2026 Ram 1500 Ramcharger vs. 2025 Ram 1500: How They Compare - Related to 3, ramcharger, they, polestar, how

2025 Polestar 3

With a handsome design and the requisite high-riding seating position, the 2025 Polestar 3—from Volvo's spinoff EV brand—joins the flood of electric SUVs pouring into the market. We’ll admit to being smitten with its streamlined roofline, prominent fenders, and dramatic wheel arches. The SUV’s cabin looks rich too, with a clean design and high-end materials. A 295-hp rear-wheel-drive model is standard, but we like the more powerful 483-hp all-wheel-drive model. For speed freaks, the optional Performance trim boosts that to 510 horsepower and adds unique 22-inch wheels, summer tires, and a tweaked suspension system. The driving range is a decent 350 miles per charge for the standard model, 315 for the all-wheel drive one, and 279 miles for the Performance. All models can be charged quickly via a DC fast charging connection. It’s also equipped with an array of active safety functions, and Polestar has future enhancements planned that include Volvo's lidar technology , which will supposedly enable full self-driving sometime in the future.

The Polestar 3 is the third entry in Polestar's slowly expanding lineup and the brand’s first SUV model. The 3 is the first Polestar built in America, as it's built at Volvo's new plant in South Carolina.

The price of the 2025 Polestar Polestar 3 starts at $68,900 and goes up to $86,300 depending on the trim and options. Long Range Single Motor $68,900 Long Range Dual Motor $75,300 Launch Edition $80,300 Long Range Dual Motor Performance $81,300 Performance Launch Edition $86,300.

Although the tuned-up Performance model sounds enticing, we’d stick with the Long Range Dual Motor model, which at 483 horsepower is no slouch. Its range is longer than the Performance model’s and it also comes with a generous list of standard features for its first year on the market, including the contents of the Pilot package. That means tech features such as adaptive cruise control with lane-centering and a head-up display are on every model If you want high-end luxury touches such as a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins stereo and soft-closing doors, order up the optional Plus package. If the Polestar 3’s pricing seems steep, consider that rivals such as the Porsche Macan EV and BMW iX are similarly costly.

A single-motor rear-wheel-drive powertrain is standard and makes 295 horsepower. Stepping up to the dual-motor powertrain unlocks 483 horsepower and all-wheel drive. But the Performance trim gets bumped to 510 ponies and offers the quickest acceleration times. During our test drive of the Performance trim, we found it delivers snappy acceleration. We haven't yet driven the rear-wheel-drive base model. Every 3 comes with adaptive dampers and air springs, but the Performance package includes a sport-tuned version of the suspension. Handling is surprisingly agile. A torque-vectoring rear differential helps curb understeer and gives the Polestar 3 a more planted feel through fast cornering maneuvers.

In our testing, the Polestar 3 Dual Motor Performance sprinted to 60 mph in [website] seconds. Once we get the chance to test the Long Range and single-motor versions, we'll upgrade this section with results.

View Exterior Photos Marc Urbano | Car and Driver.

All models come with the same [website] battery pack that can charge at up to 250 kW on a DC fast-charging connection. Polestar says that is enough to get the battery charged from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 30 minutes. Once charged up to full, the Long Range Dual Motor model is expressed to deliver up to 315 miles of driving before needing to be re-juiced; the more powerful Performance model’s estimated range is slightly lower at 279 miles per charge. For maximum range, consider the single-motor model, which is rated for up to 350 miles of driving per charge.

The 2025 Polestar 3's EPA-estimated MPGe ratings vary depending on equipment. The dual-motor Polestar 3 with 21-inch wheels is the most efficient at 88 MPGe combined . With smaller 20-inch wheels, it delivers an 87 MPGe result. When equipped with large 22-inch wheels, the Polestar 3 only manages 80 MPGe combined. The Performance trim pays an efficiency price too, rated at 77 MPGe combined. When we get a chance, we’ll take the Polestar 3 on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route and modification this story with its test results. For more information about the Polestar 2's efficiency and range, visit the EPA's website.

Polestar has decked out its first SUV model with plenty of convenience and luxury attributes. All models come with a panoramic sunroof that bears an illuminated Polestar logo. A power rear liftgate is standard too, as are power front seats with heating, a three-zone automatic climate control system, and an onboard air purifier. The interior design is clean and modern, and it attributes high-end materials that Polestar says are also eco-friendly and sustainable. The optional Plus package adds niceties such as a power-adjustable steering wheel with heat and soft-close doors. Cargo space is less generous than in some other similarly-sized SUVs and the Polestar 3's front trunk (or frunk) is a disappointing one cubic-foot cubby that's good only for storing the SUV's portable charging cables.

View Interior Photos Marc Urbano | Car and Driver.

A large [website] infotainment display is standard and runs Polestar’s latest Google-based infotainment interface. A secondary [website] display serves as the Polestar 3’s gauge cluster. The system is overall fairly intuitive, although the lack of physical buttons will irk some drivers. We expect to see Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features, and we know that all models will come with in-dash navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, and four USB-C charging ports. A 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins stereo system is part of the optional Plus package.

A host of driver-assistance capabilities are standard on every Polestar 3 model, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high-beam headlamps, and a driver-monitoring system. Later on, a LiDAR system will become an option which Polestar says will open up capability for even more advanced semi-autonomous systems. For more information about the Polestar 3’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety capabilities include:

Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist.

Standard adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature.

Polestar’s limited warranty sticks to the industry standard, on par with that of Tesla. The firm also provides competitive coverage for the 3's electrical components. Surprisingly, Polestar doesn’t offer the same three-year complimentary maintenance program as Volvo, its parent firm.

Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles.

Electrical components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles.

Specifications Specifications 2025 Polestar 3 Performance Launch Edition.

Vehicle Type: front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon PRICE.

Front Motor: permanent-magnet AC, 241 hp, 310 lb-ft.

Rear Motor: permanent-magnet AC, 268 hp, 361 lb-ft.

Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, [website] kWh.

Transmissions, F/R: direct-drive CHASSIS.

Brakes, F/R: [website] vented disc/[website] vented disc.

Results above omit 1-ft rollout of [website] sec.

Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: [website] g EPA FUEL ECONOMY.

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2026 Ram 1500 Ramcharger vs. 2025 Ram 1500: How They Compare

Ram's gas-powered pickup trucks were, collectively, the sixth bestselling vehicle in the United States last year, racking up 373,120 sales. While Ram ditched the thumping V-8 heart for its latest half-ton truck, the automaker hopes to increase the 1500's popularity by expanding its powertrain arsenal. First up is the Ramcharger, a new plug-in-hybrid pickup utilizing a gas-fed V-6 as a generator to recharge the battery. It will be followed by the fully electric 1500 REV, which was originally scheduled to start production before the PHEV, but they've since flip-flopped.

The 2026 Ram 1500 Ramcharger has also faced delays, but it's finally supposed to hit dealerships sometime in the second half of this year. With its arrival imminent, Ram has released full technical details for the plug-in truck, allowing us to see how it stacks up against its popular gas-only counterpart.

Although the Ramcharger is constructed around the new STLA Frame platform—designed to support a variety of powertrains, from gas to hybrid to EV—the plug-in truck matches the dimensions of the gas-only 1500. However, the Ramcharger will come only in a single configuration, pairing a crew-cab body style with a five-foot, seven-inch bed. The standard 1500, meanwhile, is sold in both extended "Quad" cab and crew cab setups. The Quad Cab comes exclusively with a six-foot, four-inch bed, and the crew cab is available with both bed sizes.

When comparing identical configurations, the Ramcharger and standard 1500 are dimensionally identical. The Ramcharger's [website] wheelbase and [website] overall length match that of the 1500 crew cab (the Quad cab is four inches shorter in both metrics). The overall width and height are also identical at [website] and [website] inches, respectively. The approach angle, however, is a bit more effective in the Ramcharger at [website] degrees.

The 4x4 crew-cab version of the gas-only 1500 has an approach angle of [website] degrees, although the gas truck's [website] departure angle is about 1 degree improved than the Ramcharger's. The dune-jumping 1500 RHO—a replacement for the V-8-powered TRX—takes the gas-powered truck to the extreme with extra ground clearance and a reworked front bumper, which supplies an impressive 31-degree approach angle and [website] departure angle.

Ram's full-size trucks pack six-cylinder power these days, with the Hemi V-8 departing after the 2024 model year. While the 1500 is offered with the Pentastar [website] V-6—featuring a 48-volt hybrid system—we're focusing on the more potent Hurricane twin-turbocharged [website] inline-six. It comes in two intensities. More affordable models, such as the base Tradesman, Big Horn, and off-road-ready Rebel, feature the standard-output engine that churns out 420 horsepower and 469 pound-feet of torque. The pricier models—the Longhorn, Limited, Tungsten, and RHO—have a high-output version that turns up the wick to 540 ponies and 521 pound-feet. Every Hurricane engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and offers rear- or all-wheel drive; the Ramcharger's dual electric motors provide standard four-wheel traction.

While the Ramcharger does feature the Pentastar [website] V-6 under its hood, the gas engine doesn't power the wheels. Instead, the V-6's 271 horses and 226 pound-feet generate energy for the battery, a 400-volt unit with a usable capacity of [website] kWh. This pack feeds two electric motors, one mounted on each axle. The front motor produces 335 hp, while the rear unit is a tad lower at 333 hp; both motors are rated at 310 pound-feet of torque. The combined output is 647 hp and 610 pound-feet, making the Ramcharger significantly more potent than the mightiest gas-only 1500.

Despite the Ramcharger's power advantage, its battery alone adds substantial heft. Ram says it contributes 1216 pounds to the truck's claimed curb weight of 7507 pounds. Still, it's estimated to go from zero to 60 mph in [website] seconds. Meanwhile, when we tested a 2025 Ram 1500 Limited crew cab 4x4 with the 540-hp Hurricane engine, it tipped our scales at 5967 pounds and hit 60 mph in [website] seconds. For a true comparison, though, we'll need to wait to strap our test equipment to a Ramcharger.

When you're not mashing the accelerator, the Ramcharger's hybrid setup should help you travel a bit farther. Ram states its battery is good for 145 miles of range on electricity alone, and once the gas generator kicks in, it's estimated to go 690 miles between fill-ups. The gas-only truck comes with either a 26- or 36-gallon fuel tank. Four-wheel-drive versions with the H/O Hurricane have an EPA estimate of 17 mpg combined, so paired with the larger tank, it has a theoretical range of about 610 miles.

While many people use their pickups as daily drivers, both Rams are equipped to do traditional "truck stuff." The Ramcharger out-trucks the standard gas-powered 1500. Ram asserts the plug-in-hybrid model has a max payload of 2625 pounds and a towing capacity of 14,000 pounds. This outdoes the gas-fed 1500's ratings, which peak at 2300 pounds of payload and 11,580 pounds of towing capacity. Plus, the Ram 1500 Limited Crew Cab 4x4 we tested has a similar bed and body style as the Ramcharger, but its max payload and towing capabilities are considerably lower at 1340 and 9740 pounds, respectively.

Inside, Ram's PHEV and gas-only trucks are virtually identical. The small differences include buttons around the gear selector for unique drive modes tailored to the Ramcharger's hybrid system. Both trucks feature a large [website] touchscreen that can be upgraded to an even bigger [website] unit with a [website] digital gauge cluster. An optional [website] touchscreen for the front passenger is also available, and the cabin can be wrapped in rich leather and specced with upgrades such as heated, ventilated, and massaging seats, depending on the trim.

Ram View Interior Photos Marc Urbano | Car and Driver.

The one crucial detail we're still missing regarding the Ramcharger is pricing. The gas-only 1500 starts at $42,270 for the base Tradesman trim, while the Limited trim we tested starts at $77,150. The top-of-the-line Tungsten model commands an $89,150 starting price. Ram hasn't revealed the entire Ramcharger lineup, but we expect the most affordable examples to start around $60K. At the top end, the Ramcharger could easily spill over the $100,000 mark. More specifics regarding pricing should be released later this year ahead of deliveries in the second half.

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2026 Ram 1500 Ramcharger Hybrid

Who noted you can't teach an old truck new tricks? The 2026 Ram 1500 Ramcharger, which is a name that harkens back to the late 1980s Dodge SUV that wore it last, is a sophisticated full-size pickup truck that splits the difference between a hybrid and an EV. That lands it somewhere between the Ford F-150 hybrid and Rivian R1T in terms of complexity. The Ramcharger has an all-wheel-drive powertrain that generates a combined 647 horsepower and 610 pound-feet of torque. Like the electric Ram 1500 REV, the Ramcharger uses a unique body-on-frame platform, but instead of just two electric motors, there's a gas-fed V-6 under the hood that acts as a generator. As the battery depletes, the gas engine kicks in to help recharge, therefore adding power and eliminating range anxiety. Of course, it can still be plugged into a DC fast-charger like a normal EV. Ram also estimates 145 miles of pure-electric driving range. As an alternative to the Ram EV, the Ramcharger aims to provide a solution for longtime gas-engine lovers who don't want to rely solely on batteries to get to and from the job site or office.

The Ramcharger nameplate hasn't been alive since it was fixed to a beefy off-road SUV in 1993. For 2026, its revival marks a giant leap in alternative energy. The Ramcharger is similar to the gas-fed Ram 1500 full-size pickup but gets a rather clever plug-in-hybrid powertrain. The Ram 1500 Ramcharger also attributes Ram's alternate logo, which glows as the vehicle charges.

The price of the 2026 Ram 1500 Ramcharger Hybrid is expected to start around $60,000 and go up to $100,000 depending on the trim and options. Tradesman $60,000 (est) Limited $80,000 (est) Tungsten $100,000 (est).

Official pricing for the 2026 Ram 1500 Ramcharger hasn't been unveiled yet, but we have seen photos of several available trim levels, from the upper-crust Tungsten and Limited to the lower-level Big Horn and Tradesman.

The Ram 1500 Ramcharger powertrain is a complex mashup of internal combustion and electric propulsion, and it works similarly to a plug-in-hybrid vehicle. The difference is that the [website] V-6 doesn't directly drive any axles. Rather than providing power to the wheels, it works as a range extender for the Ramcharger's battery pack by powering a generator that converts the energy produced by the gas engine into electricity. From there, the battery is responsible for juicing up the front and rear electric motors that make up the truck's all-wheel-drive system. The setup combines for 647 horsepower and 610 pound-feet of torque. Ram says it's good for [website] seconds to 60 mph, which if that holds true, would mean the Ramcharger isn't far behind the 702-hp Ram 1500 TRX. Despite the Ramcharger's debut as the enterprise's first-ever plug-in-hybrid pickup, its bones remain very traditional. Like the standard Ram 1500, the Ramcharger rides on a body-on-frame platform. Its independent rear suspension uses standard air springs, with a kneeling mode to lower the Ramcharger to ease the height of entry, exit, or loading material in the bed. We'll enhancement this story once we've had a chance to test drive the Ramcharger for ourselves.

The Ram 1500 Ramcharger can tow up to 14,000 pounds and carry a payload of up to 2625 pounds. That's more than the outgoing 2023 Ram 1500 was capable of but meets the limits of rival pickups from Ford and Chevrolet. For more towing, you'll need to step into the bigger boys club with a heavy-duty three-quarter-ton. The heavy-duty Ram HD lineup boasts a maximum conventional towing capacity of 23,000 pounds.

Ram estimates the Ramcharger can go 145 miles on electricity alone, and when combined with a full tank of gas, the PHEV truck proposes a combined range of up to 690 miles. That's over 170 miles more than the current farthest-driving EV, the Lucid Air Grand Touring. The Ram's battery pack has a usable capacity of [website] kW. That's massive compared with other PHEVs, but easily eclipsed by the upcoming all-electric Ram 1500 REV that offers more than double that capacity. Though the gasoline engine is designed to charge the battery pack, the Ramcharger can be plugged into a DC fast-charger, which Ram says can take the battery from 20 to 80 percent in about 45 minutes.

We've touted Ram pickups as having more luxurious interiors than their rivals for some time, and the Ram 1500 Ramcharger isn't about to challenge that reputation. The cabin looks grand and attributes accents with diamond knurling, a suede-wrapped headliner, and heated and ventilated leather seats with an available massage function. A 23-speaker Klipsch audio system can also be included, which brings a 12-inch subwoofer. The Ramcharger will also be sold with RamBox, which provides extra lockable storage for the truck bed.

All Ramchargers come decked out with screens. A large digital instrument cluster measures [website] inches while the center infotainment touchscreen is 12 or [website] inches and home to most of the truck's controls. The infotainment system can be configured to highlight only your most-used functions. There's also an available [website] passenger display, which can mirror displays from phones, tablets, and handheld gaming devices, via an HDMI cable, and isn't visible to the driver while in use. The Ramcharger also has dual wireless chargers, which allow you to charge two smartphones at a time without any pesky cords.

The Ram 1500 Ramcharger has a host of available driver-assistance technology. For more information about the Ram 1500's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety attributes include:

Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist.

As more information becomes available, we'll enhancement this story with more details about:

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