At a time when Stellantis – parent company of the Chrysler brands – is rethinking its decision to deep-six HEMI V8 engines in the RAM 1500 and Dodge Charger, there’s one product where they never went away.
The Dodge Durango.
So, while you wait for the Charger and RAM 1500 to get their HEMIs back, the three-row, seven-passenger Durango SUV has all the V8 muscle a died-in-the-wool Moparhead could ask for.
Consider the 2026 Durango lineup, which was recently unveiled. The base GT is V6-powered, but after that, the HEMIs roll in. The R/T is powered by a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 (360 hp / 390 lb-ft.), and the range-topping SRT Hellcat is powered by – you guessed it – a 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8 that produces 710 horsepower.
This basic three-trim lineup was in place for the 2025 model year, but new for ’26 is a Blacktop Redline package for the R/T. This package, which is available for the ’25 GT, adds some appearance and tech goodies, including 20 x 8-inch Satin Carbon wheels, performance hood, Alpine audio with nine speakers and subwoofer, performance-tuned steering and suspension, 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless phone charge pad, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and more.
Inside, Blacktop Redline includes six leather and suede performance seats with red accent stitching. Seating is set at six as the package comes with second row captain’s chairs. Other trim details include leather-wrapped door trim, and a laser-etched, “crypto sweep” inlay.
Blacktop Redline is available on Durango R/T Plus and R/T Premium grades for $3,495. For those wanting seven-passenger seating, the Blacktop package is also available on R/T. It comes with 20 x 8-inch Black Noise wheels, black roof rails, and black badging.
The Tow N Go package also returns for Durango R/T, which comes with anti-lock four-wheel disc performance brakes, SRT-tuned steering, widebody flares, high-performance exhaust, electronic limited slip rear axle, and adaptive suspension damping. And, as the name suggests, it also comes with a beefy towing capacity: 8,700 pounds. Tow N Go retails for $5,990.
The 2026 Durango GT has a base MSRP of $38,495, while the Durango R/T starts at $49,995. Pricing excludes destination ($1,995), and applicable fees and taxes. Ordering starts this month, with deliveries expected to begin this summer.
As for SRT Hellcat info, Dodge says it will be released sometime in Q3 (July, August, September), so stay tuned.
We’ll also note the third gen Durango has been around since 2011, and is due to be replaced soon, potentially before the end of 2026. The HEMI V8s may not carry over to the next gen model, which will likely have some form of electrification. Bottom line, if you want a Durango HEMI, now is the time to act.
That said, with Stellantis, it’s hard to know what the future, at least in the short term, holds for the HEMI. Just this week, RAM confirmed the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 will return to the 1500 pickup for 2026. Various reports suggest it could also return to the Dodge Charger by 2027. And if that happens, a HEMI-powered Durango could be with us for some time to come.
Photos courtesy of Stellantis North America
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