2026 Durango Goes All-In on Hemi V8 Power
The Durango Goes All-In on Hemi V8 Power
The Dodge Durango has weathered more than a decade on the market and seen its share of powertrain shifts. For 2026, Dodge has changed course in a big way. Following its reintroduction in the Ram 1500, the Hemi lives on in the Durango lineup as standard equipment across all trims. Whether in GT, R/T, or SRT Hellcat form, every model now gets a V8 under the hood.
This decision aligns with Dodge's current push to keep combustion performance alive alongside electrification efforts elsewhere in the lineup. The shift also coincides with the debut of the most customizable Durango yet, the SRT Hellcat Jailbreak, which follows the previous Challenger and Charger in opening up its color and trim combinations far beyond the usual order-sheet limitations.
2026 Durango Lineup and Pricing
The 2026 Durango GT now uses the 5.7-liter Hemi V8, producing 65 more horsepower than last year's V6 and starting at $42,495, making it the most affordable AWD V8 vehicle in the U.S. The R/T trim gets an even bigger boost, offering the 392-cubic-inch Hemi V8 for the first time, rated at 475 horsepower and still priced under $50,000.
At the top of the range, the SRT Hellcat continues with the supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 producing 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic and AWD. It can reach 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and tow up to 8,700 pounds, with a new starting price of $79,995.
Orders for the GT and Hellcat open August 13, with the R/T to follow later in the year. Deliveries begin in the fourth quarter of 2025.
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The SRT Hellcat Jailbreak Program
The 2026 Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak takes the standard Hellcat platform and applies Dodge's unrestricted ordering philosophy. Apart from Mopar's newest line, it offers more than six million possible configurations by mixing six wheel designs, six exterior colors, six badge finishes, five stripe options, four brake caliper colors, and multiple seating configurations and materials.
New for 2026 is the Green Machine exterior paint, joining Destroyer Gray, Diamond Black, Octane Red, Vapor Gray, and White Knuckle. Inside, options range from black Laguna leather and Alcantara to Laguna leather in gray, sepia, or red, as well as ebony red Nappa leather. Seat belts are available in four colors, and every Jailbreak gets a stamped interior badge on carbon-fiber trim.
Select customers will be invited to use Dodge's Custom Color program to create a one-of-one paint finish with a dedicated concierge. The Jailbreak package adds $995 before any chosen options, and like the rest of the Hellcat range, it will arrive in dealerships in late 2025.
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2026 Durango Goes All-In on Hemi V8 Power first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 9, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
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