2026 Dodge Durango R/T 392 Blacktop Launch Edition: The Muscle Car of Three-Row SUVs
I owe my love of all things automotive to the heyday of the American muscle car in the 1960s. Here in 2026, the 2026 Dodge Durango R/T 392 Blacktop AWD Launch Edition is about as close as I can get to going back to those days.
A huge thank you to Dodge for delivering this one to us to live with for a full week on our home turf in East Texas. This V8 monster has been a blast. No, it did not transport me back to the 1960s, because three-row SUVs (especially V8-powered ones) were not really a thing back then. Still, our family has quite a bit of history with the Durango.
A 2011 Platform That Still Knows How to Party
This generation of Durango dates back to 2011. In fact, many of its modern competitors did not even exist when it launched, and a lot of the safety tech that is standard across the industry today was not either.
Personally, we have a lot of history with this platform. The last time we had a V8-powered Durango, someone tried to steal it from us. I shared a whole story in our guide on how to prevent car theft. This one does not have the Hellcat engine we had in that truck, but as its name implies, it does pack a 392.
392 Cubic Inches of HEMI V8
Under the hood of the Dodge Durango R/T 392 is a 6.4-liter (392 cubic inch) HEMI V8. There are no turbochargers, no superchargers, and no inline six here. Instead, you get 475 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque from good old-fashioned displacement.
Power goes to all four wheels through an eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission with paddle shifters, and Dodge says that is good for 0 to 60 MPH in 4.4 seconds. We will get to our own testing in a moment. As soon as you get behind the wheel, though, it is clear that this Durango was built to do one thing very well: go fast in a straight line.
Nostrils, Heat Extractors, and Racing Stripes
As mentioned, this is a fairly old platform. It has received a few tweaks over the years, but in 2026 it still looks a lot like the 2011 model that launched this generation. Because of the V8, though, you get a functional nostril and heat extractors on the hood. They feed cool air to the 6.4-liter HEMI and pull hot air out from underneath.
Our Dodge Durango R/T 392 tester also has the Blacktop Package, which blacks out the badges and even the Dodge name on the grille. On top of that, it wears the optional Low-Gloss Gunmetal Dual Stripes by Mopar, a $1,500 option. What do you think of racing stripes on a three-row SUV? They are called racing stripes, after all.
Blacktop Wheels and Red Brembo Brakes
To help put all that power to the ground, the Durango rides on 295-width Pirelli Scorpion Zero performance tires wrapped around 20-inch by 10-inch Lights Out aluminum wheels. Those dark wheels contrast nicely with the red Brembo brakes, which use six-piston calipers up front and four-piston calipers in the rear. There is also 392 badging on the fenders to let everyone know you have a HEMI, but there are other, more obvious ways they will find out.
Red Oxide Looks Black Until the Sun Hits It
Our tester is painted in Red Oxide, which is actually a very deep purple. In shade or indirect light, it looks black. On a sunny day, however, you see all of that purple metallic flake, and it looks so good.
Over the Durango’s 15 years, the side view has not really changed aside from the wheel designs. So take that in for a moment. It is the same overall profile that launched in 2011.
The Rear Tells Everyone It’s a 392
Out back is where it becomes obvious to the entire world that you have a 392 HEMI under the hood. The large dark exhaust tips are part of the Blacktop Package, but the noise they make is all 392.
Otherwise, the styling has been refreshed over the past 15 years but not drastically changed. The taillights have a lighting signature very reminiscent of the previous-generation Dodge Charger sedan, and the racing stripes continue down the liftgate.
Cargo Space and a Liftgate Button Anyone Can Reach
The power liftgate opens to a decent amount of storage behind the 50/50 split third row. There is even space under the false floor, where I could tuck away my backpack so prying eyes would be none the wiser. The rear seats also fold down easily. Honestly, I am sure many Durango owners, especially those who buy the 392, will ride around with the third row folded most of the time. Sure, it is a three-row SUV, but people are buying this one for the HEMI.
To close the liftgate, Stellantis puts the button on the side of the opening rather than on the liftgate itself. As a result, no matter how tall you are, you can reach it easily. Give it a press, and it beeps a few times to let you know it is time to move out of the way.
I also really like Stellantis key fobs. You get a dedicated remote start button that takes just a couple of presses, and thanks to the loud HEMI, you will definitely know it started. The front doors have passive entry, so you can unlock them just by grabbing the handle. However, that feature is not on all four doors.
Suede Buckets and Carbon Fiber Up Front
Inside, you get a black Nappa leather and suede interior with red stitching, plus forged carbon fiber trim. The power driver’s seat has memory settings, and the front seats have four-way lumbar. Just look at these buckets. They hold you in, they are trimmed in suede and leather, and they are both heated and ventilated.
Physical Buttons in a Screen-Heavy World
First, the gauge cluster uses a digital center display flanked by analog gauges. The Durango now has a larger Uconnect 5 touchscreen, too. Screens were not this big when this vehicle launched, nor were they required to control everything. Thankfully, there are still physical buttons for many functions, including the heated and ventilated seats. It gets hot here in East Texas, so yes, those ventilated seats matter.
You also get physical climate controls, volume and tuning knobs, and buttons for launch control and driver assistance features, which I really love. There are some digital controls as well. For example, a button on the screen folds down the rear headrests to clear your view out back. The SRT Performance Pages and all of the drive modes live in the screen too, which reminds you that this is still a modern vehicle, even if its roots trace back to 2011.
Further down, a nice grip-style shifter controls the eight-speed automatic. There is also a ventilated Qi wireless charger, two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, an auxiliary jack, and two cupholders. Add a leather-wrapped dash, more carbon fiber, and a suede headliner around the standard-size sunroof, and the cabin feels very premium. You do not get a digital rearview mirror or a head-up display, because again, those did not exist when this Durango launched.
Second-Row Captain’s Chairs and Ceiling Vents
However, the rear doors do not have passive entry, so if the vehicle is locked, grab the front door handle first. I am impressed with how wide they open, though, almost 90 degrees. The materials carry over from the front, including the carbon fiber accents and contrasting stitching.
Our tester has captain’s chairs for two-plus-two-plus-two seating. Because of their fold-and-tumble mechanism, they do not slide, so the legroom you see is what you get. At 5-foot-10, I sat behind my own driving position comfortably, so there is not much to complain about.
Meanwhile, the back of the center console has air vents, extra power outlets, and buttons for the two-stage heated captain’s chairs. There are also cupholders on the floor, storage pockets, tri-zone climate controls, and ceiling-mounted air vents for both rear rows. I love those ceiling vents, because they work very well for rear-facing car seats.
A Third Row With Big Windows
Getting to the third row of the Dodge Durango R/T 392 is simple. Pull a lever to fold the seat flat, then pull a bright red strap to tumble it forward. This is a common method, and we even see it in the Chevy Tahoe. Still, you can imagine that seat will not be doing that with a car seat installed.
The 50/50 split third row gets the same suede and contrasting stitching, but no bolsters, so you may slide around back there. I do appreciate that the windows do not give you claustrophobia. In fact, they are bigger than the third-row windows in the Toyota Sienna minivan we recently tested. You also get a cupholder on each side, air vents, reading lights, and an available roller cargo shade.
Even so, at 5-foot-10, I had plenty of headroom. My knees were not under my chin, and it was comfortable enough. The second-row seat does not slide, so as long as whoever is sitting in front of you does not recline, you will not have to negotiate for space.
0 to 60: Our Testing vs. Dodge’s Claim
Launch control is very easy to use. Push the button, stand on the brake, stand on the accelerator, and then release the brake. My goodness, the gut punch that comes with a 0 to 60 run. Our best time was 5.36 seconds, and another run with a missed shift came in at 5.79 seconds.
Dodge claims 4.4 seconds. I am sure that number comes from a prepped surface in conditions designed for straight-line acceleration. Either way, it is a visceral feeling. It is the muscle car of 2026, with room for your friends, your kids, and your whole family.
The Dodge Durango R/T 392 Rides Firm and Loves Straight Lines
That is not to say the Durango cannot turn. It can go around corners, but it was clearly designed to go fast in a straight line while all-wheel drive and a firm suspension keep the power down. How firm is the suspension? On my drive out to film, it jiggled every ounce of extra weight I am carrying. Tucker’s car seat was riding with me, and it was the only thing making noise in the cabin.
The Dodge Durango R/T 392 does not ride as softly as many of its main rivals in 2026, most of which use turbocharged four-cylinder engines. Yes, you are definitely making a trade-off with the Durango. As long as you know what you are getting, though, I do not see anything wrong with it.
In Sport mode, the screen shows everything it adjusts, from the all-wheel drive to the transmission and steering. Switch to Track mode, and you can feel the eight-speed automatic shift by design. It shakes the whole vehicle. That is the theme of this Durango: violent, visceral power. And it is not even the most powerful Durango out there. The Hellcat sits above it with more than 700 horsepower, something we experienced in the Durango SRT Hellcat.
You can also use manual mode with real metal paddle shifters. However, it felt almost like the axles were bolted straight to the frame, especially since we also had a Lexus in the driveway that week. That is why I skipped my usual twisty test loop and why I think this Durango fits so well here in Texas. It is happiest on long, straight roads, and it sounds great doing it.
2026 Dodge Durango R/T 392 Blacktop AWD Launch Edition Specs and Pricing
Powertrain
- 6.4-Liter (392) V8 SRT HEMI Engine With Fuel Saver MDS Technology
- 475 Horsepower
- 470 lb-ft of Torque
- TorqueFlite 8-Speed Automatic Transmission With Paddle Shifters
- Performance-Tuned Exhaust
Performance
- 0 to 60 MPH in 4.4 Seconds (Dodge Claimed)
- 5.36 Seconds 0 to 60 MPH (GT: Garage Talk Tested)
- NHRA-Certified 12.9-Second Quarter Mile
- 160 MPH Top Speed
Drivetrain
- Standard All-Wheel Drive With Active Torque-Split System
- Electronic Limited-Slip Rear Differential
- Configurable Drive Modes With SRT Performance Pages
- High-Performance-Tuned Steering
Suspension, Steering, and Brakes
- Adaptive Damping High-Performance Suspension
- Red Brembo Brakes (Six-Piston Front, Four-Piston Rear) With Two-Piece Front Rotors and SRT Performance Pads
- Electronic Stability Control With Four-Wheel Traction Control
Towing and Capability
- Best-in-Class 8,700-Pound Maximum Towing Capacity (Three-Row SUV)
- Class IV Receiver Hitch With Trailer Brake Controller
- Blind-Spot Monitoring With Trailer Detection
Wheels and Tires
- 20-Inch by 10-Inch Lights Out Aluminum Wheels
- Pirelli Scorpion Zero 295 Run-Flat Performance Tires
Exterior
- Bi-Function LED Projector Headlamps
- Power Sunroof
- Power Liftgate
- Black Roof Rails With Integrated Crossbars
- Blacktop Package
- Gloss-Black Exterior Mirrors and Badges
- Black Dodge Grille Badge
- Eclipse Black Exhaust Tips
- Low-Gloss Gunmetal Dual Stripes by Mopar
Interior and Seating
- Seating for Six With Second-Row Fold-and-Tumble Captain’s Chairs
- Black Nappa Leather and Suede Performance Seats With SRT Bolsters
- Power 8-Way Driver’s Seat With Memory and 8-Way Power Passenger Seat
- Heated and Ventilated Front Seats
- Heated Second-Row Captain’s Chairs
- Heated, Leather-Wrapped Flat-Bottom Steering Wheel With Power Tilt and Telescope
- Suede Headliner and Premium Door Trim Panels
- Forged Carbon Fiber Interior Accents
Technology and Infotainment
- 180-MPH Primary Speedometer With Premium Digital Instrument Panel
- Uconnect 5 With 10.1-Inch Touchscreen Display and Navigation
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Harman Kardon Premium Audio With 19 Speakers, Subwoofer, and 825-Watt Amplifier
- Active Noise-Control System
- SiriusXM With 360L (Three-Month Trial) and 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Passive Entry With Push-Button Start and Remote Start
- Wireless Charging Pad
Driver Assistance and Safety
- Adaptive Cruise Control With Stop
- Full-Speed Forward-Collision Warning Plus With Advanced Brake-Assist
- Lane-Departure Warning Plus
- Blind-Spot and Cross-Path Detection
- Automatic High-Beam Headlamp Control
- ParkSense Front and Rear Park-Assist
- ParkView Rear Back-Up Camera
- Rear-Seat Reminder Alert
Fuel Economy
- EPA-Estimated 13 MPG City, 19 MPG Highway, and 15 MPG Combined
- Premium Gasoline
- 24.6-Gallon Fuel Tank
Warranty
- 3-Year/36,000-Mile Basic Limited Warranty
- 5-Year/60,000-Mile Powertrain Limited Warranty
Pricing and Colors
- Exterior Color: Red Oxide ($595)
- Interior: Black Nappa Leather and Suede With Red Stitching
- Base MSRP: $49,995
- Premium Package 29N: $7,600
- Blacktop Package: $2,045
- 20-Inch by 10-Inch Lights Out Aluminum Wheels: $1,695
- Low-Gloss Gunmetal Dual Stripes by Mopar: $1,500
- Destination Charge: $1,995
- Total Price as Tested: $65,425
- Includes One Day at the Dodge/SRT High Performance Driving School
Final Thoughts on the 2026 Dodge Durango R/T 392
Yes, there are some big trade-offs with the Durango, and even more with the 392 version. You get an old platform, a firm ride, and fuel economy of 13 MPG city, 19 MPG highway, and 15 MPG combined. Still, if you are willing to make those sacrifices, I think it is money well spent. Dodge is clearly not done with this SUV either, as it keeps adding options like the After Dark blue paint for 2027. Learn more on Dodge’s Durango page.
Want to see what my family thinks? Our family review is coming soon, with Holli behind the wheel and Tucker in his car seat, giving their perspectives on this performance three-row SUV. Be sure to subscribe to GT: Garage Talk on YouTube so you do not miss it, and sign up for our newsletter using the form at the bottom of this page.
