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OPINION: Dodge Missed the Mark With Its 2026 Durango Lineup

OPINION: Dodge Missed the Mark With Its 2026 Durango Lineup​

Why an All-HEMI® Strategy Could Backfire and How a Scat Pack Rebrand Could Save It​


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When Dodge announced that the 2026 Durango lineup would go all-HEMI®, it felt like a bold move—but not necessarily a smart one. As someone who’s been very vocal about this on my The Mopar Junkie YouTube channel, I have to say this decision leaves a lot of longtime Dodge fans scratching their heads. Instead of clarifying the lineup, it adds confusion—and risks alienating buyers who have been the backbone of Durango sales for years.

 
The fact that Dodge only has 1 fresh, all new car is about as pathetic as it can get. The Durango has not received any significant upgrades since 2011MY is also telling. Dodge is junk. Look at the door panels on a 2011 Durango and then a 2026. That is only one piece of the junk. Chrysler will not be around in 5 years. Ram is gay. Imagine buying a Ram Dakota, super gay. No company in the history of the industrialized western civilization has been more poorly managed. Jeep, not that great. Wrangler is it. I despise foreigners owning American companies.
 

OPINION: Dodge Missed the Mark With Its 2026 Durango Lineup​

Why an All-HEMI® Strategy Could Backfire and How a Scat Pack Rebrand Could Save It​


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When Dodge announced that the 2026 Durango lineup would go all-HEMI®, it felt like a bold move—but not necessarily a smart one. As someone who’s been very vocal about this on my The Mopar Junkie YouTube channel, I have to say this decision leaves a lot of longtime Dodge fans scratching their heads. Instead of clarifying the lineup, it adds confusion—and risks alienating buyers who have been the backbone of Durango sales for years.

Yes Dodge missed the mark here. I dont think it would be too much to still offer the GT with 3.6v6 and rwd, which would be a lot cheaper. Indeed dodge has always had the low end of the market. Now, however, you can get a jeep grand cherokee with V6 and rwd! The only reason they are doing this is because this is the end of the line for the current durango and they are consolidating the line in its last year or so.
 
This has been one of my mixed subjects for Dodge for years. Since the 318 V8 was phased out Dodge has only offered pretty much 2 basic engines for their vehicles Yes there are semantics in here as to when Dodge trucks became Ram, the V-10 and various 6 cylinders have appeared since 2000, so I will use 2005 as my starting point.
Since that time I have owned a 2008 Chrysler 300, 2 Chargers 2010 & 2013, and currently a 2021 Durango GT.
Due to the structure Dodge (& Chrysler) set up I was only was only able to get the 3,5 and 3.6 in my models. Now the reason for this was my doing, but only because Dodge put me in that situation.
I love the V8 and my last one was the 318 in my 2000 Durango. Since then my Chargers and current Durango limited me to only the 6-cylinder unless I bumped up to an R/T. Well I could afford the extra couple grand for the Hemi, but due to those 2 letters R/T on either model, the insurance (and town tax’s) made it to expensive to insure.
So why couldn’t Dodge offer the Hemi in a lower model with out the R/T’s bells and whistles?
Now with that being said, I did like the 3.5 in the 300 and ‘10 Charger, but loved the Pentastar 3.6 in my ‘13 Charger and Durango. Although I love the GT Durango options and my MPG with the 3.6, I would like a Hemi. This new changes gives me that option, but I truly understand stand Bob’s point. I guess the 3.6 could have been left as an option along with the Hemi in the GT. This would give the buyer the option for the savings with the 3.6 for the budget minded person or the Hemi guy who wants that V8 without all the R/T’s extra stuff.
 
I find it odd that the previous generation Durango could be had with a hybrid powertrain and this one isn't even allowed the 48V BSG that the Ram 1500 offers. I might also add the Jeep Wrangler offered the Pentastar V6 with 48V for a few years as well.

I suspect what we are witnessing is a hangover from the net-zero party provided by the previous regime running Stellantis. Looking at the product lineup here in America, the circumstantial evidence hints of an apathetic attitude towards product improvement, since "Everything is going battery electric, why bother."

As stated in the post above, the Durango is most likely in its twilight years. The class leaders in this segment offer a hybrid option, but most are not plugin hybrids. Jeep pushed the plugin hybrid as a faux EV and killed the brand reputation and hurt the Grand Cherokee. Confusing the consumers is a recipe for disaster. Isn't this a large part of what Bob's Op-Ed is concerned about ?
 
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