2026 Dodge Durango R/T Blacktop Redline Debuts: V8 Power, Blackout Looks, and Maximum Towing Muscle

By Nik Miles | TestMiles.com

In a market drifting toward electrification and polite road manners, Dodge has announced it will keep its HEMI heartbeat thumping into 2026 with a freshened lineup of Durango SUVs, including a bolder, blacked-out R/T Blacktop Redline package and the return of the heavy-hauling Tow N Go option.

While others downsize engines, Dodge is giving its customers more of what they clearly want: eight cylinders, three rows, and looks that say “school run, but make it aggressive.”

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What’s New for 2026?

At the center of the announcement is the 2026 Dodge Durango R/T Blacktop Redline, now available as a standalone package for the R/T Plus and R/T Premium trims. The kit includes:

New 20-by-8-inch Black Noise wheels
Front and rear SRT spoilers
Blacked-out HEMI and Dodge badging
Available Lights Out forged wheels with the Tow N Go upgrade
Interior upgrades with leather and suede SRT performance seats, red stitching, laser-etched trim, and captain’s chairs in the second row

The Durango R/T continues to be powered by the familiar 5.7-liter HEMI® V8, offering 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, with standard all-wheel drive.

For 2026, Dodge has updated the R/T’s wheel lineup across the board, including:

Satin Carbon wheels (20×8 and 20×10 sizes)
Lightweight Forged “Lights Out” wheels for Blacktop Redline models
Brembo brakes and adaptive damping (with Tow N Go)

Tow N Go Returns—Now More Accessible

The Tow N Go package returns as a standalone option, priced at $5,990, and remains one of the only ways to access best-in-class towing capacity, up to 8,700 pounds, in a three-row performance SUV.

Tow N Go includes:

Black Brembo calipers
High-performance exhaust
SRT-tuned steering and suspension
Electronic limited-slip rear axle
Exclusive hard-button drive mode controls
20-by-10-inch Satin Carbon wheels

According to Dodge, over 25% of prior R/T buyers opted for Tow N Go, enough demand to justify making it easier to spec independently of other packages.

Pricing and Trim Structure

The 2026 Durango R/T starts at a U.S. MSRP of $49,995, excluding destination ($1,995), taxes, and fees. The Blacktop Redline package adds $3,495 and includes the seven-passenger layout, SRT-inspired bodywork, and interior upgrades.

Also confirmed is the continuation of the standard Blacktop package ($1,695), which offers a subtler blackout aesthetic on the base R/T model.

Meanwhile, the entry-level 2026 Durango GT—powered by the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6—starts at $38,495 and offers up to seven-passenger seating, standard AWD (GT Plus), and a suite of tech features like a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Uconnect 5, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Blind Spot Monitoring.

Safety and Tech Across the Board

Dodge says more than 60 safety and security features are available across the Durango range. These include:

Trailer Sway Control
Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop
Blind Spot Monitoring with Trailer Tow Detection
Rear Cross Path Detection
Seven standard airbags
Full-length three-row side-curtain airbags

All Durango models also include Uconnect Access with 9-1-1 call and roadside assistance connectivity as standard.

Why Does This Matter Now?

Because in a time when many automakers are pulling V8s from their lineups or tucking them behind $80,000+ price tags, Dodge is giving customers continued access to full-fat performance at a mainstream price point. The Durango R/T remains the only V8-powered SUV in its class under $50K, a talking point Dodge is unlikely to give up anytime soon.

And while the electric Dodge Charger Daytona is grabbing headlines, the Durango quietly holds down the combustion fort—offering power, presence, and practical towing without apology.

What’s Next for Durango?

Dodge has confirmed that details for the 2026 Durango SRT Hellcat—still the most powerful gas SUV ever built—will be announced in Q3 2025. Expect more horsepower, more exclusivity, and more exhaust decibels than any sane family vehicle should legally be allowed.

For now, however, Dodge is content reminding everyone that a muscle SUV can still be practical, powerful, and proudly unfiltered.

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