Dodge’s Cheapest Hemi Yet Sends the Aging Durango to Record Sales

Dodge has brought back the 392 Hemi V8 for the Durango, but this time it’s not locked behind a pricey SRT badge. 4-liter V8 as standard, starting at just $49,995. That’s a full $25,000 less than the previous SRT 392 version, and deliveries are already rolling out. It’s a move that’s turning the old three-row SUV into a surprising sales powerhouse.

Despite being the oldest SUV in its segment, with roots stretching back to 2011, demand for the Durango has never been stronger. 1 percent from last year and the best H1 performance since 2006. The strategy of sticking with affordable V8 power instead of rushing into electrification is paying off, and the momentum is expected to hold into 2027, even with a modest $1,000 price bump on the R/T 392.

The base Launch Edition comes loaded with all-wheel drive, 20-inch wheels with Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires, Brembo brakes, a performance exhaust, Nappa leather and suede SRT seats, heated front and second-row seats, and second-row captain’s chairs. The Premium Launch Edition, at $57,595, adds an 18-speaker Harman Kardon system, leather dashboard and door trim, carbon-fiber accents, a suede headliner, a sunroof, a tow package, upgraded brakes, and extra driver-assistance features.

4 seconds, and up to 8,700 pounds of towing capacity.

While competitors have charged into EVs, Stellantis took a patient approach, similar to Toyota, and it’s working. Affordable, gas-powered performance is still drawing buyers to showrooms. With a redesigned Durango expected around 2029, Dodge would be smart to keep this formula intact rather than chase a radical shift away from what customers clearly want.