The Dodge Durango Is Still the Standout V8 Three-Row SUV And the 2027 Lineup Doubles Down | Jay Malone CDJR | Hutchinson, MN

Walk into any dealership in central Minnesota and try to buy a three-row family SUV with a real V8 engine. In most showrooms, your options are limited — turbocharged 4-cylinders, turbocharged V6s, and V6 hybrids have taken over the segment. The Dodge Durango is the clear standout: a mid-size three-row SUV that still offers V8 power in a segment that has largely moved away from it. This guide explains why that matters, who it matters to, and what the 2027 lineup delivers for buyers who want a V8 Durango.

Vehicle details for the 2027 Durango come from the most current information Dodge has released and can change as the model year progresses. We update this page as new details are confirmed — what you see here reflects what you can order right now.

Which Three-Row SUVs Are Still Available With a V8?

The list is shorter than most buyers expect. In the full-size body-on-frame segment, V8 engines remain standard or available on several models — but those are larger, more expensive trucks competing in a different bracket and offering a different ownership experience than the mid-size family SUV segment where most buyers are actually shopping.

In the mid-size, value-priced three-row segment — where the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and Subaru Ascent compete — V8 engines are effectively gone. Those models are powered by V6 engines, turbocharged 4-cylinders, or hybrid versions of the same. None of them offers a V8 at any trim level. In this segment, the Durango is the standout option for buyers who specifically want V8 power, available in the 5.7L HEMI, the 6.4L HEMI R/T 392, or the supercharged 6.2L SRT Hellcat.

Why Did Turbocharged V6 and 4-Cylinder Engines Take Over the Family SUV Market?

The shift away from V8 engines in family SUVs is driven by fuel economy regulations, not consumer demand. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards create financial pressure on manufacturers to improve fleet-wide fuel efficiency. A V8-powered SUV carries a heavier regulatory cost than a turbocharged 4-cylinder equivalent, which pushes manufacturers toward smaller, more efficient powertrains even when buyers would prefer something larger.

Modern turbocharged engines are genuinely good — they make impressive power numbers on paper and deliver competitive fuel economy. But they do so through a different character of power delivery than a naturally aspirated V8 — and for buyers who have owned V8 vehicles and know the difference, that character matters. The industry has largely moved on from V8s in family SUVs because the economics of regulation pushed it there. The Durango is a notable holdout precisely because Dodge has been willing to prioritize performance identity over fleet efficiency optimization.

What Does the 5.7L HEMI V8 Actually Deliver That a Turbocharged Engine Doesn’t?

Three things: sound, torque curve, and mechanical simplicity.

Sound. The 5.7L HEMI V8 has an exhaust note that is distinct and recognizable — the sound of a naturally aspirated V8 under load is something turbocharged engines replicate imperfectly at best. For buyers who are specifically buying a Durango because it sounds and feels like a performance vehicle, this is the engine that delivers that experience. That matters to a specific buyer, and if you are that buyer, you already know it.

Torque curve. A turbocharged engine builds boost as RPMs rise — there is a moment of lag before peak torque arrives. A naturally aspirated V8 like the HEMI delivers power more linearly across the RPM range, which affects the feel of towing, passing, and low-speed acceleration in ways that peak torque numbers do not fully capture. The HEMI-powered Durango pulls a trailer differently than a vehicle making similar numbers through a turbocharged V6, particularly at the sustained low RPM that highway towing requires.

Mechanical simplicity. Turbocharged engines introduce additional components — the turbocharger, intercooler, associated plumbing and heat management systems — that add complexity. A naturally aspirated V8 has fewer moving parts in its breathing system and a longer track record of reliability over high-mileage ownership. For buyers who keep vehicles for 150,000 miles or more, the long-term ownership experience of a V8 versus a turbocharged engine is a legitimate consideration.

How Much Can the Durango HEMI Tow?

This is where the V8 earns its keep. Dodge publishes a Best-in-Class available towing capacity of up to 8,700 pounds for the Durango when properly equipped. How you get there depends on the configuration: the 5.7L HEMI tows 7,200 pounds as equipped and reaches the full 8,700 with the Tow ’n Go Package, while the R/T 392 and SRT Hellcat carry 8,700 pounds.

Put that next to the mid-size three-row segment and the gap is real. V6-powered rivals in this class generally sit well below the Durango’s maximum, which is exactly why Dodge is able to claim best-in-class. For central Minnesota buyers who need to pull a boat to one of McLeod or Meeker County’s lakes, a travel trailer to a campground, or a utility trailer between job sites, that gap is not academic — it is the difference between towing comfortably and towing at the edge of the vehicle’s capacity.

If you are cross-shopping, ask any competitor the same three questions: what is the maximum tow rating when properly equipped, what package is required to reach it, and what is the engine doing at highway speed under load. Those answers tell you more than a spec sheet. For the full breakdown of what each Durango configuration tows and how to spec it correctly, see our Durango towing capacity guide.

For Central Minnesota Buyers, Does the V8 Actually Matter?

It depends on what you are buying the Durango for. There are buyers for whom the V8 is genuinely the right call — and buyers for whom it is not worth the fuel economy trade-off.

The V8 matters if: You regularly tow above 5,000 lbs — a larger pontoon boat, a loaded horse trailer, a travel trailer in the 6,000 to 7,000 lb range. You have owned a V8 vehicle before and the character of the engine — sound, power delivery, torque curve — is part of what you are buying. You are keeping this vehicle for 10 or more years and the long-term ownership track record of a naturally aspirated V8 is a factor. You want one of the Durango’s performance configurations — the R/T 392 or the SRT Hellcat — where there is no V6 alternative.

How much V8 you need is the real question: if your towing stays below 5,000 lbs, engine character is not a priority, and fuel cost matters in daily driving, the 5.7L HEMI in the GT grades is the answer — it is the most efficient engine in the lineup and the only one that runs on 87 octane. Step up to the 6.4L or the supercharged 6.2L when performance is genuinely part of what you are buying. For the full side-by-side, see our 2027 Durango engine guide.

What Does the 2027 Durango Lineup Add?

The 2027 Durango sends a clear message: Dodge is doubling down on V8 power. Every 2027 Durango is a HEMI® V8 with all-wheel drive standard — making it the only three-row SUV with V8 power across its entire lineup. All three HEMI V8 engines are on the 2027 menu — the 5.7L HEMI, the 6.4L HEMI in the R/T 392, and the supercharged 6.2L in the SRT Hellcat, which Dodge rates at 710 maximum horsepower and Best-in-Class V8 power.

The 2027 model year expands the options list. Blacktop Redline is available for GT Plus and GT Premium, and new for 2027 it is also available for R/T 392 trims. Brass Monkey is new for 2027 on the GT grades, adding a Brass Monkey wheel finish and a unique 345 fender badge. And the SRT Hellcat Jailbreak unlocks personalization across exterior paint, wheels, fender badges, brake calipers, stripes, seating colors and more — over 14 million possible configurations in all.

For buyers who have been watching the R/T 392 or the SRT Hellcat, the 2027 lineup gives you more ways to build one. Our 2027 Durango buyer’s guide covers all ten trims, four engines, packages and seating in full, and the 2027 Durango colors guide walks through all nine exterior colors including the new Redeye and After Dark. Call us and we will walk you through what is on the ground and what is open to order. The R/T 392 deep dive in our performance blog covers what the 6.4L HEMI delivers for central Minnesota buyers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Dodge Durango the only three-row SUV with a V8?

In the mid-size, value-priced three-row segment, the Durango is the standout V8 option. Larger full-size body-on-frame SUVs also offer V8 engines, but they compete at higher price points in a different segment. Among the mid-size three-row SUVs most families cross-shop at comparable price points, the Durango’s V8 is unique.

Can I order a 2027 Durango R/T 392 or SRT Hellcat?

Yes. Both the R/T 392 and the SRT Hellcat are part of the 2027 Durango lineup, with new packages and options. Blacktop Redline is newly available on R/T 392 trims for 2027, and the SRT Hellcat Jailbreak offers over 14 million personalization combinations. Call us at (320) 587-4748 and we will walk you through what is in stock and what is available to order.

How much can the 2027 Dodge Durango tow?

Up to 8,700 pounds when properly equipped, which Dodge publishes as Best-in-Class. The 5.7L HEMI V8 tows 7,200 pounds as equipped and reaches 8,700 with the Tow ’n Go Package. The R/T 392 and SRT Hellcat trims tow 8,700 pounds.

Does the HEMI V8 use more fuel than a V6?

Yes. Dodge rates the 5.7L HEMI V8 at an estimated 14 city, 21 highway and 16 combined. The 6.4L HEMI in the R/T 392 is rated 13, 19 and 15, and the supercharged 6.2L in the SRT Hellcat is rated 12, 17 and 14. A V8 trades fuel economy for power, towing capability and engine character. If fuel economy is your priority within the lineup, the 5.7L is the most efficient of the three and the only one that runs on 87 octane. Give us a call and we can walk through the real-world difference based on your typical annual mileage.

Does the Durango handle Minnesota winters well with AWD?

Yes. All-wheel drive is standard on the HEMI-powered 2027 Durango trims, and the system is full-time and active — it sends power where traction is needed without any driver input. For a complete breakdown of how the Durango’s AWD systems work in winter conditions, see our Durango AWD guide for Minnesota winters.

Will these 2027 Durango details change?

They can. Vehicle details for the 2027 Durango come from the most current information Dodge has released and can change as the model year progresses. We update this page as new details are confirmed — what you see here reflects what you can order right now.

We have Durango inventory on the ground right now in Hutchinson, including HEMI V8 configurations, and 2027 models are open to order. If you want to drive a HEMI Durango or talk through which configuration and model year fits your situation, call us at (320) 587-4748 or stop by 1165 Highway 7 West. Family-owned since 2005. Your Dealer for Life.