Dodge Abandons All-V8 Durango Commitment in Effort to Reduce Costs
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In August, Dodge revealed that the Durango would be moving to an exclusive V8 lineup. The announcement was quite significant; I was present for it. So, it was intriguing when, earlier this month, the Dodge build & price tool still listed a Pentastar option, prompting enough attention that Dodge officially acknowledged the change yesterday.
Are you surprised? I'm not. This is a brand known for having more farewell tours than the Eagles. Up next: the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Final Edition Final Edition. It will be unexpected…
To be fair, there were always conditions regarding Dodge's move to V8s. Initially, it was stated that the Hemi-only rule wouldn’t apply to fleet sales (rental or otherwise), allowing the option for the Pentastar V6. Later, when we discovered retail models in stock, we were informed they were already in the pipeline at the time of the announcement and would gradually disappear from showrooms as Hemi models became available. Thus, this announcement signifies version 3.0 of Dodge’s 2026 Durango market strategy—in November 2025.
While the Hemi generates excitement, it does pose a challenge for pricing. The starting price for the base V8 (an AWD GT model, so not the most basic version) is $45,000 including destination fees. Although that’s a bargain for a midsize V8 SUV with AWD under $50k, it’s only slightly below the average new car cost, and Dodge dealers need affordable options to attract buyers.
With the return of the V6 Durango GT model for 2026, Dodge can promote a net price of $38,990 (including destination) thanks to $2,000 in available incentives, which includes $1,000 in bonus cash specifically for vehicles with the Pentastar V6.
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