Dodge’s newest high-performance SUV, the 2026 Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak, has taken on one of the brand’s most recognizable icons—the 1994 Dodge Viper RT/10—in a series of performance tests that illustrate just how far modern engineering has pushed the muscle formula. The matchup placed a three-row, supercharged family hauler against a lightweight, naturally aspirated sports car built during Dodge’s rebirth era.
The Durango Hellcat Jailbreak sits at the top of a seven-trim lineup, starting at $81,585. It’s powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 producing 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque. With a curb weight of roughly 7,100 pounds, the SUV needs every bit of its output to deliver performance figures worthy of the Hellcat badge. Fuel economy reflects its mission: 12 mpg in the city, 17 mpg on the highway and 14 mpg combined. Despite its performance focus, it maintains a substantial tow rating of 8,700 pounds.
Its challenger, a 1994 Dodge Viper RT/10, comes from an era when brute force and minimal creature comforts defined the automaker’s performance offerings. The first-generation Viper uses an 8.0-liter V10 rated at 400 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. The example used in testing was purchased with 17,000 miles and represents a clean survivor of the early Viper years.
In a quarter-mile race held in Colorado at one mile above sea level on a damp track, the difference between old and new machinery was clear. The Durango Hellcat reached 60 mph in 4.13 seconds and completed the run in 12.32 seconds. The Viper, while still capable for a 31-year-old car, arrived at 60 mph in 6.18 seconds and posted a 14.27-second quarter-mile. A subsequent roll race delivered a closer finish, with the Durango pulling ahead despite the Viper’s early lead.
The results underscore how dramatically Dodge’s performance portfolio has evolved. The Viper remains a landmark in the brand’s history, but the Durango Hellcat Jailbreak demonstrates how modern engineering, forced induction and all-wheel drive can push a full-size SUV into territory once reserved for pure sports cars.