The updated 2026 Ram 2500Heavy Duty arrives in showrooms from next month with more power, more technology and more luxury than before, but with no change to the sticker price.
The MY26 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty represents the biggest update to the model since 2021, featuring a heavily revised Cummins turbo-diesel engine, new eight-speed automatic transmission, and fresh design elements inside and out.
Despite the mechanical and equipment upgrades, pricing remains unchanged from the outgoing model.
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The latest Ram 2500 and 3500 gain a number of premium features that were previously optional in the US, including the full Black Pack, comprising a black grille, wheels, side mirrors and side steps as well as a power-bulge Sport Hood.
Inside, there’s a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster to match the 12-inch infotainment touchscreen, as well as dual wireless phone chargers and a nine-speaker Alpine sound system.
A revised five-seat layout replaces the old six-seat configuration, with the front bench gone but a larger, multi-layer centre console installed.
Both front leather seats offer heating, cooling and eight-way power adjustment, while the pedals are now power-adjustable.
Rear passengers get under-seat storage with a fold-flat floor section, and a suite of active safety features now includes updated lane-keep assist, speed-sign recognition, driver fatigue monitoring, and autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection.
A new side-view monitor automatically activates the relevant camera when indicating, and all four side mirror lenses are now electronically adjustable and extendable for towing
The 2500 Heavy Duty continues to use a ladder-frame chassis with coil-spring suspension front and rear, while the 3500 employs leaf springs at the back to handle its higher payload. Both use hydraulic-assist steering and heavy-duty shock absorbers.
A new towing calculator tool has been launched on Ram Trucks Australia’s website to help owners match their load to the right model.
Pricing
Pricing remains unchanged from the previous model which is now in run out.
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
|---|---|
| Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Laramie (4×4) | $172,950 |
| Ram 3500 Heavy Duty Laramie (4×4) | $177,950 |
Ram Trucks Australia says the new model arrives as the company celebrates remanufacturing its 35,000th vehicle locally, reinforcing its position as Australia’s top-selling American pickup brand.
Drivetrains and Efficiency
Powering the 2500 and 3500 is a comprehensively overhauled 6.7-litre inline-six Cummins turbo-diesel, now producing 313kW and an incredible 1458Nm, up 13 per cent and 26 per cent respectively.
Key changes include a redesigned block and head, a new turbocharger, heavy-duty pistons, a higher-pressure fuel system, a new intake manifold, and improved port geometry.
A new eight-speed ZF TorqueFlite automatic replaces the old six-speed, paired with a taller final drive ratio (3.42:1 instead of 3.73:1) for improved efficiency. The upgrade trims the claimed 0–100 km/h time from about 8.2 seconds to 7.2 seconds when unladen.
Ram Trucks Australia has not provided any fuel consumption figures for either vehicle.
| Specification | Ram 2500 Laramie (3500) |
|---|---|
| Engine | 6.7-litre inline-six Cummins High Output turbo-diesel |
| Power | 313kW @ 3200rpm |
| Torque | 1458Nm @ 1800rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Drive type | 4×4 (part-time with low range) |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | Not stated |
| CO₂ emissions (claimed) | Not stated |
| Fuel tank | 117L |
| Kerb weight | 3710kg (3700kg) |
| Payload | 785kg (1652kg) |
| Braked towing capacity | 3500kg on 50mm / 4500kg on 70mm / 8000kg gooseneck |
| Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) | 4495kg (5352 kg – NB2 category; option to derate to 4495 kg) |
| Gross Combination Mass (GCM) | 12,750kg (14,433 kg) |
Towing Capacity
Towing capacity remains a strong point, rated at 3500kg (50mm tow ball), 4500kg (70mm), or 8000kg when equipped with a fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch.
Gross combination mass is 12,750kg, with a payload of 785kg for the 2500, while the 3500 increases those figures to 14,433kg and 1652kg, respectively.
The new eight-speed also launches in second gear by default to save fuel, automatically selecting first gear when a heavy load or trailer is detected. An exhaust brake can be activated at the push of a button for extra control on long descents, and a column-mounted electronic shifter replaces the old mechanical unit.
Standard wheels are 18-inch alloys wearing 275/70 R18 all-terrain tyres, while braking is handled by 359.9mm front and 357.9mm rear discs with twin-piston calipers.
Dimensions
Dimensions are unchanged at 6066mm long, 2220mm wide (2630mm with mirrors extended) and 2037mm tall, with a 3785mm wheelbase and 237mm ground clearance.
| Dimension | Ram 2500 / 3500 Laramie (shared unless stated) |
|---|---|
| Length | 6066mm |
| Width | 2220mm (2630mm with mirrors extended) |
| Height | 2037mm |
| Wheelbase | 3785mm |
| Ground clearance | 237mm (front axle) |
| Cargo tub length | 6 ft 4 in (193cm) |
| Approach / Departure angles | 22.9° / 25.8° |
Servicing and Warranty
Both Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty models are covered by a 3-year/100,000km warranty with roadside assistance for the same period.
Service intervals are every 6 months or 12,000km (whichever comes first).
Safety
The Ram 2500 and 3500 have never been tested by ANCAP.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Driver fatigue monitoring
- Lane-keep assist
- Rear cross-traffic alert with trailer detection
- Traffic sign recognition
- Trailer sway control
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Surround-view camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Front, side and curtain airbags
Standard Equipment
Exterior
- Black Pack exterior styling (black grille, badging, mirrors and side steps)
- Mopar Sport Performance Hood
- 18-inch black aluminium wheels
- Heated, power-folding tow mirrors with memory function
- Bi-LED projector headlights
- LED fog lights
- Automatic high-beam
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Tinted windshield and acoustic laminated front glass
- Rear privacy glass
- Spray-in bedliner
- LED bed lighting
- Eight fixed tie-down points
- Remote tailgate release
- Central locking tailgate
- Fully damped and assisted tailgate
- Fixed wheel-to-wheel painted side steps
- Deployable rear bed step
- Proximity entry
Towing
- Heavy-duty tow bar (up to 4.5t max braked towing)
- Integrated trailer brake controller
- 12-pin wiring harness
- Diesel exhaust brake with Smart function
- Trailer reverse guidance system
- Towing calculator access via Ram Trucks Australia website
Interior
- Leather-trimmed bucket seats with full-length centre console
- 8-way power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats with 2-way power lumbar
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Power sunroof
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Power-adjustable pedals with memory
- Second-row in-floor storage bins with removable liners
- Rear flat load-floor storage
- Leather-trimmed 60/40 stadium-folding rear bench with fold-down centre console and cupholders
- Push-button start
- 12-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system
- Satellite navigation
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- Dual wireless smartphone charging pads
- 9-speaker Alpine premium sound system
- Four USB-A and four USB-C charging ports
- One-touch up/down power windows (front)
- Illuminated sun visors with vanity mirrors
- Power-sliding rear window