2026 Dodge Durango Drops the V-6, Goes V-8 Only Across Entire Lineup
The base GT trim drops the Pentastar V-6 for the 5.7-liter Hemi engine, bringing an extra 65 horsepower and 130 pound-feet of torque.
The R/T swaps out the 5.7-liter for the 6.4-liter Hemi, boosting output by 115 hp and 80 pound-feet of torque.
Long live the V-8, declares Dodge. After beginning to shift away from the tried-and-true Hemi V-8 engine in favor of the newer Hurricane inline-six, the Trump administration's dismantling of emissions regulations has Dodge returning to its eight-cylinder-loving form. Earlier this year Dodge announced that the Durango Hellcat and its 710-hp supercharged engine would last for another year, and now the American automaker has revealed that all 2026 Durango SUVs will feature V-8 muscle.
Dodge
While the base Durango GT model was previously motivated by a 295-hp V-6 engine, its engine bay will now house the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, boosting output by 65 ponies to 360 horsepower. The V-8's 390 pound-feet of torque is also 50 percent higher than the 260 pound-feet produced by the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6. This cuts over a second from Dodge's claimed zero-to-60-mph time for the Durango GT, going from 7.4 to 6.2 seconds.
The Durango R/T, which previously packed the 5.7-liter Hemi, also gets an upgrade, now carrying the 6.4-liter 392 Hemi V-8 for the 2026 model year. This also results in a notable increase in muscle for the R/T, with 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, up by 115 hp and 80 pound-feet.
Dodge
The top of the Durango range continues to be the SRT Hellcat, packing the supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V-8, bringing the brawn with 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet. Dodge claims the Hellcat model can rip from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, and quotes a 180 mph top speed. The Hellcat also gains a Jailbreak edition that brings more customizability, with a wider array of color choices.
The 2026 Durango GT will start at $44,490, $4000 higher than last year. The Durango R/T now starts at $51,990, identical to the price from 2025, while the 2026 Durango Hellcat tops the range with an entry price of $81,990, which is actually $5000 less than in 2025. Orders for the Durango GT and Hellcat open on August 13 before vehicles reach dealerships in the fourth quarter, with orders for the R/T starting later this year.
Caleb Miller
Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
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