Reviewed by Tim Ryan, General Sales Manager
Published · Zanesville, OH 43701
McHugh Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT — Family-owned and serving Ohio since 1963.
3420 Maple Ave, Zanesville, OH 43701 · Right at I-70 Exit 153 · (740) 562-6745
CARFAX Top-Rated Dealer · Certified Ag Dealer Program
In This Guide:
McHugh CDJR in Zanesville, OH carries all four 2026 Ram 1500 engine configurations on the lot — Pentastar V6, both Hurricane inline-six variants, and the 5.7L HEMI V8 that Ram brought back after the backlash made it clear they jumped too early. We’ve pulled the actual door-jamb weight ratings for these configurations so you know what you can legally haul up the Muskingum hills on I-70 — not what a brochure says in ideal conditions. One of our new Big Horn units moved off the lot this week. Summer incentives run through August 3.
1. The HEMI Came Back — All Four 2026 Ram 1500 Engines
With truck guys actively debating the death of the V8 across every forum and YouTube channel, having three distinct engine architectures on the lot means you don’t have to settle for a powertrain you don’t trust. Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis addressed the decision publicly — the company acknowledged they moved too fast in dropping the HEMI and reversed course for 2026. The result: every 2026 Ram 1500 with a HEMI V8 now wears a custom “Symbol of Protest” fender badge — a Ram head mounted on a third-generation V8 engine block. It’s not subtle, and that’s the point.
The HEMI is a $1,200 option on work and volume trims like the Tradesman, Big Horn, and Laramie, and a no-cost option on the Limited and Longhorn. Only the RHO and Tungsten remain Hurricane-exclusive. So you have a genuine choice: the twin-turbo Hurricane’s immediate low-end torque, the HEMI’s naturally aspirated V8 character with eTorque mild-hybrid assist, or the Pentastar V6’s daily-driver fuel economy. All three architectures pair with the same 8-speed automatic.
On the road, the numbers translate to immediate throttle response. If you’re skeptical of a turbo-six replacing a V8, hook a 7,000-pound trailer to a Hurricane SO and merge onto I-70 southbound from Exit 153 — the low-end torque hits immediately without waiting for a transmission downshift. If you already know you want the V8 sound and feel, the HEMI delivers 11,320 lbs of towing capacity with the familiar character you’re used to. Neither choice is wrong. It depends on what you actually use the truck for. Browse new Ram 1500 inventory →
Can I still get a 2026 Ram 1500 with the HEMI V8?
Our sales team at McHugh CDJR in Zanesville can confirm: the 5.7L HEMI V8 with eTorque is back for 2026 and available on most trims including Tradesman, Big Horn, Laramie, Rebel, Limited, and Longhorn. It runs $1,200 as an option on volume trims and comes at no additional cost on the Limited and Longhorn. The only trims that don’t offer the HEMI are the RHO and Tungsten, which use the Hurricane exclusively. Every HEMI-equipped 2026 1500 wears the “Symbol of Protest” fender badge. If you want one, talk to us about current allocation — these are moving. Reach the McHugh team →
2. Towing and Payload — Real Limits, Not Brochure Numbers
We’ve bypassed the generic towing brochures to lay out how all four powerplants stack up when you’re actually pulling weight through Muskingum County, not on a flat test track. The numbers below are the manufacturer maximums — which means they assume specific cab, bed, axle, and package configurations. Your truck’s actual limits live on a yellow sticker inside your driver’s door.
| Engine | Horsepower / Torque | Max Towing | Max Payload |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L Pentastar V6 w/ eTorque Mild Hybrid |
305 hp / 269 lb-ft | Up to 8,130 lbs | Up to 2,360 lbs |
| 3.0L Hurricane I6 SO Twin-Turbo Standard Output |
420 hp / 469 lb-ft | Up to 11,610 lbs | Up to 1,930 lbs |
| 3.0L Hurricane I6 HO Twin-Turbo High Output |
540 hp / 521 lb-ft | Up to 10,740 lbs | Up to 1,370 lbs |
| 5.7L HEMI V8 w/ eTorque Mild Hybrid |
395 hp / 410 lb-ft | Up to 11,320 lbs | Up to 2,300 lbs |
If maximum towing capacity is the priority, the Hurricane SO leads at 11,610 lbs with the HEMI close behind at 11,320 lbs. If maximum payload matters more — contractors loading the bed with material — the Pentastar V6 tops the chart at 2,360 lbs. The Hurricane HO is the performance engine; it trades some capacity for the most horsepower ever offered in a Ram 1500. Pick the engine that matches how you actually use the truck, not the one with the biggest number on a spec sheet. Compare configurations on the lot →
Which 2026 Ram 1500 engine is best for towing on Ohio hills?
Our service bay and sales team at McHugh CDJR in Zanesville work with these trucks daily — for regular towing through the I-70 corridor and Muskingum County hills, the Hurricane I6 Standard Output is the strongest option at 11,610 lbs maximum towing capacity. The twin-turbo system delivers immediate low-RPM torque without waiting for a downshift, which matters when you’re pulling weight up a grade. The HEMI V8 is close behind at 11,320 lbs and feels familiar if you’ve towed with a V8 before. Both handle the stretch between Cambridge and Newark without drama. We’ll pull the door-jamb numbers for any specific VIN you’re considering. See available tow-rated configurations →
3. Uconnect 5 — No Subscription Paywalls, Physical Controls Kept
With other brands actively locking standard dashboard features behind monthly subscription paywalls — charging you a recurring fee to use heated seats, remote start, or navigation hardware you already bought and paid for — Ram keeping wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard across the lineup is a decision worth noting. The 2026 Ram 1500 runs Uconnect 5 on a 12.3-inch touchscreen standard, with an available 14.5-inch portrait display on upper trims. Your phone maps, music, and messaging work the way you already use them without an extra monthly line item.
The detail that matters if you actually work in your truck: Ram kept physical dials for your primary climate and volume controls. Instead of forcing you to dive through three sub-menus just to turn on the defroster, you can adjust temperature and fan speed with work gloves on without taking your eyes off the road. The available 10.25-inch front passenger display is a segment exclusive — your passenger manages navigation or music without touching your screen. Remote start is standard across every trim. See tech packages by trim →
4. I-70 Safety Systems — Helpful When They Need to Be
We know active lane-assist and blind-spot sensors can sometimes feel like a nagging co-pilot — especially when construction zones on US-40 force you to ride the line and the truck fights your steering input with a warning you don’t need. That frustration is real, and we hear it. The 2026 Ram 1500’s safety suite is built to step in when there’s an actual hazard without aggressively overriding your inputs on icy pavement or in tight construction corridors. Standard Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking, Blind Spot Monitoring, and Lane Departure Assist are calibrated for highway conditions, not parking-lot false alarms.
For longer hauls past Newark or down I-70 to Columbus, the available Hands-Free Active Driving Assist combines adaptive cruise, radar, and lane centering for supervised hands-free highway driving. It’s genuinely useful on monotonous open stretches where fatigue sets in — not a replacement for paying attention, but a system that keeps the truck centered while you focus on the road ahead. Over 100 standard and available safety features total. Compare safety features by trim →
Does the 2026 Ram 1500 have hands-free highway driving?
Our team at McHugh CDJR in Zanesville has tested the Hands-Free Active Driving Assist system on select 2026 Ram 1500 trims — it works on compatible divided highways for supervised hands-free driving. The system combines adaptive cruise control, radar mapping, and lane-centering technology. It’s designed to reduce fatigue on long I-70 runs, not replace driver attention. Ask which trims include the package and we’ll walk you through how it behaves on the roads you actually drive. Talk to the McHugh team →
5. Make This The Summer Event — Incentives Before August 3
Stellantis launched the Make This The Summer event with two distinct incentive tracks depending on trim level. Both carry a hard deadline: retail delivery by August 3, 2026. After that, national terms revert and you’re working with whatever program comes next.
Select 2026 Ram 1500 premium trims available with manufacturer savings during the Make This The Summer event. See dealer for complete terms and qualifying configurations.
2026 Ram 1500 Big Horn and Laramie models qualify for special APR financing plus 90 days with no monthly payments for well-qualified buyers through Stellantis Financial Services. See dealer for complete terms.
For premium trims — Limited, Rebel, Tungsten — qualified buyers can access manufacturer savings on select configurations. For the high-volume core trims — Big Horn and Laramie — qualified buyers can leverage 0% APR financing for 36 months through Stellantis Financial Services, paired with a 90-day deferred first payment. Longer terms are available at competitive rates. Both tracks require retail delivery by August 3, 2026.
One of our new Big Horn units sold this week. Allocation is moving. If you’ve been waiting for the right window, the numbers are on the table now — not after August 3. See current Ram 1500 inventory →
What are the exact terms of the Make This The Summer financing?
Our finance team at McHugh CDJR runs these numbers daily — qualified buyers on 2026 Ram 1500 Big Horn and Laramie can access 0% APR for 36 months through Stellantis Financial Services, plus 90 days before the first payment is due. Longer-term financing is available at competitive rates. Premium trims qualify for separate manufacturer savings programs. All programs require credit approval and retail delivery by August 3, 2026. The terms vary by creditworthiness and configuration — we walk through the exact numbers for your situation before you commit to anything. Browse qualifying inventory →
“Most people walking in already know which engine they want — the HEMI lovers know they want the HEMI, and the Hurricane-curious shoppers want to see if the torque is real. Our job isn’t to talk anyone out of it. It’s to make sure the cab, bed, axle ratio, and towing package actually match what they’re going to use the truck for six days a week.”
— Brian Horn, Sales Consultant, McHugh CDJR
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Serving Southeast Ohio from Zanesville Since 1963
McHugh Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT — 3420 Maple Ave, Zanesville, OH 43701. Right at I-70 Exit 153.
Customers drive in from Cambridge, Newark, Coshocton, New Lexington, and Columbus. Family-owned for over 60 years.
Call (740) 562-6745 · Get directions →
