2026 Ram 2500 Laramie Review: Cummins Power Meets Everyday Comfort

2026 Ram 2500 Laramie Review: Cummins Power Meets Everyday Comfort

Heavy-Duty Trucks Are No Longer Just Workhorses

The heavy-duty truck segment has undergone a quiet but meaningful transformation. What was once a straightforward tool for tradespeople and fleet operators has evolved into something considerably more versatile; today's HD pickup is expected to handle a Monday morning commute as competently as it manages a weekend at the lake with a boat in tow, and buyers are increasingly unwilling to compromise on either. We explored that balance a couple of years ago with the GMC Sierra 2500; now it's Ram's turn. Our test vehicle was the 2026 Ram 2500 Laramie Crew Cab 4x4, fitted with the 6-foot-4 box, optioned to $121,790, and assembled at Ram's Saltillo, Mexico, facility.

Big, Bold and Properly Heavy-Duty

The Ram 2500 Laramie Crew Cab wears its size with confidence, and Granite Crystal Metallic suits it well; a deep, slightly warm grey that shifts from charcoal in shadow to a soft pewter sheen in direct light, letting the truck's creases and panel lines read clearly without the flash of a brighter colour. Up front, bifunctional LED projector headlamps flank the crosshair grille, with LED fog lamps integrated into the lower fascia. The Clearance lamps on the truck's roof also add a touch of seriousness to the package. The Laramie's standard chrome grille surround and bumpers are present, along with chrome door handles. This particular truck includes the Sport Appearance Package, which adds a sport performance hood, giving the front end a slightly more aggressive profile compared to a regular Laramie. Sport decals are also part of that package and appear on the body exterior. In profile, the Crew Cab's four full doors and squared-off roofline are consistent with the body style, and clearance lamps are fitted at the roofline corners. Beefy trucks need beefy tires, and this Ram brings it. The wheels on this truck are 20x8-inch polished aluminum units from the Sport Appearance Package, paired with LT285/60R20E OWL On/Off-Road tires, a meaningful detail, as these are chunky, outlined white-letter all-terrain tires rather than standard highway rubber. 

A Cabin That Feels More Luxury Truck Than Work Truck

Step inside the 2026 Ram 2500 Laramie Crew Cab, and the first thing that registers is how far the heavy-duty truck interior has come. The all-black cabin greets you with leather-faced bucket seats up front: supportive, well-bolstered, and adjusted via an 8-way power system on both the driver and passenger sides, with the clear Laramie logo imprinted. Memory settings and power-adjustable pedals mean this truck accommodates a wide range of drivers without fuss, and the heated front seats and heated steering wheel make a Canadian winter considerably more tolerable. The dashboard layout is modern and organized. Dominating the centre stack is the 14.4-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen, running Ram's current infotainment software with built-in navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Ahead of the driver, a 12-inch TFT colour instrument cluster presents trip, towing, and vehicle data in a configurable layout. A dual wireless charging pad, multiple USB and USB-C charging ports and a 115-volt auxiliary outlet are within reach on the centre console. Audio is handled by a 9-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, with SiriusXM and connected travel services also included. It's a well-equipped interior that blends work-truck practicality with a meaningful degree of everyday refinement.

Crew Cab Space Makes It Family-Friendly

The Crew Cab body style is valuable for its everyday practicality. The rear doors are full-size and swing open wide, making access to the back seat straightforward, a meaningful detail when you're managing an infant car seat or loading gear after a long day. LATCH lower anchors and top tether anchorages are fitted at the outboard rear positions, allowing compatible child seats to be installed securely and correctly without leaning on the seat belt alone. When car seats are not in use, the seatbacks fold upward to reveal a flat, enclosed storage area underneath. This space is useful for keeping valuables, tools, or everyday essentials out of sight but within easy reach. For older passengers, the Crew Cab's proportions are equally accommodating: rear legroom is generous enough for adults to sit comfortably on longer journeys without compromise. Dual-zone automatic climate control keeps both rows of the cabin at independent temperatures. While the all-terrain tire fitment introduces some additional road noise at highway speeds, overall cabin refinement remains reasonable for a truck in this category.

A 6-Foot-4 Bed Ready for Real Work

This particular truck, a Crew Cab configuration and a 6 ft 4 bed, is well-equipped for cargo duty: a Mopar spray-in bedliner protects the floor and walls, LED bed lighting illuminates the full cargo area after dark, and a Mopar deployable bed step integrated into the rear bumper makes loading and unloading more manageable. The tailgate is damped for a controlled drop and includes a remote release, operable from inside the cab. A cargo view camera mounted on the centre stop lamp provides a live feed of bed contents from the infotainment screen, a useful feature when hauling loose cargo or checking load security on the road.

HEMI or Cummins: Two Very Different Ways to Get the Job Done

The 2026 Ram 2500 Laramie is offered with two powertrain options, each paired with an 8-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. The standard engine is the 6.4L HEMI V8, which produces 405 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque, with peak torque arriving at 4,000 rpm. Maximum towing capacity with the HEMI is rated at 17,750 pounds when properly equipped, along with a maximum payload rating of 3,930 pounds, the highest of the two engines on payload. The optional engine, and the one fitted to this particular Laramie build, is the 6.7-litre Cummins High-Output turbodiesel inline-six, which produces 430 horsepower and 1,075 lb-ft of torque, with peak torque arriving low in the rev range at just 1,800 rpm. That torque figure is the highest of any pickup truck in the segment, and it translates directly into towing performance: when properly configured, the diesel Ram 2500 is rated to tow up to 20,000 pounds. Beware of the price; this powertrain setup commands an extra $12,995 on top of the regular price. The diesel pairs with the heavy-duty variant of the TorqueFlite 8-speed, specifically engineered to manage the engine's substantial torque output. For buyers who regularly pull large fifth-wheel campers, equipment trailers, or gooseneck rigs, the Cummins diesel is the clear choice; for those with more varied, moderate-duty needs, the HEMI remains a competent and cost-effective alternative. 

On the Road: Far More Comfortable Than an HD Truck Should Be

Behind the wheel is where the Ram 2500 Laramie delivers its most unexpected impression. For a truck of this scale and purpose, it carries itself with a composure that genuinely catches you off guard. The Cummins diesel's abundant low-end torque means power is always on hand without having to chase it, and the 8-speed TorqueFlite manages gear changes in a smooth, confident manner that suits the truck's character well. Notably, the Ram feels settled and comfortable even when the bed is empty, a common weak point for heavy-duty trucks tuned with a full load in mind, and in stop-and-go traffic, the experience is genuinely relaxed in a way that few HD pickups can claim. Fuel consumption came in around 18L/100km (13 mpg) in combined driving, and closer to 13L/100km (18 mpg) on the highway, figures that are difficult to argue with given the truck's weight and capability. Much of the credit for the ride quality belongs to the optional rear auto-levelling air suspension, which absorbs road imperfections cleanly and keeps the truck admirably stable through higher-speed directional changes. Steering feel and overall handling are appropriately weighted for the segment, and there's a real sense that the truck is always in control of the situation. For an HD pickup, it is a remarkably approachable vehicle to drive day to day.

Verdict: Heavy-Duty Capability Without the Daily Compromise

The 2026 Ram 2500 Laramie Crew Cab makes a compelling case for itself as one of the more complete heavy-duty pickups on the market. It handles the demands of the workweek without complaint, tows with genuine confidence courtesy of the Cummins diesel's remarkable low-end torque, and the interior has matured to a point where the compromise between utility and refinement feels largely resolved. At $121,790 as tested, it's a significant outlay, but the Laramie delivers a broad and capable package that justifies the investment for buyers who genuinely need what it offers.

Disclaimer: RAM has lent us the vehicle as a press loan. We have no affiliation with RAM Canada. The above reflects our personal opinion of the cars referred to above.