Dodge dealers primarily focus on selling Durangos nowadays.

      Stellantis

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      Stellantis is making a comeback, and it's hard to ignore. After a couple of challenging years, the company has reported a significant increase in Q1, selling over 305,000 vehicles in the first three months of 2026. This marks just a 4% rise compared to Q1 2025, and although there's still a long road ahead to regain full momentum, it's certainly a step in the right direction. In 2024, the same manufacturer sold more than 330,000 units during this period, and if we look back to 2022, that figure was even higher at 405,000.

      However, let’s steer clear of the negatives and delve into the quirky and captivating aspects. Stellantis often provides intriguing "zombie car" stories—where discontinued models reappear from dealer inventories—and indeed, there are some last-generation Dodge Challengers and Jeep Renegades on the Q1 sales report. What truly caught our attention this time isn't just these forgotten models, but rather the Dodge Durango, which seems to have been revived from the brink.

      Dodge has hinted several times at discontinuing this resilient SUV, possibly more times than we can count, yet as we enter 2026, you can still purchase this 15-year-old SUV brand new, and Dodge is even expanding its three-row lineup. The 6.4-liter engine is back, the Hemi has been mostly standardized, and the Hellcat is roaring once more. With the Durango being fully paid off and manufactured right here in America (specifically Michigan, making it largely immune to tariffs), Dodge is able to offer it at an attractively low price, and it's resonating well with consumers. Take a look at the chart below.

      When looking specifically at the percentages, the Durango's performance in Q1 may not seem particularly remarkable. The Charger saw a bigger increase in volume (up 59%), but with just under 1,700 units sold, it isn't a notable figure. The Durango's 48% rise translates to an additional 6,600 units. However, setting aside the fluctuations for a moment, consider Dodge's total volume for Q1: 22,693 vehicles. This suggests that nearly nine out of ten Dodge customers left the showroom with a Durango in the last quarter.

      The actual showroom breakdown may not be as drastic, as a significant portion of those Durango sales likely went to fleet customers, for whom Dodge initially kept the Pentastar V6 available. They've since reversed that decision and made the more affordable V6 accessible to all consumers, who appear to be showing interest. The Durango hasn't recorded a Q1 this robust since 2021, when Dodge sold 20,560 units. The Charger and Challenger together accounted for over 34,000 units in those same three months.

      Let’s be clear; the Durango does have its advantages. Much like the Grand Cherokee, it serves as an excellent towing vehicle, especially with a larger engine (which typically comes with enhanced braking). However, Dodge is in dire need of a high-volume SUV; this aging midsize model cannot support the brand indefinitely on its (admittedly sturdy) shoulders.

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