The problem, though, is that this would make the '26 Ram 1500 Express several thousand dollars more expensive than the least expensive versions of the 2025 Ram 1500 – which starts at $40,275 for the Quad cab iteration and $43,025 for the Crew cab iteration.

So, while it may be true that the '26 Ram 1500 Express will cost less than other iterations of the 2026 Ram 1500, it looks like it's still going to cost more than the least expensive iterations of the 2025 Ram 1500.

In other word, it will actually be less rather than more affordable.

The situation calls to mind that scene in the movie adaptation of Orwell's 1984 starring John Hurt as Winston Smith, the novel's main character, in which there is a discussion about the chocolate ration being increased by Big Brother. In fact, the chocolate ration had been decreased – but the expectation was that everyone express gratitude to Big Brother for increasing it.