What if the 2026 Dodge Durango looked like this?

Now that Carlos Tavares has resigned from being CEO of Stellantis, and Tim Kuniskis (former CEO of Dodge) has returned to the automaker as head of RAM trucks, there is hope for a change of course for the global auto manufacturing magnate. With the popularity of SUVs in today's market, Dodge's Durango seems like a likely target for an upcoming refresh that could exemplify a new direction for Stellantis. 

The all-new Durango could show buyers that Dodge is reverting its course

Thanks to massive cost-cutting measures under Tavares's reign, many potential buyers of Stellantis products complain that build quality has been noticeably reduced in recent years and that products have also become noticeably less exciting. The latter part is mostly thanks to the removal of the HEMI V8 in most models and a general shift towards electrification despite the wishes of many brand loyalists. 

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At the moment, the Durango is the only brand-new model that can still be purchased from Stellantis with a good ol' fashioned HEMI V8. However, the more modern Hurricane 3.0L straight-six is a more likely power plant for the next-gen Durango's mid-level range. Producing 420 horsepower and 468 lb-ft of torque, the Hurricane would more than likely replace the outgoing 5.7L V8 option in the Durango R/T. 

Where the V8 might still have a place, however, is in a high-performance variant such as the Hellcat. Although it certainly wouldn't be much of a "volume trim", a Hellcat variant of the refreshed Durango would show buyers that Stellantis still values excitement in its products, and it would bring plenty of much-needed attention to the new Durango lineup in general. 

A Hellcat "halo trim" would hopefully help Dodge sell more standard Durangos, similarly to how Ford Mustang GTs help sell plenty of EcoBoost Mustangs, by enhancing the appeal of the overall model range. 

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On the opposite end of the spectrum, the base model Durango would likely switch from its current 3.6L Pentastar V6 to a more up-to-date, turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain, or perhaps even a plug-in hybrid version. Using the same plug-in hybrid setup as the current Dodge Hornet R/T, the base Durango could benefit from 288 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque – a hefty increase in muscle from the current V6. 

Besides available powertrains, the new Durango needs to be exciting in terms of its fit and finish

The build quality seen in Dodge's final product will either make or break the new Durango. If it's obvious to the trained eye that corners have been cut and the SUV's fit and finish feels more like a Fisher Price Little Tikes car than what you'd expect from a multi-billion dollar multinational corporation, that news will travel far and wide, and the new Durangos will rot on dealership lots. 

Related: The Hemi V8’s death is greatly exaggerated

Above and beyond simply building the thing to an acceptable standard, a new Durango will need to display a significant departure from the previous generation. Dodge has achieved this well, at least visually, with the updated Charger. Its aesthetic design perfectly honors the model's tradition while massively modernizing its appearance, and this fact extends into the cabin as well. 

Final thoughts

Updated tech, refreshed styling, intriguing powertrains, and disciplined quality control will be key ingredients for the new Durango's success. It can't simply be good enough – the new Dodge Durango must impress its audiences to a surprising degree. We believe it's possible, and even though Tim Kuniskis isn't directly in charge of Dodge this time around, it's difficult to believe that his influence at RAM Trucks won't be seen in other Stellantis model lineups. 

Do you think there's hope yet for the next-generation Dodge Durango, or have too many people already moved on to other manufacturers? Will the influence of Tim Kuniskis being back at Stellantis be felt at Dodge and Chrysler, or do you think RAM will be his sole focus for the foreseeable future? Let us know what you think in the comments – we love to hear from you!