2026 Ram 1500 HEMI, Ram 2500 and Ford Maverick to Duke it Out for 2026 North American Truck of the Year

Ram has a lot to celebrate in the run up to the 2026 North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards. Ram has two finalists in contention. The 2026 Ram 1500 HEMI V-8 eTorque will be competing against the 2026 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty and the Ford Maverick Lobo for top honors. This is the first time that Ram has had two trucks named as finalists in the same year. 

“We’re proud to see Ram recognized by this opinion-leading group of industry professionals,” said Tim Kuniskis, head of American Brands, SRT Performance, NA Marketing and Retail Strategy. “NACTOY recognizing both the Ram 1500 HEMI and Heavy Duty shows that the ‘last tenth’ culture that drives the Ram brand is paying off. We’re here to give customers freedom of choice and the trucks they want – something we’re already seeing on showroom floors.”

2026 Ram 1500 HEMI V-8 eTorque

As I have reported previously, there is nothing like a HEMI. There is a reason that drivers are thrilled to keep the HEMI in the lineup. The sound of the truck firing up draws everyone’s attention, and the truck manages even narrow off-road trails beautifully. When Ram announced the return of the 5.7L HEMI for 2026, it received 10,000 orders in the first 24 hours. All of the Ram HEMI V-8s are the eTorque engines. The truck is rated at 395 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft of torque. The HEMI is available pretty much across the board in 2026 model-year Ram 1500 Tradesman, Big Horn, Express, Warlock, Laramie, Rebel, Limited and Longhorn.

The 2026 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty

I have also previously written about the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty getting an upgraded interior to match the luxury appointments found in the Ram 1500s. Also, the Ram 2500 has two new ways for buyers to customize their Heavy Duty trucks straight from the factory.  

The 2026 Ram Heavy Duty line has two new affordable packages for buyers who want to be a little sportier or go off-roading. The new Black Express and Warlock packages for 2500 level trucks are an extension of the popular entry level trims offered on the Ram 1500. This is the first time that the heavy duty truck is getting a Warlock off-roading edition. 

“Everyone likes a good-looking truck, but the challenge is making it affordable while adding value to the entire lineup,” said Tim Kuniskis, CEO of Ram. “The Ram 2500 Black Express and Warlock offer an attractive price with custom appearance, while building on our sport truck leadership position.”

Every 2026 Ram is backed by America’s Best Full-size Truck  Powertrain Limited Warranty of 10 years/100,000 miles. 

2025 Ford Maverick Lobo

The Lobo is the street-performance version of the Ford Maverick. The Maverick Lobo has a lowered ride height and an on-road tuned suspension with tuned shocks and a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine backed by a factory warranty.

According to Ford, performance-tuned steering makes the truck drive more like a performance car, with torque vectoring through a twin-clutch rear drive unit, and bigger, enhanced brakes with dual-piston front brake calipers. The Lobo has an upgraded cooling system, with a larger radiator and fan, so it won’t overheat from performance driving. 

NACTOY Awards

A panel of 50 expert print and broadcast journalists from across the U.S. and Canada judge the North American Truck of the Year award, one of the industry’s most coveted honors. 2025 marks the 32nd year of NACTOY awards and the first time Ram has earned two spots in the final three. 

Jeff Gilbert, president of NACTOY and automotive reporter at WWJ Radio, commented: “Once again, these finalists show the wide range of choices that consumers have in the marketplace. Our jury of distinguished auto reporters has come up with a great selection of fantastic vehicles that truly reflect the best of the best.”

The award winners will be announced on Wednesday, January 14, at the Detroit Auto Show.

Ram Photo

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

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