Heavy-hauling truck debuts with class-best 1458Nm torque, but entry pricing remains steady at $172,950 BOCs for 2026 Ram 2500 HD.
The Ram 2500 Heavy Duty has been treated to its biggest update since 2021, focussing on revisions to styling, interior comfort, and the engine revision that now puts it at the very top of the big ute class.
Despite enjoying a boost in equipment levels, the price remains at $172,950 plus on-road costs.
This is the third iteration of the right-hand-drive Aussie market Ram 2500 since its introduction Down Under in 2015, and comes as Ram Trucks Australia remanufactured its 35,000th vehicle.
The latest model includes the Black Pack – reserved for the options list on American market models, which features a black finish for the grille, wheels, mirror caps and side steps, and also packages the ‘Sport Hood’ bonnet with power bulge.
The interior has come in for a polish too, with a new 12.3-inch digital widescreen instrument pack, two wireless phone chargers, and a nine-speaker Alpine stereo system.
The most obvious change is the switch from a three-seat front bench to two separate leather-trimmed seats, delivering improved comfort and freeing up space for a chunky centre console.
Both of the front seats feature eight-way power adjustment as well as heating and ventilation functions. The entire pedal set is also electrically adjustable.
The lane-keep system has been refined, while the advanced safety system suite now includes speed sign recognition, driver fatigue monitoring, and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) that now recognises cyclists and pedestrians.
Other new fitments for this model include Android Auto compatibility, four USB-A and four USB-C ports, six airbags, and a sunroof above the front seats.
The side mirrors feature two individual elements and both can motor out to a wider position to help with towing.
The 6.7-litre inline-six cylinder diesel engine has been comprehensively overhauled. This Cummins-sourced unit features a new turbocharger, a redesign of the block and head, a higher pressure fuel system, revised intake and exhaust valves, and an improved intake manifold.
Together these changes lift peak power to 313kW (up 13 per cent), with torque stepping up by a hefty 26 per cent to a class-leading 1458Nm.
The transmission is also an entirely new unit. The eight-speed automatic has been developed by ZF and TorqueFlite, and features a slightly lower final drive and top gear to make high-speed cruising both more relaxed and fuel efficient.
It will tow a 3500kg braked trailer when fitted with a 50mm tow ball, or 4500kg with a larger 70mm ball.
Should you really want to go the whole hog and fit the vehicle with a fifth wheel or gooseneck chassis connection, maximum towing capacity leaps to 8000kg.
The Ram 2500 HD’s maximum gross Combination Mass is rated at 12,750kg and the payload is 785kg.
“We want people to make sure that they have the right vehicle for their intended purpose,” said Jeff Barber, General Manager of Ram Trucks Australia.
With a powerplant that far exceeds the torque of the likes of the Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra, the Ram’s closest rival in this sector remains GMSV’s Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, which leverages its V8 powerplant to a 350kW and 1322Nm effect.
