Ram Rebel: history, engines and changes by year

Ram Rebel history

Ram introduced the 1500 Rebel at the Detroit auto show in January 2015 as an off-road-styled alternative between work trucks and luxury trims. It was a crew cab with a 5-foot-7-inch bed, a unique grille, Radar Red accents and 17-inch wheels on 33-inch tires, and its air suspension added an inch of ride height. Buyers could choose the 3.6-liter V6 or the 5.7-liter HEMI V8.

The Rebel carried into the fifth-generation Ram 1500 for 2019. For 2023 Ram added the first heavy-duty Rebel, a Ram 2500 positioned between the Laramie and the Power Wagon with the 6.4-liter HEMI standard and the Cummins diesel optional.

When Ram dropped the V8 for 2025, the 1500 Rebel moved to the 420 hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter Hurricane six. The 5.7-liter HEMI, rated at 395 hp, returned as an option for 2026, and a Rebel X package returned with the Hurricane.[1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[7]

Years and production numbers

Generations and key variants

Engine and drivetrain facts

• The 2025 Hurricane engine is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six built at Stellantis' Saltillo engine plant; the standard-output version used in the Rebel is rated at 420 hp and 469 lb-ft.
• The 2026 return of the 5.7-liter HEMI brought a 395 hp, 410 lb-ft V8 back to the Rebel as an option.
• The 2500 Rebel uses the 6.4-liter HEMI V8 (410 hp, 429 lb-ft) with an eight-speed automatic; the 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel is optional.

Sources:[2],[3],[4]

What changed over the years

1. 2015Ram 1500 Rebel debuts at the Detroit auto show: crew cab only, 33-inch tires, lifted air suspension, V6 or HEMI V8.
2. 2019Rebel continues on the all-new fifth-generation Ram 1500.
3. 2023First Ram 2500 Rebel, with the 6.4L HEMI standard and Cummins diesel optional.
4. 2025Ram 1500 Rebel switches to the 420 hp Hurricane twin-turbo six as the V8 leaves the 1500 lineup.
5. 20265.7L HEMI V8 returns as an option; the Rebel X package returns.

Sources:[1],[2],[3],[4],[6],[7]

What to check before you buy one

• Confirm the engine: Rebels from different years can have a V6, HEMI V8 (with or without eTorque) or Hurricane six, and the 2500 Rebel a HEMI or Cummins.
• On air-suspension trucks, check that the truck sits level, every ride-height setting works and there are no suspension warning messages.
• Look underneath for trail use — skid-plate scrapes, bent steering parts and damaged rocker panels.
• Rebel packages and options vary a lot by year; check the factory build record rather than relying on the badge.

Model-specific problems by generation are tracked on our Ram 1500 known issues page. Engine guides: 5.7L HEMI V8, 6.4L HEMI V8, 6.7L Cummins diesel.

How to verify a Ram Rebel's factory options

Two Rebels of the same year can differ in engine, axle ratio, suspension and packages. CarWhere checks a specific VIN for licensed factory build data and, when it exists, lists the equipment the truck was built with. It reflects factory build data on record, not necessarily every installed item.