Covert CDJR Bee Cave · Austin, Texas

2027 RAM 1500: WHAT SEVEN ENGINES ACTUALLY MEAN

Seven choices under one hood badge, and what each one is actually built for.

Covert CDJR Bee Cave · Austin, Texas · Published 10 August 2026

Seven engines is a lot to sort through on a truck lot, and the window sticker does not explain any of it. Most people who walk into Covert CDJR Bee Cave asking about a 2027 Ram 1500 already know they want the truck. What they do not know is whether they need a V8, whether the twin-turbo six is a downgrade, and what any of it means when they are pulling a boat up the ramp at Lake Travis on a 100 degree Saturday. Here is the plain version.

The Lineup

THE SEVEN ENGINES, IN ONE TABLE

Start with the numbers, then we will talk about what they feel like. Note that Ram publishes maximum towing figures for specific configurations, and only two of the seven have confirmed 2027 maximums so far. We are not going to make up the rest.

One more thing before we go engine by engine. There is no diesel in the Ram 1500. It went away after 2023 and it has not come back for 2027. If you need a diesel half-ton, we cannot sell you one, and neither can anyone else with a Ram badge on the building. Diesel in the Ram world now lives in the 2500 and 3500 with the 6.7L Cummins. That is a genuinely different truck, and we will happily walk you over to one.

Daily Duty

THE EVERYDAY ENGINES

3.6L Pentastar V6 eTorque (305 hp / 269 lb-ft)

This is the value engine, and it is not an insult. Think of the person who drives from Dripping Springs to a job site, throws tools and a cooler in the bed, and tows a small utility trailer twice a year. The eTorque belt-driven motor generator smooths out the stop-start and gives you a small shove off the line, which matters more than you would guess in Bee Cave Road traffic. Where the Pentastar shows its limits is a heavy load on a long grade. Head west on US-290 toward Fredericksburg with a few thousand pounds behind you and the V6 will do it, but it will downshift and work for a living the whole way.

5.7L HEMI V8 (395 hp / 410 lb-ft)

Ask twenty Texans what a truck should sound like and nineteen of them describe a 5.7 HEMI. The torque arrives low and stays flat, which is exactly what you want when a trailer is loaded unevenly and you are trying to get off a boat ramp without drama. Plenty of customers pick this engine on feel alone. That is a legitimate reason to buy a truck, and we are not going to talk you out of it.

5.7L HEMI V8 eTorque (395 hp / 410 lb-ft, up to 11,370 lb)

Same horsepower and torque as the standard HEMI, but with the 48-volt system layered in. The practical difference is refinement plus a confirmed tow rating of 11,370 pounds. For a 24-foot bowrider on a tandem trailer, that number is comfortable. Buyers who tow to Lake Travis every other weekend from Lakeway or Spicewood tend to land here and stay happy.

The Sixes

THE HURRICANE SIXES, AND WHY NOBODY SHOULD BE SCARED OF THEM

Six cylinders instead of eight makes some longtime truck buyers nervous. We hear it every week on the lot. Then they drive one.

3.0L Hurricane SO twin-turbo I6 (420 hp / 469 lb-ft, up to 11,530 lb)

Read those numbers again. The standard-output Hurricane makes 25 more horsepower and 59 more lb-ft than the 5.7 HEMI, and it carries the highest confirmed 2027 tow rating in the entire 1500 lineup at 11,530 pounds. Turbo torque builds early, so on a Hill Country climb with a loaded trailer the truck holds a gear instead of hunting through three of them. If you tow regularly and you are shopping on capability rather than exhaust note, this is the engine to beat.

3.0L Hurricane HO twin-turbo I6 (540 hp / 521 lb-ft)

High output is a different animal. 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft is muscle car territory in a full-size pickup, and it is the engine that gives the RHO its personality. Understand what you are buying, though. Serious power in a half-ton is a fun tax, not a work tool, and the fuel bill reflects that. Nothing wrong with paying it if that is the truck you want.

The Muscle

THE MUSCLE ENGINES

6.4L HEMI V8, the 392 (470 hp / 470 lb-ft)

Big naturally aspirated displacement, no turbos, and a very specific noise. Ram brought back a Rumble Bee sub-line for 2027, and the 392 shows up in that family (Rumble Bee 392 and Rumble Bee 392 Track Pack). Buyers who want the classic V8 experience without six figures of TRX money gravitate here.

6.2L supercharged HEMI V8, the TRX SRT (777 hp / 680 lb-ft)

777 horsepower. Zero to 60 in 3.5 seconds. In a pickup. The TRX SRT starts at $99,995 before the $2,795 destination charge, so it is a deliberate purchase, not an accident. People who buy it are not cross-shopping on payment. They want the fastest truck on RM 1431 and they are willing to fund it.

The Pick

SO WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU ACTUALLY BUY?

• Commuting, light hauling, tightest budget: 3.6L Pentastar V6 eTorque
• You want a V8 because you want a V8: 5.7L HEMI
• Regular boat or trailer duty with confirmed capability: 5.7L HEMI eTorque or 3.0L Hurricane SO
• Highest confirmed towing in the lineup: 3.0L Hurricane SO at 11,530 lb
• You want to be quick and you tow occasionally: 3.0L Hurricane HO
• Sound and swagger: 6.4L HEMI 392
• You are not asking about payments: 6.2L supercharged TRX SRT

Trim availability is where this gets slippery. Tradesman and Big Horn/Lone Star sit at the practical end, Rebel and BackCountry lean off-road, Limited, Longhorn and Tungsten cover luxury, and RHO, TRX SRT and the Rumble Bee trucks carry the performance flag. Engine availability by trim moves around as order banks open and close through the model year, so call our sales team at (512) 900-6192 and let us confirm what is actually buildable this week rather than guessing off a brochure.

Budget For This

BUDGET FOR THE STUFF NOBODY MENTIONS

Sticker price is never the final number. Plan for these:

• Destination charge of $2,795 on every 2027 Ram 1500, regardless of trim
• Texas sales tax at 6.25% of the purchase price, which on a well-equipped truck is real money
• Emissions inspection if you register in Travis County, one of the 17 Texas counties that still requires it. Texas dropped the annual safety inspection for non-commercial vehicles in January 2025, but emissions stayed.
• Towing equipment, since a max tow rating assumes the right hitch, axle ratio and cab configuration. A Quad Cab short-bed (new for 2027) and a Crew Cab do not carry identical numbers.
• Fuel, honestly. The gap between a Pentastar and a supercharged 6.2 over three years of Austin driving is not a rounding error.

Warranty coverage is the same across all seven engines: 3 years or 36,000 miles basic, 5 years or 60,000 miles powertrain, with roadside assistance included. Mopar FlexCare is available if you want protection past that, and our Mopar Express Lane handles oil changes without an appointment.

The Straight Answer

WHAT WE WOULD TELL YOU IF YOU CALLED

Come drive two of them back to back. That is the whole recommendation. Nearly everyone arrives convinced they need one specific engine and leaves having picked a different one, usually after feeling how the Hurricane SO pulls compared to a 5.7. Bring your trailer if you have one. We are at 16501 Sweetwater Vlg Dr, Building 3, off RM 2244, open Monday through Saturday 9am to 7pm, and there is no pressure attached to a test drive.

Common Questions

FAQ

Does the 2027 Ram 1500 come with a diesel engine?

No. The diesel was dropped from the 1500 after the 2023 model year and it has not returned. If you want a Ram diesel, you are looking at a 2500 or 3500 with the 6.7L Cummins.

Which 2027 Ram 1500 engine tows the most?

Of the figures confirmed so far, the 3.0L Hurricane SO twin-turbo I6 leads at up to 11,530 pounds, with the 5.7L HEMI eTorque right behind at up to 11,370 pounds. Both assume proper equipment and the right configuration.

Is the twin-turbo six really a replacement for a V8?

On paper it beats the 5.7 HEMI in both horsepower and torque, and it carries the higher confirmed tow rating. What it does not replace is the V8 sound, which is a real reason people still choose the HEMI.

How much does the TRX SRT cost?

It starts at $99,995 MSRP plus the $2,795 destination charge, before tax, title and any options. Call (512) 900-6192 if you want us to check availability.

COME DRIVE TWO 2027 RAM 1500 ENGINES BACK TO BACK

Covert CDJR Bee Cave, 16501 Sweetwater Vlg Dr Building 3, Austin, TX 78738. Sales (512) 900-6192, open Monday through Saturday, 9am to 7pm, closed Sunday. Bring your trailer if you have one; feeling the Hurricane SO pull compared to a 5.7 HEMI settles this faster than any spec sheet.

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Written by the sales team at Covert CDJR Bee Cave, Austin, Texas. We sell and service the full Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram lineup and drive these roads ourselves. Questions about Ram 1500 engines, towing or trim availability: (512) 900-6192.

Prices exclude destination, taxes, title, registration and dealer fees, and are subject to change. Horsepower, torque, towing and payload figures are manufacturer specifications for the model year at the time of writing and may change; confirm equipment on the window sticker of the specific vehicle. Fuel economy figures, where cited, are EPA estimates for comparison only and your results vary with speed, temperature, terrain and load. This article is general information, not tax or legal advice; confirm details that affect your money with a tax professional or our finance office.