Cut-price RAM 1500 Express Black Edition arrives 

RAM Trucks Australia has expanded its MY26 1500 line-up with the introduction of a more budget-friendly Express Black Edition, which arrives next month and lowers the entry into the full-size pick-up range by more than $30K.  

As alluded to by its name, the Express Black Edition wears black mirror caps, door handles, badging, grille, side steps, exhaust tips and 20-inch alloy wheels, alongside a ‘power bulge’ sports bonnet, body-coloured bumpers, tinted rear windows and LED lighting. 

Under the bonnet is the same 313kW/635Nm twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder ‘Hurricane’ petrol engine used in the 1500 Rebel and Laramie Sport, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and part-time 4x4 system. 

It also boasts the same huge 4.5-tonne towing capacity (when fitted with a 70mm tow ball). 

Standard equipment includes an 8.4-inch central touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a 7.0-inch digital instrument display, six-speaker audio system and a host of safety assist gear including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist and forward collision warning with AEB.

Outside, a spray-in tub liner comes as standard, along with a damped tailgate, rear underfloor storage, a ‘kick down’ step for easy access to the tray, a sliding rear window and trailer brake control. 

Exterior colour options include Diamond Black, Granite Crystal, Silver Zynith, Bright White, Molten Red and Forged Blue, with metallic paint adding $950 to the invoice. 

The 2026 RAM 1500 Express Black Edition is due in Aussie showrooms next month and despite outselling rivals like the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado on a regular basis, arrives at a tricky time for big, thirsty machines Down Under. 

Sales of full-size pick-ups have dwindled in recent years – the 1500 sales fell by 17.4 per cent in 2025 – with stricter fuel efficiency standards forcing some manufacturers to downsize from big V8s to more efficient offerings. 

How much does the 2026 RAM 1500 cost? 
Express Black Edition – $109,950 
Rebel – $141,950 
Laramie Sport – $141,950
Limited – $159,950 
* Prices exclude on-rad costs 

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