 seconds. For a truck this big, that is seriously quick.

Of course, one run is never enough. So I turned around and did it again in the opposite direction, strictly for Guinness World Records purposes. This time, I brought the revs up to about 3,500 RPM before letting go, and the Rebel X knocked it down to 5.88 seconds. Nicely done, Ram. Just as important, the Standard Output Hurricane runs on regular gas, and the EPA rates it at 18 MPG city, 24 MPG highway, and 20 MPG combined.

Rebel X Hardware Built for the Trail

Ram 1500 Rebel X climbing a red dirt trail on Barnwell Mountain — Coil springs out back instead of leaf springs help the Rebel X keep its rear tires planted as it climbs out of a rut. (Photo by Cory Fourniquet)

The Ram 1500 Rebel X builds on the regular Rebel and adds a few more luxuries inside. Outside, my favorite upgrade is the full steel front bumper. Because it sits higher, it also improves the approach angle for obstacles like the ones we were about to tackle.

Down at the corners, the Ram 1500 Rebel X rides on dark 18-inch wheels. Thankfully, Ram did not go with large 20-inch wheels like General Motors has been doing on off-road pickups such as the 2027 GMC Sierra AT4. In addition, they wear 275/70R18 Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires, which were caked in dirt within minutes. Our Tank green paint also met some of the local flora and fauna, but that is part of the job.

Ram was one of the first full-size pickup makers to ditch rear leaf springs for coils, and it shows here. The Rebel X also gets a 1-inch lift, Bilstein shocks, an electronic locking rear differential, and skid plates for the transfer case and fuel tank. When fully flexed, one rear wheel drooped as low as it would go while the other side was stuffed up into the wheel well.

Finally, out back, our truck had the Multi-Function Tailgate. It drops like a normal tailgate, but it also swings open like a barn door, so you can walk right up to the bed. As a result, that setup requires an auxiliary step. You also get dark black chrome dual exhaust tips, and they make a great noise when you rev that inline-six.

Why the Rebel X Makes More Sense Than a TRX or RHO in East Texas

Front view of the Ram 1500 Rebel X on an uneven dirt climb — Because it sits higher, the steel front bumper gives the Rebel X a better approach angle on Barnwell Mountain’s steep, rutted climbs. (Photo by Cory Fourniquet)

I have spent time in the TRX, and Ram even invited me out to jump one. That was a blast. But the suspension in both the TRX and RHO is overkill for the off-roading I usually do. That is because, with 11 to 13 inches of wheel travel, they are built for speed in the desert.

Barnwell Mountain, on the other hand, is different. It is slow, technical, and full of rocks, articulation, and tilting. This is off-roading for me. Therefore, the Rebel X, with its more traditional suspension, makes a lot of sense. Overall, it is simply better suited to East Texas trails.

The Ram 1500 Rebel X has an electronic transfer case with 2WD, 4WD Auto, 4Hi, and 4Lo. I stayed in 4Hi for most of the day, and the truck found plenty of chances to lift a wheel or two into the air. Admittedly, I did get some wheel slip on one climb. In 4Lo, the Hurricane would have crawled over it without missing a beat.

That is where this engine shines, because it is torquey when and where you need it, low in the power band, which makes climbing obstacles easy. Simply put, this truck climbs like a billy goat. When Justin hopped into the ventilated passenger seat to escape the heat, his first impressions matched mine. “The torque is, it’s got a lot of torque for sure,” he said. In fact, he was surprised by how maneuverable the truck is for its size.

A Creek Crossing, a Steel Bumper, and a Lukewarm Take

Tank green pickup truck flexing its suspension on an East Texas trail — Slow, technical ground like this is where the Rebel X feels right at home, flexing its suspension without breaking a sweat. (Photo by Cory Fourniquet)

Then there was the creek crossing. A certain off-road branded SUV could not make it through here on my last visit. I will let you figure out which one from our past videos. This time, Justin spotted me through the rocks, and I got a little too eager and tapped the bumper on some iron ore. That is exactly why you want a steel bumper. Then we were up and out.

My lukewarm take: if you want to be an off-roader, you need more than 20 degrees of approach angle. Also, I never air down out here. I know I could get more traction and reduce the risk of a puncture. Instead, I want to show what a stock truck can do right off the showroom floor, the way an average buyer would use it.

Rough-Road Cruise Control and Other Trail Tricks

Ram 1500 Rebel X four-wheel-drive and drive mode controls — The drive controls sit just left of the touchscreen, with 2WD, 4WD Auto, 4Hi, and 4Lo, plus buttons for the rear locker and Sport mode. (Photo by Cory Fourniquet)

One of the upgrades from the Rebel to the Ram 1500 Rebel X is Rough-Road Cruise Control. You activate it with a button near your knee. At first, I could not figure out how to engage it. The button turned orange, and the gauge cluster said cruise was ready, but nothing happened. As it turns out, you have to be moving for it to work.

After it kicked in, the truck managed its speed on its own. I set it to 6 MPH, and that let me focus on tire placement between the windshield and the screen. Tap the brake, and it hands control right back to you. In the end, it turned a tricky descent into a stroll through the park.

Here is a tip: when off-roading, scoot your seat up further than normal so you can see the corners of your vehicle. Ram makes that easy with power-adjustable pedals with memory and a tilt and telescoping steering wheel. You would not think those features come in handy off-road, but they do.

Still, you always feel the size of this truck. On the narrow sections, we were below ground level, with dirt walls on both sides. Thankfully, the big mirrors power fold, which helps a lot. In other words, the Rebel X is close to an RHO or TRX, just without the wider stance and flared fenders. Because the body stays under 80 inches wide, it also skips the extra marker lamps. Even so, it is a massive truck, and those trails would be even tighter in its wider siblings.

Ride Quality Is a Highlight On and Off Road

Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tire on a black 18-inch wheel — Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires on dark 18-inch wheels grip well in the dirt, and they also stay surprisingly quiet on the highway. (Photo by Cory Fourniquet)

After all, I have driven everything in this segment off-road, and the Ram 1500 might be one of the best-riding trucks in the class. Short of a Raptor, RHO, or TRX, this is a very good suspension in all circumstances. Although the iron ore rocks out here pop up out of nowhere, the Rebel X never beat us up.

Similarly, the drive to Barnwell took about an hour, and the DuraTrac tires were not too noisy on the highway. Justin and I had a conversation the entire way without raising our voices. For a truck on aggressive all-terrain tires, that is impressive.

The Camera Screen Is a Missed Opportunity

Ram 1500 Rebel X interior with vertical touchscreen and head-up display — The cabin is packed with screens, yet the off-road camera views use only a small slice of that big vertical touchscreen. (Photo by Cory Fourniquet)

Now for my biggest critique, though. For example, the Rebel X package includes the 14.4-inch touchscreen, but its off-road camera layout is perhaps the worst in the segment. When I pull up the 360-degree cameras, they use only a small portion at the top of the screen. Meanwhile, the bottom two-thirds is wasted space. I do not understand it.

By comparison, Toyota’s 14-inch screen has the best off-road camera setup I have used. For example, you get a large, wide front view and both front tire views at the same time, with pitch and roll readouts at the bottom. Ram has plenty of cameras, including a trailer camera hookup. Unfortunately, it just does not display them well.

It gets worse. You have to press a digital button to reach the cameras. Even worse, they shut off once you go too fast and do not come back on when you slow down. In off-road mode, the camera should simply stay on. These are software fixes that could, in theory, arrive through over-the-air updates. So, Ram software engineers: go to town.

Interestingly, once I passed the speed limit for my own camera feed, the truck handed camera duty to Justin’s passenger display. That could make your passenger a handy spotter, so Ram won me over a little there. But when I had the cameras up, his screen just said the feed was unavailable. Between the touchscreen, passenger display, gauge cluster, and head-up display with traffic sign recognition, there is a lot of screen real estate here. Sadly, it just is not being used well.

The Verdict on the 2026 Ram 1500 Rebel X

Black front bucket seats with red accents — Heated and ventilated front bucket seats with red accents made a welcome escape from the 101-degree East Texas heat. (Photo by Cory Fourniquet)

I am a big proponent that full-size pickups are not the best off-road vehicles because of their dimensions. Still, the 2026 Ram 1500 Rebel X handled everything I threw at it on Barnwell Mountain. For instance, it went places that a certain off-road SUV could not. Plus, it rides beautifully, and the Standard Output Hurricane is a tremendous engine.

The Rebel X starts at $65,445, according to Ram, before a $2,795 destination charge, and our well-equipped tester came to $81,565. If you are weighing other Ram trims, our 2026 Ram 1500 Laramie vs. BackCountry comparison shows how differently Ram can spend around $70,000. As for me, I would probably spend my own off-road money on a midsize truck. Ram does not offer one right now, but it keeps teasing that one is coming. I cannot wait to get behind the wheel of Ram’s first midsize pickup since the Dakota. Subscribe to the GT: Garage Talk® YouTube channel and weekly newsletter so you do not miss it.