--- title: "Dodge Ditches All-V8 Durango Promise in Pursuit of Lower Price" date: "2025-11-20" modified: "2025-11-20" authors: - name: "Byron Hurd" job_title: "Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/byron-hurd" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/dodge-flip-flops-on-all-v8-durango-revives-v6-for-2026" categories: - "Dodge News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Dodge Durango" - "suv/crossover" --- # Dodge Ditches All-V8 Durango Promise in Pursuit of Lower Price ![2025 Dodge Durango]() Back in August, Dodge announced that the Durango was going V8-only. In fact, the company made kind of a big deal about it. I should know; I was there [when it happened](). So you can imagine our curiosity when, earlier this month, the Dodge build & price tool still showed a Pentastar option—and apparently enough people noticed that Dodge decided to [make its flip-flop official]() yesterday. Are you surprised? I'm not. We're talking about a company with more farewell tours than the Eagles. Up next: the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Final Edition *Final Edition*. [Nobody will see it coming]()... To be fair, there were always caveats to Dodge's V8 pivot. At first, we were told the Hemi-only restrictions wouldn't apply to models being sold to fleets (rental or otherwise), which could still order the Pentastar V6. Then, when we spotted retail models in inventory, we were told that they were already in the pipeline when the announcement was made and would gradually fade out of showrooms with the influx of Hemi-powered models. So, this announcement puts us somewhere around revision 3.0 of Dodge's 2026 Durango market strategy—in November of 2025. [As good as the Hemi is for buzz](), however, it's not so great for price point. The base V8 (an AWD model with GT, so not exactly a stripper) starts at $45,000 with destination. While that's cheap for what it is (where else can you get a midsize V8 SUV with AWD under $50k?), that's [only a little cheaper than the average new car purchase](), and Dodge dealers need inexpensive options to help put butts in seats. With the V6 Durango GT model back in the mix for 2026, Dodge can [advertise a *net* price of $38,990 (with destination) thanks to $2,000 in available incentives](); $1,000 of that is bonus cash specifically earmarked for vehicles equipped with the Pentastar V6. *Got a news tip? Let us know at tips@thedrive.com!* ## Author Byron is an editor at The Drive with a keen eye for infrastructure, sales and regulatory stories. He brings a light, punchy style to all of his content, believing that there's plenty out there to be laughed at—himself included. Born and raised in Maryland but now based just a stone's throw from Detroit, Byron is an auto enthusiast and generalist who enjoys building and tinkering with things of all kinds, from cars, computers and digital cityscapes, to the new garage that will soon house his fleet (a CT4-V Blackwing, a JK Wrangler and an NA Miata). Inspired by an early love of rollercoasters, Byron quickly caught the high-performance driving itch. He's been tracking and auto-crossing his cars since 2007. In his downtime, Byron enjoys reading, playing city builders, and studying the history of the Motor City. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()