Dodge Just Got the 710-HP Hellcat Durango Legal in 10 More States

The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat received CARB approval in some states that follow CARB emissions regulations. That means more drivers can choose this Durango.

Remember when Dodge said its supercharged Durango SRT Hellcat couldn’t be sold in seventeen states because of California’s emissions rules? That number just dropped to seven. The company finally got CARB certification approved in ten additional states, including Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Virginia. Dodge says it expects full 50-state approval by the end of the year.

What does the Durango SRT Hellcat bring to the party?

The Hellcat Durango packs 710 horsepower from a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 and starts at $79,995. When Dodge went all-in on V8 engines for the 2026 Durango lineup, dropping the V6 entirely, it created a problem. The California Air Resources Board sets stricter emissions standards than federal rules, and seventeen states plus DC follow those guidelines. The base Durango GT with its 5.7-liter HEMI has been available everywhere, but the bigger 6.4-liter in the R/T 392 and the supercharged 6.2-liter in the Hellcat couldn’t pass CARB testing. That’s a bummer for drivers in restricted states, but at least the SUV received California Air Resources Board approval in ten of the seventeen restricted states.

The supercharged Hellcat is still banned in some states

Dealers in those restricted states weren’t happy about missing out on high-ticket performance SUVs their customers wanted. Now that Dodge has worked through the certification process, most of those markets are opening back up. The R/T 392 order books are expected to open in early 2026. California, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington still can’t sell the Hellcat versions yet, but Dodge is working on it. It’s important for the Durango R/T 392 restrictions to be lifted, even if the Hellcat models are still restricted. The R/T model is a much higher volume seller than the Hellcat, and receiving a CARB emissions certification for 2026 could be a big win for Dodge.

The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat CARB approval means the 710-horsepower Durango is legal in more states

Now that the Hellcat model is authorized to be sold in all but seven states, the Dodge V8 SUV can increase availability around the country. The Durango is currently the only SUV in the Dodge lineup, and now it’s being offered with a V8 engine at every trim, which is new for the Durango. The engine lineup offered is familiar to anyone who knows what Dodge has offered in the past. The 5.7-liter V8 model should arrive with a starting price of $43,090, while the R/T model has a 6.4-liter V8 and begins a little under $50,000.

Stellantis can’t make up its mind

Receiving Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat CARB approval is important, but it also shows that Stellantis can swing one way or the other quickly. After phasing out the Charger and Challenger models to replace them with the Charger in its new form, it looked like V8 engines were dead at Stellantis. Of course, before the current federal administration took over, most automakers were on their way to phasing out V8 engines, but that has changed with the new administration. This should be good news for Stellantis, which can put V8 engines in the Durango at every trim level and give drivers the power desired. Still, Stellantis can’t seem to make up its mind, but that might mostly be due to the changes in authority and environmental regulations, which now allow automakers to make use of gas-powered V8s without worrying about strict fuel mileage rules.

Does the Hellcat-powered Durango need to be approved in all 50 states?

Dodge dealerships in states that are still holding out to provide Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat CARB approval might not get to enjoy this high-powered SUV, but that isn’t necessarily the end of the world. That said, the Durango is the only SUV in the Dodge lineup, which makes it difficult to sell when a dealership is limited to only two models, and in some cases, only one. Still, the Hellcat version is supposed to be a limited edition model, but that’s been the case for the previous two models of the Durango Hellcat that were offered to drivers.

Will the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat receive CARB approval in the final seven states? That’s yet to be seen, but now that ten more states allow this SUV and the R/T model, Dodge can send versions to dealerships, ensuring shoppers can get their hands on the Durango they want to drive.