One of Dodge’s Most Popular Models Is Getting the Overhaul It Desperately Needs

The next-generation Dodge Durango will arrive as part of a $13 billion company-wide investment into new vehicle production.

Front view of a dark green Dodge Durango SRT with white racing stripes and yellow brake calipers.

By Chris Chin

Published 3 hours ago

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The Dodge Durango is finally getting a makeover. Stellantis just confirmed its arrival for 2029 during one of its annual investor meetings.

The fourth-gen successor will finally arrive as a part of the auto giant’s huge investment of around $13 billion into domestic vehicle production in North America.

Rumors began surfacing about its next-gen replacement over the past year. However, this is the first time Stellantis and Dodge have both officially confirmed the new Durango’s impending arrival.

Dark green Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat with white racing stripes parked inside a sunlit industrial-style room. — The current Dodge Durango has been with us since 2011.

The current third-generation Durango will be turning 15 years old in 2026. In car age terms, that’s an eternity, since the lifespan of most vehicle series is around five to seven years.

The new Durango will likely utilize Stellantis’ latest STLA platform

The current Durango rides on the same platform underpinning the previous “WK2” generation Jeep Grand Cherokee from 2010 to 2022. That platform was discontinued to make way for the fifth and current generation “WL” Grand Cherokee, which essentially rides on an updated and heavily modified version of the old WK2.

Gray SUV towing a black and white enclosed trailer on a desert highway with mountains in the background. — Although an old platform, the Dodge Durango is aging like a fine bourbon.

The WK2/WL platform roots its origins back to when Stellantis was still Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles. It underwent development with input from both Fiat and Chrysler engineers.

But because the old FCA days are over, Stellantis has a new modular platform called STLA. FCA still exists to some significant degree.

Dark green Dodge Durango SRT SUV with white racing stripes driving on a city highway. — The return of the HEMI V8 means the next Durango could retain its eight-cylinder power.

However, it’s been rebranded as Stellantis after FCA merged with France’s PSA Group, or the parent company to Peugeot and Citroen, among several others.

Because the current WL Jeep Grand Cherokee is also accumulating age and will be turning eight to nine years old by the time the new Durango arrives, circumstantial evidence points to the new model using STLA Large.

Two Dodge Durango SUVs, one purple and one dark green with white racing stripes, parked in an industrial brick and white building setting. — The Durango exemplifies how resilient and rather timeless its original platform is.

While STLA designates Stellantis’ modular platform, there are variants meant for different-sized and classed vehicles. In the case of the Durango and potentially the next-gen Grand Cherokee, both would utilize the Large version.

The new Durango will be built in Detroit, Michigan

The current Durango utilizes the same FCA platform that underpinned the previous Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Dodge

As part of the investor meeting, Stellantis outlined its massive $13 billion into its domestic assembly plants in the United States. Touted as the largest investment in the entirety of the Auburn Hills’ 100-year history, the money will go to new plants in four states.

One of those facilities is the Detroit Assembly Complex in Jefferson, which is where the new Durango will be built. Currently, the facility assembles Jeep Wagoneer models. With the new investment capital, the facility will be retooled and converted for the Durango.

Not much else is known. But speculation suggests the new Durango will likely utilize Chrysler’s latest 3.0-liter turbocharged Hurricane inline-six. There also may be some opportunities for some electrified or hybridized variants.

Close-up of a gray Dodge SRT Hellcat with white racing stripes in the foreground and a purple Dodge Durango SRT parked in the background. — The Durango SRT remains a fan favorite among Mopar enthusiasts.

However, with a lead time of around four years until the Durango breaks cover, there’s always a strong chance that the situation could change or evolve.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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