[MantisSRT]

Hello everyone,
I think there is a lot of confusion around the 2026 model year Durango's and it struck a question .

Why would you want a 3.6L engine in a Durango over a 5.7L if the price was actually lower than the previous year?

I drove a 2025 Durango 3.6L and it was nice. It had enough power to do everyday things. I was happy to be driving a Durango and this is when I had my Scat pack in the Dealer getting the Air Bag recall done. My loaner was the 3.6L

I thought to myself, yeah this is fine, it's not exciting it's not fun, it's just a nice comfortable quiet SUV it just so happens to be a Durango.
So I use to own a 2017 R/T and when I purchased that back in 2017 , I drove the 3.6L then first. It was night and day difference and the 5.7L was way more fun faster stronger and sounded awesome. Not loud like the Scat pack but had a nice v8 rumble.

Today I drive a SRRT with the 392 and they takes the R/T 5.7L fun to another level. It also feels effortless when climbing hills passing on the highway, you know normal everyday stuff. The 5.7L also had some of that and I never felt the 5.7L was under powered. The 3.6 L I did.

So I was just curious why one would rather have the 3.6L over the 5.7L. I get it price was a factor but now it's not.

 

[Tin Foil Hat]

Well, the primary reason has always been price. But some people are scared of the V8 power or want the better gas mileage of the V6. The Durango is well-loved but engines matter to only some of the buyers. Price matters to the rest. My choice would always be the V8 because I'm a Mopar guy, and my wife feels that way too. But I also don't want the possible issues and complications of the V6 engine that I've read about here on the forum. However, the V6 has enough power to move the DD well and if someone drives the two and then weighs the cost/performance ratio, they mostly pick V6. All the rental agencies buy them too. Just look at the DD listings on Carvana. The RTs sell the fastest leaving all the V6s behind to get price drops. Those are the ones with no options, cloth seats (remember those?) but with more color options than the RTs usually have.

 

[Chase300]

The V6 is a solid 3mpg ave better on FE from the ones I've rented over the Hemi...that is both City and Highway.

 

[Shabadoo]

Better gas mileage, more space in the engine bay (I do my own work), cheaper upkeep. It's harder to find power adders for it but they exist if I really get the itch

 

[MantisSRT]

Better gas mileage, more space in the engine bay (I do my own work), cheaper upkeep. It's harder to find power adders for it but they exist if I really get the itch

You can RIP supercharge the v6 and make some decent power. But if your happy with it, why punch it?

 

[Don Fox]

For my 3rd Durango, with current pricing what it was/is, I just could not justify the extra $7-$10k for a 5.7L model. My Gen 1 and 2 Durangos were V8 powered, and they were great for what they were. I knew that the missus was next up for a vehicle in the not so distant future, so wanted to hold back a bit so we could go higher up the trim scale for whatever she ended up with.

As mentioned, the 3.6L/8 speed combo will average 19-20 mpg on average in the city/hwy mix I drive. I've seen 24-25 a couple of times with all hwy driving. It's no Hemi, but the 0-60 is pretty good until the wind resistance of its barn door aerodynamics catch up. The '01 4.7L 4 speed Gen 1 never ran above 17 mpg hwy no matter what. In town was pretty abysmal as in the 10-12 range. Idling makes the mpg of the V8's plummet.

The Gen 2 5.7L/5 speed combo with 330 hp was about the same in town, but did touch 20 mpg hwy a couple of times with little to no idle time and literally from fuel station to fuel station. I was quite surprised to find that the 5.7L's 330 hp was no worse on economy than the 230 hp 4.7L.

The growl of the Hemi is a thing, but I have the Charger for that if needed. I'd recommend the 3.6L for those not towing heavy or often, especially if mpg is a consideration.

Don

 

[viper74656]

Unless you're a car enthusiast, most people don't care about having a V-8. The only thing they look at is that mpg sticker on the car lot. The 3.6 gets around 20% better fuel mileage. That's big difference if you already didnt care about having a V-8 in the first place.

For those who tow it's a different story, but they know what they're looking for.

Those who are enthusiasts buy the 5.7 because we can't afford or justify spending the extra money for the 6.4.

 

[sdacbob]

I own a 2020 Durango RT and a 23 Charger GT. Around town and stop and go driving, the 3.6L has the advantage in milage but on the highway I don't see much difference at all.

 

[BEARCAT]

For my 3rd Durango, with current pricing what it was/is, I just could not justify the extra $7-$10k for a 5.7L model. My Gen 1 and 2 Durangos were V8 powered, and they were great for what they were. I knew that the missus was next up for a vehicle in the not so distant future, so wanted to hold back a bit so we could go higher up the trim scale for whatever she ended up with.

As mentioned, the 3.6L/8 speed combo will average 19-20 mpg on average in the city/hwy mix I drive. I've seen 24-25 a couple of times with all hwy driving. It's no Hemi, but the 0-60 is pretty good until the wind resistance of its barn door aerodynamics catch up. The '01 4.7L 4 speed Gen 1 never ran above 17 mpg hwy no matter what. In town was pretty abysmal as in the 10-12 range. Idling makes the mpg of the V8's plummet.

The Gen 2 5.7L/5 speed combo with 330 hp was about the same in town, but did touch 20 mpg hwy a couple of times with little to no idle time and literally from fuel station to fuel station. I was quite surprised to find that the 5.7L's 330 hp was no worse on economy than the 230 hp 4.7L.

The growl of the Hemi is a thing, but I have the Charger for that if needed. I'd recommend the 3.6L for those not towing heavy or often, especially if mpg is a consideration.

Don

"The Gen 2 5.7L/5 speed combo with 330 hp was about the same in town, but did touch 20 mpg hwy a couple of times with little to no idle time and literally from fuel station to fuel station. I was quite surprised to find that the 5.7L's 330 hp was no worse on economy than the 230 hp 4.7L. "

Agreed. I remember even getting up to 20-22mpg on hwy driving. My first DD was a 1999 and I was just happy it was getting 16-18mpg overall. My 3rd DD is a 1999 SP2 model with the 360 performance V8 surprised me with the same or slightly better mileage but I got elated when I took off the Kenne and now do 22mph!!! (more or less) and it's still plenty fast for me!

I myself love the old squat aggressive stance of the early models, but I'd love to get the new current design which I thnk is fabulous. I just can't qualify the purchase when there's absolutely nothing wrong with my older models. (darn)

I believe a lot of consumers buy the DD for looks first and power second, so those people are quite content with a 3.6L, especially when they're not towing anything beyond a small utility trailer, and their always just local driving for errands and such... maybe even a weekend visit with some friends or relatives. That's all the want or need. I have also have a 2007 Ford Edge 3.6 AWD and it's one of the most comfortable SUV's I've driven for it's class anyway. It moves when I need it to and always does so without having to second guess the distance/speed needed.

 

[Durango-citadel]

The V6 in the Durango feels so much quicker then the Grand Cherokee.

 

[RVTRKN]

We just bought a Durango GT, (see sig) but it was her decision seeing that it was replacing her Toyota Highlander. Her reason is the MPG and price. I known about the Pentastar, but mostly neutral, not until we bought one, did I see so many negative videos. I’m a V8 guy period, but that 3.6 has some power, when you ask it too. There are some upgrades when the warranty is up, but my overall opinion is its a good engine.

 

[RVTRKN]

The V6 in the Durango feels so much quicker then the Grand Cherokee.

There is a slight HP difference, that might be the reason.