This is the most affordable SUV you can buy with a V8

A big car with a big V8 is just as American as a big car with a big engine. A few decades ago, Americans began shifting their focus to SUVs, paying less attention to lower land yachts. As SUVs became more popular, the V8 continued to be a big part of the equation. However, eight-cylinder engines have disappeared from popular SUV models as regulations and consumer preferences have shifted toward efficiency. That said, you’re not out of luck if you want a V8 in your three-row SUV in 2026.

Let’s say you want to take the most affordable route to get into a new V8-powered three-row SUV. Dodge may have you covered. The Dodge Durango returns for the 2026 model year and flexes its eight-cylinder muscles at a lower price than the competition. If that wasn’t enough, the 2026 Dodge Durango is so stubborn in maintaining its V8 lineup that it offers three eight-cylinder mills, from the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 in the GT V8 to the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Durango SRT Hellcat.

The 2026 Dodge Durango GT V8 has the power

A Dodge and a V8. The two go together like peanut butter and jelly. Like popcorn and the movies. Like – you get it. Unfortunately, many of the old Dodge V8s we know and love have gone the way of the dodo after the 2023 model year. The Stellantis brand discontinued the Challenger and Charger, and the replacement Dodge Charger failed to start its production cycle with a V8 under the hood. That left just one V8-powered model in the Dodge lineup for 2024 and beyond: the Durango midsize SUV. Like the discontinued LA-platform Challenger and LD-platform Charger, the Durango offers a library of HEMI V8s.

At the bottom end, the Dodge Durango GT V8 offers a naturally aspirated 360-horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI V8. But the Durango GT V8 bragging rights don’t stop with the number of cylinders. At the time of writing, the Durango GT V8 and its 5.7-liter heart represent what Dodge proudly calls “the most affordable AWD V8 in the industry.” In fact, with a starting price of $42,695, this is the cheapest V8-powered SUV on the market. Unlike the 5.7-liter V8 engines in the Charger R/T and Challenger R/T, the Durango R/T gets the brand’s naturally aspirated 6.4-liter V8 – no SRT 392 or Scat Pack in the Durango lineup. The SRT Hellcat remains at the top of the food chain, with a volcanic, supercharged 6.2-liter V8. Don’t forget to budget for tires.

Standard four-wheel drive

When the previous generation Dodge Charger and Challenger existed, you couldn’t get a combination of V8 and all-wheel drive. It was either a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with a choice of powertrains, or a V8 with rear-wheel drive. That’s not the case with the 2026 Dodge Durango. The budget-friendly 2026 Dodge Durango GT V8 features the brand’s smaller naturally aspirated V8 engines with standard all-wheel drive. To see? There’s no need to park the V8 when the bad weather rolls into town. But the extra grip does more than ensure a safer ride in bad weather; it makes for smoother launches.

Heavy, but oh so fast

Granted, you don’t need a commercial license to drive a 2026 Dodge Durango GT V8 off the lot. However, with a curb weight of 5,313 pounds, the all-wheel drive Durango is quite a bit fatter than the HEMI-equipped muscle car of 2023 and earlier. Still, the extra weight doesn’t stop the Durango GT V8 from being deceptively quick on its feet.

In testing, the pre-facelift Dodge Durango with the 5.7-liter V8 and all-wheel drive managed to reach 60 mph in just 6.2 seconds. That’s 1.2 seconds faster than the Durango GT with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. The quarter mile passed in 14.7 seconds with a trap speed of 97 mph. Not exactly slow for an SUV that weighs over 5,300 pounds. Of course, the more powerful V8 engines deliver faster acceleration times, even with traction limitations. The 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, for example, managed to get its considerable 5,534-pound curb weight to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. That’s as fast as an F10 BMW M5, and faster than a Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R. Again, not too shabby for a large family car.

Set a budget

V8s are found in new SUVs. That is not very difficult. However, you are going to pay for it. Still, you can get into a V8-powered three-row SUV for less than the average price of a new car. The 2026 Dodge Durango GT V8 starts at $42,695, about $3,700 less than the entry-level Pentastar-powered Durango GT. For a more opulent driving experience, you can of course opt for the GT Plus V8 or GT Premium V8, which includes ventilated front seats and heated second-row seats. Doing so will increase the starting price to $46,295 and $49,295 respectively.

Prices for 2026 Dodge Durango GT V8

Large drag energy

The 2026 Dodge Durango offers seating for seven people and plenty of cargo volume with the third row folded. And when it comes to towing, every V8-powered Durango offers a standard towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. That’s £1,000 more than the standard GT with the V6 powerplant. Adding Dodge’s Tow ‘N Go package increases the maximum towing capacity to 8,700 pounds, more than a larger Chevrolet Tahoe. Better yet, Durango buyers can opt for a level-control rear suspension in the Plus or Premium trim levels.

2026 Dodge Durango GT V8 Specs

So, should you buy one?

If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest way to get into a V8-powered SUV, the $44,690 starting price of the Dodge Durango GT V8 is unmatched in the new-vehicle market in 2026. For that money, you get the most affordable V8 SUV money can buy, complete with three rows, standard all-wheel drive, and enough towing capacity to comfortably tow a car trailer. However, the Durango’s interior is showing signs of aging, and the V8 trim sucks fuel instead of sipping it. This is especially true for the Durango SRT Hellcat trims. And while you won’t find a comparable V8 in the midsize SUV market, there are sporty three-row SUVs for a similar entry cost to the Durango, like the Ford Explorer ST-Line or the Mazda CX-90.

Sources: Dodge, Stellantis Media, Edmunds