SerpApi.Org
Still Loud After All These Years
A few years back, it seemed gas-guzzling vehicles like the Dodge Durango were on their way out due to the rapidly growing electric vehicle market. The Durango has endured and has even made the Hemi V8 standard on the R/T for the first time with the R/T 392 Launch Edition. What’s more, the nameplate posted its best first-half sales result since 2006.
In a press release, Dodge is celebrating the production of the 2026 Durango R/T 392 Launch Edition, dealer orders for which, according to Dodge CEO Matt McAlear, “sold out in just six hours.” It suggests that the market is still looking for performance-oriented three-row SUVs amid the EV era and rising gas prices caused by the Iran conflict, which have encouraged more buyers to consider vehicles with some form of electrification.
The Value Play
The Dodge Durango R/T 392 Launch Edition offers a strong proposition, given that it comes with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 producing 475 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque while keeping its starting MSRP below $50,000. For comparison, the Ford Explorer Tremor costs about the same and comes with a standard 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine producing 300 horsepower. Its available 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 produces up to 385 horsepower but requires an additional cost of roughly $12,000.
The new Durango trim can be seen as a more attainable yet still potent alternative to the SRT Hellcat models, which start at $79,995. For under $50,000 before destination and other fees, the SUV can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and delivers 32% more horsepower than the 2025 Durango R/T.
Other specifications include a best-in-class 8,700-pound standard towing capacity, an 8-speed automatic transmission, and an all-wheel-drive system.
The Production Line Keeps Rolling
In addition to recording its best first-half sales result since 2006, the Durango achieved its highest Q2 retail sales volume since 2021. Dodge has produced more than 2.5 million Durangos since the model’s launch in 1997, including more than one million at Stellantis' Detroit Assembly Complex–Jefferson.
With the all-electric Dodge Charger struggling to gain traction, the automaker’s combustion program shows that there is still sustained demand for gas-powered performance vehicles. However, it will be interesting to see how the strategy develops over the long term, as emissions regulations are likely to tighten.
