The Dodge Journey went quietly into the goodnight without any fanfare or many of us missing it. The same fate almost awaited the Dodge Durango, but Stellantis chose to save the venerable one. The Durango is one of the first three-row unibody crossover SUVs in the market, but that’s about to change.

Is the 2024 Dodge Durango going back to its roots?

Some forget that the first two generations of the Durango were truck-like, body-on-frame SUV models. It wasn’t until that third generation that this SUV adopted a unibody construction. With the new Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models in the Stellantis family, the 2024 Durango appears to be returning to its roots. This SUV will move upmarket to be a bigger, more luxurious, and more capable full-size SUV. This means the new Durango will once again ride on a truck platform.

Could the new Durango SUV be a more affordable Stellantis offering?

Currently, the two Jeep full-size SUVs are the only models from Stellantis. These two Jeeps are incredible, filled with excellent features, luxury trimmings, and impressive equipment. They’re also extremely expensive. Dodge Cars tell us there’s plenty of room for a more affordable full-size SUV to compete with the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, and Toyota Sequoia. These SUVs all start around $50,000, but the Jeep Wagoneer pair are much more expensive. This is where the new Durango can fit in.

Why does moving the 2024 Dodge Durango upmarket make sense?

The Dodge brand is expanding and ready to welcome a new lineup of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and EV models over the next few years. We could see the Durango eventually use a hybrid powertrain, but for now, the first hybrid Dodge is the new Hornet. This small SUV gives Dodge a platform to build a lineup of electrified SUVs to compete with other brands that already include hybrid and electric SUVs.

Adding Hornet to the mix while moving the Durango upmarket makes perfect sense. The Hornet is a new name that consumers need time to understand, but the Durango will be better than ever. This new 2024 Durango full-size SUV will be more capable and feature-filled than before, which should entice consumers searching for a full-size SUV and a familiar name.

Which platform will the new full-size Dodge SUV utilize?

The Ram DT body-on-frame platform should underpin the new 2024 Dodge Durango. This allows the Dodge SUV to enjoy increased towing capacity, improved cargo space, and more passenger room in the cabin. If the Durango uses the same powertrain as the Jeep Wagoneer, the tow rating could increase from 8,700 pounds in the current model to 10,000 pounds for the new version.

Will the new Durango use the Hellcat engine?

As much as Dodge loves its Hellcat engine, the 2023 model year seems to be the end of this powertrain. The 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat currently uses the iconic 6.2-liter supercharged V8 to produce 710 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque. This power is sent to all four wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission allowing this big SUV to hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. This aggressive power is likely at an end.

Although we don’t expect to see the Hellcat engine used in future Durango models, FCA Jeep does tell us what we can expect when this new model arrives. Two classic Hemi engines, currently used in the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, could continue as part of the 2024 Dodge Durango power options. These two Hemi engines are the 5.7-liter V8, which produces 392 horsepower, and the 6.4-liter V8, which pumps out 471 horsepower.

Stellantis does have a new 3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder engine called the Hurricane which should offer more power and great fuel economy numbers than the Hemi engines. This engine might achieve 500 horsepower, and it’s expected to see a PHEV version in the future.

When will the new 2024 Durango arrive?

The new full-size Dodge SUV release date isn’t set. It’s expected to reach the market in the second half of this year. This could be an exciting new generation as Stellantis breathes new life into the 2024 Dodge Durango.

Next, check out six SUVs with big towing power, or learn more about the upcoming 2024 Dodge Durango in the video below: