If you have been waiting to hear what Ram took away from the 5.7L HEMI for 2027, here is the short version: the eTorque name is gone, the 48-volt hardware behind it is gone, and the power did not move. Ram publishes 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft for the 2027 HEMI — the same two numbers the 2026 eTorque HEMI carried.
This guide covers what eTorque actually did, what leaves with it, which 2027 trims and cabs still get the V8, why the HEMI cannot be painted Flame Red or Hydro Blue, how to tell the two engines apart on a window sticker, and whether the V8 or the Hurricane inline-six is the better answer with a loaded stock trailer behind you.
Quick Answer
The 2027 Ram 1500 HEMI is the same 5.7L V8 without the eTorque assist. Ram publishes 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft for 2027, identical to the 2026 eTorque HEMI. What leaves is the 48-volt belt-starter generator and its stop-start behavior. Cylinder deactivation stays, and so does the 8-speed automatic.
Is the 2027 HEMI a Different Engine Than the 2026 HEMI?
No. Same 5.7L V8, same 8-speed automatic, same cylinder deactivation. What changed is the engine code on Ram's order sheet — EZL on the 2026 truck, EZH on the 2027 — and the eTorque assist that left the name along with the 48-volt hardware that produced it.
Worth saying plainly, because the internet has already decided it is either an all-new HEMI or a gutted one, and it is neither. Ram publishes 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft for the 2027 5.7L HEMI, the same figures the 2026 eTorque HEMI carried. So the honest answer to what losing eTorque cost you is: nothing on the rating sheet. The engine did not shrink, the transmission did not change, and the multi-displacement system that drops cylinders on a light highway cruise is still there for 2027.
What Was eTorque Actually Doing on the 2026 HEMI?
eTorque was a 48-volt belt-starter generator — a heavy-duty alternator on the accessory belt that could also spin the engine. It handled automatic stop-start restarts and added a small amount of electric assist off idle and through shifts. It was a mild-hybrid system, not a hybrid drivetrain. It never moved the truck by itself and there was nothing to plug in.
What most 2026 owners actually felt from it was the stop-start behavior: the engine shutting off while you sit at the scale, then firing back smoothly when you lift off the brake. The assist was real but subtle, smoothing the first foot of throttle rather than adding a shove you could point at. For 2027 that hardware and that behavior go away, and there is no 48-volt system on the truck.
Two things people mix up with eTorque
Cylinder deactivation is a separate, mechanical system and it carries over for 2027. And fuel economy: Ram has not published a 2027 HEMI figure we are willing to set against the 2026 truck, so we will not tell you it gets better or worse mileage.
Which 2027 Trims and Cabs Can You Get the HEMI In?
Across the regular lineup the HEMI is a Crew Cab engine, and that is true both years. It is offered on Tradesman, Big Horn and Lone Star, Laramie in 4x4 only, Rebel, and Limited and Longhorn. It is not offered on a Quad Cab Tradesman or Big Horn, a Laramie 4x2, the RHO or the Tungsten. Availability did not change for 2027.
| Trim | 5.7L HEMI | Same rule both years |
|---|---|---|
| Tradesman Express, Warlock, Black Express | Crew Cab only | A Quad Cab takes the V6 or the Hurricane |
| Big Horn / Lone Star | Crew Cab only | Same rule, no Quad Cab V8 |
| Laramie | Crew Cab 4x4 only | A Laramie 4x2 never gets the V8 |
| Rebel | Available | Crew Cab 5'7" box, 4x4 |
| Limited / Longhorn | Available | Crew Cab, either box |
| RHO and Tungsten | Not offered | High Output Hurricane, both years |
| Rumble Bee (2027) | Standard | The one Quad Cab exception, and a model of its own |
The Rumble Bee is the asterisk on the Crew-Cab-only rule: a 2027 model of its own, a 4x4 Quad Cab on a short wheelbase with a 5'7" box and a lowered ride height, HEMI standard. Ram lists projected availability starting late 2026 depending on model, and notes that preproduction models are shown. It is a muscle truck, not a trailer truck — if you want a V8 to pull stock, you want one of the Crew Cabs above.
Why Can't a 2027 HEMI Be Ordered in Flame Red or Hydro Blue?
Because Ram's 2027 order guide says so. Flame Red and Hydro Blue are two of the six colors added for 2027, and both are listed as not available with the 5.7L HEMI. Ram does not publish a reason and we are not going to invent one.
At the desk it is simple: V8 or those two colors, not both. Both are also flagged late availability, meaning they open for ordering later in the model year rather than arriving on lots. Everything else is still on the table with the V8 — Bright White, Diamond Black Crystal, Forged Blue, Granite Crystal, Molten Red, Serrano Green and Silver Zynith, plus Tank and Ivory White where the trim allows. The full palette and every restriction is on the 2027 Ram 1500 guide.
HEMI or Hurricane Standard Output for a Loaded Stock Trailer?
For 2027, Ram publishes a maximum tow rating of 11,470 lbs for the 5.7L HEMI and 11,530 lbs for the lineup with the Hurricane inline-six. On payload the gap is wider: 1,760 lbs for the HEMI against a lineup maximum of 2,340 lbs, which Ram credits to a properly equipped V6 truck. All of those are 2027 figures, and all of them belong to very specific builds.
Read it the way somebody who actually hooks up a trailer would. Sixty pounds of tow rating is not a reason to pick an engine. The payload spread is worth attention, because payload gets eaten first by four-wheel drive, a Crew Cab, a tow group, a full 33-gallon tank and four people with gear — and it is tongue weight, not trailer weight, that usually runs a half-ton out of room. Get the numbers off the door sticker of the exact truck before you buy a trailer.
So the real decision is not the rating sheet. The HEMI is a naturally aspirated V8 with a long service history, a sound most of our V8 buyers will not trade, and a familiar pull out of a yard with a loaded bumper-pull. The Hurricane Standard Output is the engine we put most trailer buyers in, it carries the lineup's maximum tow rating, and it is unchanged for 2027. The High Output makes more power — 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft in both years — but it lives on Limited, Longhorn, RHO and Tungsten and it is not the towing upgrade people assume. The three-engine comparison that still applies to both years is in our Ram 1500 engine guide.
From Beadle's Chrysler Center
The most common conversation we have about this engine is not really about eTorque. It is a man who has had four V8 Rams, is not ready to trust a turbo, and wants permission to keep buying what he likes. Our answer is that both engines pull a 24-foot stock trailer out of the breaks without drama, so buy the one you will still enjoy listening to in five years.
If you would rather put hands on a V8 Crew Cab than read about one, the trucks on the ground are on the Ram 1500 inventory page, and the sales desk in Bowdle is at 605-460-6254.
Will a HEMI Start at 25 Below in a Farmyard?
In our experience, yes — a healthy 5.7L HEMI with a battery that is not at the end of its life starts on a cold morning the way a big naturally aspirated V8 always has. So does the Hurricane inline-six. The trucks that will not start in January around here are almost never a victim of the engine choice.
What decides it is battery condition and age, the right oil weight, fuel that has not been sitting, and whether the truck spent the night in the wind. Remote start is standard on every Ram 1500 trim, down to a base Tradesman, so most of our customers are starting it from the kitchen window either way.
One question deserves a straight answer instead of a guess: we cannot confirm a factory engine block heater on the 2027 order sheet, so we are not going to tell you one comes on the truck. If a block heater matters — and out past Hosmer with no outlet in the yard it usually does — ask us to check the specific truck and we will tell you what it actually has. The rest of the winter picture, trim by trim, is in our guide to the 2027 Ram 1500 4x4 systems in a South Dakota winter.
How to Tell Which HEMI Is in the Truck in Front of You
You cannot tell by the hood, and you should not trust a badge or a listing headline. Take thirty seconds with the window sticker instead.
- Find the model year on the window sticker or the VIN plate.
- Read the engine line word for word: a 2026 reads 5.7L V8 HEMI MDS VVT eTorque, a 2027 reads 5.7L V8 HEMI MDS VVT with no eTorque in the name.
- Check the engine sales code on the build sheet: EZL is the 2026 eTorque V8, EZH is the 2027 V8.
- Confirm the cab and trim, since a Quad Cab or a Laramie 4x2 cannot have a HEMI in either year.
- Ask us to pull the build sheet on any truck you are serious about, and we will read it with you.
Important Note
Whether any early-build 2027 HEMI trucks still carry eTorque hardware is not something we can confirm either way right now. We would rather say that than guess, so read the window sticker on the specific truck rather than assuming what a model year means.
Should You Buy the 2026 HEMI on the Lot or Order a 2027?
| Consideration | 2026 HEMI, on the lot | 2027 HEMI, factory order |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower and torque | 395 hp, 410 lb-ft | 395 hp, 410 lb-ft |
| 48-volt eTorque assist | Yes, with stop-start | No |
| Cylinder deactivation | Yes | Yes, unchanged |
| Cabs offered | Crew Cab | Crew Cab, plus the Rumble Bee Quad Cab |
| Flame Red or Hydro Blue | Not in the 2026 palette | Added for 2027, but not with the HEMI |
| Powertrain warranty | Ram published 10 years or 100,000 miles for the 2026 model year | Ram has not published 2027 terms, so we will not state them |
| When you can drive it | Today, in Bowdle | After a factory order and a build slot |
Order the 2027 HEMI if: you specifically want the V8 without the 48-volt system and its stop-start behavior, you are in no hurry, or you are ordering a Rumble Bee.
Buy the 2026 HEMI on the lot if: you want the same 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft this fall, you want the powertrain warranty Ram has actually published, or eTorque never bothered you either way.
Our Recommendation
For a rancher or tradesman around Bowdle who wants a V8 half-ton for this winter, buy a 2026 HEMI Crew Cab off the lot. It makes the same 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft as the 2027, it is here now, and it carries the 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty Ram published for the 2026 model year. Order the 2027 only if you specifically want the V8 without the 48-volt hardware.
Key Takeaways
- The 2027 5.7L HEMI makes 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft — the same as the 2026 eTorque HEMI. Dropping eTorque did not change rated output.
- What goes away is the 48-volt belt-starter generator, its stop-start behavior and the mild-hybrid assist. Cylinder deactivation and the 8-speed automatic stay.
- Availability is unchanged: Crew Cab only across the lineup, never a Laramie 4x2, the RHO or the Tungsten, and standard on the new Rumble Bee.
- Ram published a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty for 2026 and has not published 2027 terms, so ask where that stands before you order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the 2027 Ram 1500 HEMI lose horsepower when eTorque went away?
No. Ram publishes 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft for the 2027 5.7L HEMI, the same figures the 2026 eTorque HEMI carried. The 48-volt belt-starter generator is gone, but the engine, the cylinder deactivation system and the 8-speed automatic did not change.
Can I get a 2027 HEMI in a Quad Cab or a Laramie 4x2?
No to both, and that was also true for 2026. Across the regular lineup the HEMI is a Crew Cab engine, offered on Tradesman, Big Horn and Lone Star, Laramie in 4x4 only, Rebel, and Limited and Longhorn. The RHO and Tungsten never get it. The only Quad Cab with a HEMI for 2027 is the Rumble Bee, which is a model of its own.
Is the 2027 HEMI a better tow vehicle than the 2026 HEMI?
We will not set a 2026 tow number beside a 2027 one, because the two figures we have come from different sources and comparing them would compare paperwork rather than trucks. What we can say is that Ram publishes a maximum tow rating of 11,470 lbs for the 2027 HEMI when properly equipped, and that horsepower and torque are the same in both years.
Is the 2027 Ram 1500 HEMI an all-new engine?
No. It is the same 5.7L V8 that has been in these trucks, with the same multi-displacement cylinder deactivation and the same 8-speed automatic. The engine sales code moved from EZL to EZH and eTorque left the name. Anyone selling it as an all-new HEMI is getting ahead of the facts.
Quick Answers
What engine code is the 2027 HEMI? EZH, where the 2026 eTorque HEMI was EZL.
How much power does it make? Ram publishes 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft.
Was eTorque a hybrid? A 48-volt mild-hybrid assist, not a drivetrain that could move the truck.
Did the transmission change? No, still the same 8-speed automatic.
Does the 2027 HEMI still deactivate cylinders? Yes, that system carries over.
What is the 2027 HEMI rated to tow? A maximum of 11,470 lbs, properly equipped.
What is its maximum payload? Ram publishes 1,760 lbs, properly equipped.
Can a 2027 HEMI be painted Flame Red? No, and not Hydro Blue either.
Is the HEMI standard on anything for 2027? Yes, on the new Rumble Bee.
Keep Researching
The HEMI question sits inside a bigger one, and the full 2027 Ram 1500 guide puts it in context: what changed across the whole truck, what did not, and why the 2026s on the lot are still the right buy for most work buyers.
My Take on the 2027 HEMI Without eTorque
I have had more conversations about eTorque in the last six months than in all the years it was on the truck, and almost none started with somebody who missed it. What people want to know is whether Ram quietly took something away from the V8 while nobody was watching. By the numbers Ram publishes, they did not: same 395 horsepower, same 410 lb-ft, same transmission, same cylinder deactivation, one 48-volt system less.
My advice depends on which side of it you are on. If you want a V8 truck for this winter, buy the 2026 Crew Cab HEMI sitting out front — same engine on paper, here now, with a powertrain warranty Ram has actually published. If the 48-volt hardware is the thing you never wanted, order the 2027 and be honest that you are ordering for simplicity, not power. And if you are still torn between the V8 and the Hurricane, come drive both with a trailer on the back. That settles it faster than any article.
For the wider picture — every 2027 change, the trims as hardware, and where the 2026 trucks fit — our 2027 Ram 1500 guide walks through it in one place. And if you are anywhere near Bowdle, stop in at Beadle's Chrysler Center. We will pull the build sheet, read the engine line with you, and tell you straight which truck fits the work you actually do.
About the Author
Lexy Tabbert — Beadle's Chrysler Center, Bowdle, SD
Lexy Tabbert is the Director of Sales and Marketing at Beadle's Chrysler Center in Bowdle, South Dakota. She covers Ram, Jeep, Dodge, and Chrysler vehicles — helping families, ranchers, and ag operators across the region find the right truck and configuration for their needs. Learn more about Lexy.