Dodge Brings HEMI® Muscle To The Durango GT At Woodward

Yesterday at the Woodward Dream Cruise, Dodge rolled out something that turned a lot of heads — the new 2026 Dodge Durango GT with standard HEMI® V8 power. This was our first real chance to see the SUV in person after Dodge CEO Matt McAlear surprised us just last week at Roadkill Nights in Pontiac by confirming that the entire Durango lineup will now come standard with HEMI V8 power for 2026.

A Big Step Up For The GT – 

The biggest news is that the Durango GT, once powered by the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, is ditching six-cylinder power in favor of the legendary 5.7-liter HEMI® V8. That means 360 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque now come standard. Compared to the old V6 GT, buyers get 22% more horsepower, 50% more torque, and over a full second quicker 0–60 time — improving from 7.4 seconds to just 6.2.

At a starting price of $42,495 (plus $1,995 destination, taxes, and title), the new Durango GT is now the most affordable AWD V8 SUV on the market. That’s a strong value play when most rivals are moving toward smaller, turbocharged engines or hybrids. Dodge is going in the opposite direction — doubling down on displacement and muscle.

Tow N’ Go Muscle – 

The real party trick comes when you add the Tow N’ Go package. This setup transforms the GT into a true all-purpose muscle SUV. With its HEMI grunt and upgraded hardware, the GT Tow N’ Go can tow up to 8,700 pounds — right on par with more expensive Durango SRT models.

Performance modes like Track, Sport, Snow, and Tow let you dial in how the SUV behaves depending on the conditions. The soundtrack gets more aggressive, too, with the HEMI exhaust note rumbling loudly. To back it up, Brembo® brakes with massive 15-inch rotors up front and 6-piston calipers ensure it stops just as well as it goes.

Where Dodge Cut Costs – 

Now, Dodge managed to slot the GT with a HEMI in below the outgoing Durango R/T’s price point by stripping it down a little. The new GT keeps things simple with a cloth interior and fewer premium features compared to the R/T. Essentially, it’s an entry-level package but with big V8 power under the hood — which explains how it lands cheaper than last year’s R/T.

At the same time, Dodge has started phasing out Pentastar V6-powered 2026 GTs. There are still some early builds and dealer stock around on lots, but moving forward, the GT will only be available with the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 in the U.S.. Orders placed after August 13th are already locked into the V8. 

We have reached out to Dodge Canada for details about the 2026 Durango lineup, but have yet to receive an official announcement on whether the switch to HEMI V8 power across the lineup will apply to the Canadian market as well.

Looking At The Bigger Picture –

While it’s refreshing to see Dodge stick with muscle in a market that’s chasing efficiency, it also raises some questions. With a nearly $4,000 price hike from the Pentastar-powered GT, Dodge is inching further upmarket. In today’s world of high interest rates and rising vehicle costs, it makes you wonder if there’s still room in the lineup for a true entry-level V6 model like the old SXT to bring more buyers into the fold.

This comes as Dodge sales are already down by 50% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, making the brand’s decision to push further upmarket a bold and risky move.

Still, there’s no denying that what Dodge showed yesterday on Woodward made a statement. The Durango GT HEMI delivers more muscle for the money than any other SUV in its class. For enthusiasts, it’s a win. For families who just want a solid three-row SUV at a lower cost, Dodge might need to rethink how to balance performance with accessibility.

Either way, one thing is clear: Dodge is keeping its promise to put performance first. The 2026 Durango GT HEMI is proof that even in an era of downsizing and electrification, there’s still room for good old-fashioned V8 power.

2026 Dodge Durango GT HEMI® Image Gallery: