From GT to SRT Hellcat: The 2026 Durango Lineup Spans What the Acadia Cannot Reach
Nova Scotia shoppers shortlisting three-row SUVs will find both the 2026 Dodge Durango and the 2026 GMC Acadia on their radar. Both offer AWD, seven-passenger seating, and standard safety technology. The divide becomes obvious the moment towing, power, or performance enters the conversation.
The Acadia is a capable, well-equipped family SUV. The Durango is something different: a vehicle whose powertrain range starts at the Acadia's ceiling and climbs to 710 horsepower from there.
2026 Durango vs. 2026 Acadia: Key Specs at a Glance
| Category | 2026 Durango GT (base) | 2026 Acadia |
|---|---|---|
| Max Towing (base) | 6,200 lbs (2,812 kg) | 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) |
| Engine Options | 3.6L V-6; 5.7L V-8; 6.4L V-8; 6.2L Supercharged V-8 | 2.5L Turbo I-4 only |
| Peak Horsepower | 710 hp (SRT Hellcat) | 328 hp |
| R/T 392: 0--60 mph | 4.4 s | N/A |
| Standard Touchscreen | 10.1 in | 15 in |
| Max Cargo Volume | 2,409.8 L | 2,761 L |
| Standard Seating | 7 | 7 (8 on Elevation) |
| Fuel Economy (city/hwy) | 13.5 / 9.9 L/100 km (V-6) | 12.1 / 10.1 L/100 km |
| Basic Warranty | 3 yr / 60,000 km | 3 yr / 60,000 km |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 yr / 100,000 km | 5 yr / 100,000 km |
Power and Towing: The Gap Is Decisive
The Durango's standard 3.6L Pentastar V-6 produces 295 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic. At the base GT trim, it already pulls 6,200 lbs (2,812 kg): 1,200 lbs more than the Acadia's maximum towing rating with its optional Trailering Package. The Acadia's 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder generates 328 hp and 326 lb-ft and tops out at 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) across every trim it offers.
Move up the Durango lineup and the gap widens fast. The GT HEMI V-8 AWD brings 360 hp and 390 lb-ft from a 5.7L V-8, with towing at 7,197 lbs (3,266 kg). The R/T 392 drops a 6.4L V-8 making 475 hp and 470 lb-ft into the equation, reaches 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, and tows 8,700 lbs (3,946 kg).
The SRT Hellcat's supercharged 6.2L V-8 adds 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque. No Acadia trim approaches any of those figures, because the Acadia has no V-8 path at all.
For buyers who tow boats, campers, or equipment across Nova Scotia, the Durango's base trim already delivers more than the Acadia's best.
Interior, Technology, and Everyday Use
The Acadia ships with a 15-inch infotainment screen on every trim, which is larger than the Durango's standard 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 display. That is a real difference in screen real estate. The Durango's Uconnect 5 covers the essentials, though: built-in navigation with voice activation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, remote start, and a power liftgate, all standard from the GT. The screen is smaller; the standard content list is long.
On cargo, the Acadia Elevation's 2,761 litres of maximum volume edges out the Durango's 2,409.8 litres. The Acadia AT4 and higher trims, which most buyers cross-shop against the Durango, drop to seven-passenger seating just as the Durango offers. The Durango also provides up to 50 seating configurations across its three rows, adding flexibility for mixed cargo and passenger loads.
Fuel economy tilts clearly toward the Acadia: 12.1 / 10.1 L/100 km city and highway versus the Durango V-6's 13.5 / 9.9 L/100 km. The highway numbers are nearly identical; the city gap is where the Acadia has a genuine numerical advantage. For buyers who do most of their driving on the highway or need to tow, that city difference carries less weight than the towing capacity gap.
Both vehicles share identical warranty coverage: 3 years / 60,000 km basic and 5 years / 100,000 km powertrain.
Safety coverage is strong on both sides. The Durango includes standard Blind-Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Path detection, seven airbags including full-length three-row side-curtain airbags, trailer sway control, and ParkSense rear parking sensors. The Acadia's standard list exceeds 19 active safety and driver-assistance features and adds Blind Zone Steering Assist and Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking across all trims.
The Durango answers with trailer-specific safety engineering, trailer sway control and Trailer Tow Detection, built around the vehicle's actual towing role.
The SRT Hellcat Jailbreak takes personalization into uncommon territory: more than six million build combinations across exterior colours, stripes, wheel finishes, Brembo brake caliper colours, seat colours, seating configurations, and seat belt hues. A three-row family SUV that also lets you spec four Brembo caliper colour options and a 710 hp supercharged V-8 is a genuinely different kind of vehicle.
Which One Is Right for You?
The Acadia suits a buyer who wants a refined, efficient three-row SUV with a large infotainment screen and predictable everyday fuel costs. It handles the school run and the family road trip without complication.
The Durango is the right choice for every buyer who needs more than the Acadia can give: more towing, more power, or a performance option that simply does not exist in the Acadia's lineup. Towing anything above 5,000 lbs requires the Durango. V-8 power in a three-row SUV requires the Durango. A 4.4-second 0--60 time with three rows of seats requires the Durango. Those are not niche scenarios for Nova Scotia drivers who work and play hard with their vehicles.
Every conversation that starts with "I need more towing" or "I want V-8 power" leads to the same answer.
The Three-Row SUV Built to Do More
The 2026 Dodge Durango covers a towing range from 6,200 lbs (2,812 kg) to 8,700 lbs (3,946 kg), a power range from 295 hp to 710 hp, and a performance path the Acadia's single powertrain cannot reach. For drivers who need a three-row SUV that genuinely pulls its weight, the Durango makes the case clearly.
Visit Dartmouth Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Dartmouth to explore the 2026 Durango lineup and find the trim that fits how you actually use your SUV.
