2026 RAM 1500 Lone Star 4×4 Makes Texas Proud

2026 Ram 1500 Lone Star Texas Review

Earlier this summer, when temperatures first started hitting triple digits and cicadas began to sing the song of sweat, I had the chance to review the 2026 Ram 1500 Lone Star. A truck tailored for Texans – literally.

This Forged Blue Metallic ($295) pickup truck came equipped with Ram’s 4×4 off-road package, a cloth seat interior, and the optional 5.7L Hemi V8.

Not the flashiest truck in Ram’s lineup, but definitely the one to buy if you like, and often miss, traditional pickup trucks.

What’s the Ram Lone Star Edition Truck?

Not to be confused with the Ram Longhorn, the fancier Ram 1500 variant with a five-star saloon interior. The Ram Lone Star trim level is built upon the Ram Big Horn. Nameplate aside, the Ram Big Horn and Lone Star are identical twins. Except the Lone Star gets the bragging rights about being sold exclusively in Texas.

Why does Ram offer a trim level sold in only 1 out of 50 states? Because 1 out of every 6 Ram Trucks sold in the United States rolls off a Texas dealership.

The Ram 1500 Lone Star is not a top-tier trim level, but it does offer exclusivity. Ram will not ship a Lone Star-branded truck to any place other than Texas. That’s the rule. If you want this badge on your new Ram 1500 truck, you must buy it within the state – no exceptions.

The Lone Star trim level is Ram saying thank you to its consumer base. And as a native Texan, I’m fully aware of the inflated ego that surrounds this large piece of dirt we call home. Texans love to recognize any support of our awesomeness with a hearty and sincere, damn right!

Cloth Seats are The Real Flex

Ram is emphasizing variety in its lineup of pickup trucks, regardless of trim level. Meaning, if you don’t like the standard cloth seats in the 2026 Ram 1500 Lone Star, you can upgrade to a leather interior for $2,250.

But cloth seats are the true flex. Partially because you don’t see quality cloth seats anymore.

The cloth seats in this 2026 Ram 1500 Lone Star were supportive, plush, but not overly soft like a worn sofa. Best of all, the cloth material resists the merciless summer heat that can turn leather seats into cattle branding irons. I never had to worry about parking the truck under direct sunlight because I knew my buns weren’t going to get burned.

The standard 8.4-inch center touchscreen is also preferred. The size is perfect for people who are not interested in having a desktop computer for a dashboard. Moreover, the analog controls are higher up on the dashboard making it easier to reach and navigate without taking your eyes off the road.

Among the long list of exterior and interior options, the 2026 Ram Lone Star offers four different 20-inch aluminum chrome wheel designs and tire combinations.

Ram Trucks 4×4 Off-Road Package Covers What You Need

This 2026 Ram 1500 Lone Star came equipped with the optional Off-Road Group package for $1,345.

I like that Ram doesn’t skimp on the essentials. You get exactly the right tools you need and demand. The following is everything included in the Ram 1500 Off-Road Group package:

• 275/55R20 BSW All-Terrain Tires
• Electronic Locking Rear Axle
• Front Extra-Heavy-Duty Shock Absorbers
• Fuel Tank Skid-Plate
• Full-Size Spare Tire
• “Off-Road” Decals
• Raised Ride Height
• Rear Extra-Heavy-Duty Shock Absorbers
• Selec-Speed™ Control
• Steering Gear Skid-Plate
• Tow Hooks
• Transfer-Case Skid-Plate

Four-wheel drive, heavy-duty shocks, and skid plates to protect some of the critical components underneath. Other options include a tonneau cover, a multi-function tailgate, and side steps to avoid jumping in and out of the truck all day.

I want to mention the $245 Power Trailer-Tow Mirrors with Manual Fold-Away. These side mirrors are excellent in size. Other trucks feel the need to provide a full-length mirror to reduce your rear blind spot while simultaneously creating a blind spot in front. In the words of Goldilocks, these mirrors are “just right” in terms of size and functionality.

Off-Road, All-Go

The 2026 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4×4 felt as happy as a pig in mud while driving off-road. The dirtier it got, the louder the exhaust note seemed to roar. The 5.7L Hemi grunted like a professional arm wrestler as it flexed its torque driving over steep dirt embankments or sliding on gravel.

Unlike other modern trucks, the 2026 Ram 1500 is wide and massive but doesn’t make you feel like a toddler in a booster seat. You can feel comfortable with its dimensions far easier compared to other full-sized and 4×4 pickup trucks. Simply put, it was a pleasure to drive.

The Hemi V8 is Back, But Costs Extra

The 2026 Ram 1500 is offered with a variety of engines, each paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The standard engine is the long-standing 305-horsepower Penastar V6. Followed by the new kid on the block: the 420-horsepower 3.0L Hurricane inline-six.

The most expensive engine option is the comeback 5.7L Hemi V8 making 395 hp and 410 lb.-ft of torque. Max towing capacity on a 2026 Ram 1500 with the 5.7L Hemi is 11,320 pounds with a 1,650-pound payload capacity.

The 2026 Ram 1500 Lone Star shown in photos came equipped with the Hemi, as evident by its new logo on the front fender. This V8 sings baritone through a dual exhaust system tuned specifically to increase testosterone.

It sounds intentionally awesome, so much that your fuel budget might be affected because the low-end rumble of this V8 tends to encourage your right foot to push harder down on the throttle.

Under $70,000 is Considered Affordable in 2026

The 2026 Hemi-powered Ram 1500 Lone Star 4×4 used for this review had an MSRP of $65,890. In today’s economic climate, paying under 70 grand for a new truck is apparently considered a good deal.

Inflation and truck brand loyalty aside, the only way you’ll convince a truck owner like myself to pay over 70 grand for a half-ton pickup is if it’s supercharged, bulletproof, and comes standard with $10,000 cash stuffed in the glove box.

So, while this Ram Truck configuration isn’t the typical $90,000 we’ve been reading on digital headlines for the last couple of years. The price of 65 grand isn’t exactly a bargain either. As good as the 2026 Ram 1500 Lone Star is, at the end of the day, this is still a pickup truck with cloth seats.

Variety is the New Black, and the Choice is Yours

I admire Ram Trucks for making it their sole mission to make its core target audience happy.

It’s been three years since the disastrous cancellation of the Hemi V8. Since then, Ram Trucks hasn’t stopped offering its customers flowers and dark chocolate, seeking forgiveness and signed lease agreements.

This year, Ram Truck made some stellar announcements concerning its pickup truck lineup. Like the universe itself, the Ram Truck lineup is expanding with more engine options and trim levels. The 777-horsepower 2027 Ram 1500 Rumble Bee SRT is the most anticipated.

Ram promises this muscle street truck will pack Hellcat power with a supercharged 6.2L Hemi V8 and a 170-mph top speed. In addition, Ram will offer the Rumble Bee with the 392 and 5.7 Hemi V8 variants to fit different budgets.

By the end of 2027, Ram Trucks will offer three different six-cylinder engines and four different V8 engines across its seven core trim levels, totaling up to 16 different trim variants.

A list of trucks that’ll read like a menu at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Who’s hungry for a new truck?