--- title: "2026 Ram 2500 Black Express Review: Ram’s Most Affordable Cummins Diesel Still Costs $75,000" url: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/2026-ram-2500-black-express-review-rams-most-affordable-cummins-diesel-still-costs-75000/" publisher: "Pickup Truck + SUV Talk" content_signal: "search=yes, ai-input=yes, ai-train=no" author: "Tim Esterdahl" published: "2026-05-25T10:00:00+00:00" modified: "2026-08-18T14:47:54+00:00" image: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_6485.webp" --- # 2026 Ram 2500 Black Express Review: Ram’s Most Affordable Cummins Diesel Still Costs $75,000 By Tim Esterdahl Published: 2026-05-25T10:00:00+00:00 Updated: 2026-08-18T14:47:54+00:00 ![Featured image]() A quick drive in cold, snowy Detroit reveals the 2026 Ram 2500 Black Express delivers a straightforward mix of work-ready capability, diesel performance and a few upgrades that matter for daily use. Our test truck comes in at $74,505 with the big add-on being $12,995 for the Cummins diesel engine. ## Black Express Package Adds Style to a Work Truck Foundation ![2026 Ram 2500 Black Express Review 2]() Now this is a truck! (Photo by Tim Esterdahl) The Black Express package builds on the Tradesman trim, adding roughly $2,500 in appearance and convenience upgrades. It brings body-color bumpers, 20-inch wheels and a monochromatic look that cleans up the traditional work truck styling. Buyers can choose between the Hemi V8 or the Cummins diesel, with the diesel commanding a significant price premium. The configuration sticks to a crew cab with a 6-foot-4 bed, reinforcing its role as a practical, no-nonsense heavy-duty truck. ## Cummins Diesel and Real-World Driving Impressions ![2026 Ram 2500 Black Express Review 3]() With a Cummins diesel under the hood, this truck came to work. (Photo by Tim Esterdahl) Under the hood, the Cummins diesel defines the driving experience with its familiar sound and torque delivery. In cold-weather driving around Detroit, the truck performs as expected for a heavy-duty pickup, offering solid road manners. Compared to competitors, the Ram 2500 stands out for ride quality, especially when unloaded, where it feels less stiff than some rivals. Early fuel economy readings around 13.7 mpg reflect mixed use and idling rather than a controlled test, suggesting real-world numbers could improve with steady highway driving. ## Towing Mirrors and Exterior Functionality ![]() The large towing mirrors can make turning more challenging to see over, but they pay for themselves when towing. (Photo by Tim Esterdahl) One of the most practical upgrades comes from the redesigned towing mirrors. Drivers can now adjust both the main mirror and convex mirror electronically, which simplifies setup and improves visibility while towing. Heated elements and integrated lighting add usability in cold climates. Around back, the truck includes a bed step and lower-mounted parking sensors, though the step design may be difficult to use with bulky boots and the sensor placement raises concerns about debris interference. ## Bed and Rear Design Trade-Offs ![]() The bed offers power and many tie-down points. (Photo by Tim Esterdahl) The bed setup is basic, lacking features like a spray-in liner or integrated lighting. A 400-watt power outlet adds some utility, but overall this is a stripped-down work environment. The tailgate is not dampened, reinforcing the truck’s budget-oriented positioning. Ram’s decision to place rear parking sensors in a lower, replaceable section could reduce repair costs, though durability in muddy or off-road conditions remains a question. ## Interior Focuses on Durability Over Luxury ![2026 Ram 2500 Black Express Review 5]() Cloth seats, a bench and manual adjustments for this truck. (Photo by Tim Esterdahl) Inside, the Black Express sticks closely to its Tradesman roots with a durable, easy-to-clean black plastic interior. Cloth seats, manual adjustments and a folding bench emphasize function over comfort. Technology includes a mid-size infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay, trailer brake controls and towing pages. Features like a digital rearview mirror and multiple storage compartments add convenience, while the 3,149-pound payload rating highlights its work capability. ## Verdict: A Practical Entry Into Heavy-Duty Diesel Ownership ![2026 Ram 2500 Black Express Review 4]() This comes with the smaller infotainment screen. (Photo by Tim Esterdahl) The 2026 Ram 2500 Black Express is best viewed as a value-focused heavy-duty truck with just enough upgrades to make it appealing without pushing into higher trim pricing. It delivers strong diesel performance, a comfortable ride for the segment and useful towing tech, but keeps costs down with a basic interior and minimal bed features. For buyers who want capability first and refinement second, it hits the mark. ## Related vehicle coverage - [2026 Ram 2500]() ## Structured page information ~~~json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/2026-ram-2500-black-express-review-rams-most-affordable-cummins-diesel-still-costs-75000/#article", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/2026-ram-2500-black-express-review-rams-most-affordable-cummins-diesel-still-costs-75000/" }, "author": { "name": "Tim Esterdahl", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#/schema/person/82b06f99329f69a069a5ab6caed18593" }, "headline": "2026 Ram 2500 Black Express Review: Ram’s Most Affordable Cummins Diesel Still Costs $75,000", "datePublished": "2026-05-25T10:00:00+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-08-18T14:47:54+00:00", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/2026-ram-2500-black-express-review-rams-most-affordable-cummins-diesel-still-costs-75000/" }, "wordCount": 610, "commentCount": 0, "publisher": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#organization" }, "image": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/2026-ram-2500-black-express-review-rams-most-affordable-cummins-diesel-still-costs-75000/#primaryimage" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_6485.webp", "keywords": [ "2026 Ram 2500", "2026 Ram 2500 Black Express", "Ram 2500 black express" ], "articleSection": [ "Buyer's Guide", "Featured on Home Page", "Reviews" ], "inLanguage": "en-US", "potentialAction": [ { "@type": "CommentAction", "name": "Comment", "target": [ "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/2026-ram-2500-black-express-review-rams-most-affordable-cummins-diesel-still-costs-75000/#respond" ] } ] }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/2026-ram-2500-black-express-review-rams-most-affordable-cummins-diesel-still-costs-75000/", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/2026-ram-2500-black-express-review-rams-most-affordable-cummins-diesel-still-costs-75000/", "name": "2026 Ram 2500 Black Express Review: Ram’s Most Affordable Cummins Diesel Still Costs $75,000", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#website" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/2026-ram-2500-black-express-review-rams-most-affordable-cummins-diesel-still-costs-75000/#primaryimage" }, "image": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/2026-ram-2500-black-express-review-rams-most-affordable-cummins-diesel-still-costs-75000/#primaryimage" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_6485.webp", "datePublished": "2026-05-25T10:00:00+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-08-18T14:47:54+00:00", "description": "The 2026 Ram 2500 Black Express delivers a straightforward mix of work-ready capability, diesel performance and a few upgrades.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/2026-ram-2500-black-express-review-rams-most-affordable-cummins-diesel-still-costs-75000/#breadcrumb" }, "inLanguage": "en-US", "potentialAction": [ { "@type": "ReadAction", "target": [ "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/2026-ram-2500-black-express-review-rams-most-affordable-cummins-diesel-still-costs-75000/" ] } ] }, { "@type": "ImageObject", "inLanguage": "en-US", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/2026-ram-2500-black-express-review-rams-most-affordable-cummins-diesel-still-costs-75000/#primaryimage", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_6485.webp", "contentUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_6485.webp", "width": 1200, "height": 900, "caption": "Blacked-out badges and body-color bumpers are part of the Black Express package. 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His work has appeared on CBS Sunday Morning, NewsNation, MotorTrend and The Boston Globe, and he has tested hundreds of new vehicles across North America.", "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/testerdahl?trk=hp-identity-photo" ], "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/author/testerdahl/" }, { "@type": "VideoObject", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/2026-ram-2500-black-express-review-rams-most-affordable-cummins-diesel-still-costs-75000/#videoobject", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/2026-ram-2500-black-express-review-rams-most-affordable-cummins-diesel-still-costs-75000/#WebPage" }, "name": "Ram Built a Cheaper HD Truck — 2026 Ram 2500 Cummins Black Express", "description": "While in Detroit, we got our hands on a 2026 Ram 2500 Black Express with the Cummins engine. 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