America’s Old-School Muscle SUV Just Reaffirmed Its Dark

As gas prices have soared here in the United States, it’s only become increasingly tempting to downsize or (if you can still find a good secondhand deal) ditch internal combustion altogether. Consequently, there’s one SUV that’s proving to be a true dark horse in the running this year. Between its comparatively analog interior and its brutish V8 powertrain, it’s the very antithesis of what you might expect to land. Welcome to Heat Check: A guide to the trends and products taking the internet by a storm. Discover more here. Nevertheless, in spite (or, rather, because) of these qualities, this old-school American vehicle has just proven its standout three-row status once again. A rocketing R/T 392 launch I’m talking about the Dodge Durango. Even having recently achieved its highest Q2 retail sales volume since 2021 and its best first-half total since 2006, the SUV still has more to boast about. That’s because, according to CEO Matt McAlear, “Dealer orders for the 2026 Durango R/T 392 Launch Edition sold out in just six hours.”