2026 Dodge Durango vs 2026 GMC Acadia: Three-Row SUV Space and Power in Alberta
Families cross-shopping a three-row SUV in Alberta often land on two very different personalities: the 2026 Dodge Durango and the 2026 GMC Acadia. One leans into raw power and towing muscle. The other leans into a single, efficient turbo engine and driver-assist technology.
If your weekends involve a boat, a heavy trailer, or a love of horsepower, the difference between these two SUVs matters more than a spec sheet suggests. Here is how the Durango's engine lineup and towing ratings stack up against the Acadia's approach.
| Category | Durango | Acadia |
|---|---|---|
| Max towing | Up to 8,700 lbs (3,946 kg) | 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) |
| Horsepower range | 295 to 710 hp across four engines | 328 hp (single engine) |
| Engine lineup | 3.6L V6, 5.7L V8, 6.4L V8, supercharged 6.2L V8 | 2.5L turbocharged I4 only |
| Seating capacity | 5 or 7-passenger configurations | 7 or 8-passenger configurations |
| Max cargo volume | 2,409.8 L | 2,761 L |
| Infotainment touchscreen | 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 | 15-inch GMC Infotainment System |
| Standard drivetrain | AWD (GT, GT HEMI V8, R/T 392, SRT Hellcat) | AWD (standard, all trims) |
| Powertrain warranty | 60 months / 100,000 km | 60 months / 100,000 km |
1. Powertrain: Four V8 and V6 Options Against One Turbo Four
The Durango lineup opens with a 3.6-litre V6 in the GT trim, rated at 295 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Step up to the GT HEMI V8 and you get a 5.7-litre V8 producing 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft. The R/T 392 brings a 6.4-litre HEMI V8 good for 475 horsepower and 470 lb-ft, with a 0-60 time of 4.4 seconds. At the top, the SRT Hellcat's supercharged 6.2-litre HEMI V8 delivers 710 horsepower and 645 lb-ft.
The Acadia counters with a single 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder across every trim, rated at 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque paired with an 8-speed automatic. That output actually tops the Durango's entry-level V6. But the Durango's GT HEMI V8 already answers with 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft, and the lineup keeps climbing to 710 horsepower in the SRT Hellcat, a ceiling the Acadia's single engine has no way to reach.
Key Takeaways:
- GT: 3.6L V6, 295 hp / 260 lb-ft
- GT HEMI V8: 5.7L V8, 360 hp / 390 lb-ft
- R/T 392: 6.4L V8, 475 hp / 470 lb-ft
- SRT Hellcat: 6.2L supercharged V8, 710 hp / 645 lb-ft
2. Towing and Capability for Trailers, Boats, and Toys
Towing is where the gap widens. The Durango's V6 GT trim already tows up to 6,200 lbs (2,812 kg), topping the Acadia's maximum. The GT HEMI V8 raises that to roughly 7,200 lbs (3,266 kg), and the R/T 392 and SRT Hellcat Jailbreak reach up to 8,700 lbs (3,946 kg).
The Acadia tows up to 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg). That is enough for a small utility trailer or a light camper, but it falls short of a mid-size boat, a car hauler, or a loaded travel trailer, jobs the Durango's higher trims handle without hesitation.
Towing Breakdown:
- Durango GT (V6): up to 6,200 lbs (2,812 kg), small boats and utility trailers
- Durango GT HEMI V8: up to 7,200 lbs (3,266 kg), larger campers and car trailers
- Durango R/T 392 / SRT Hellcat Jailbreak: up to 8,700 lbs (3,946 kg), heavy toy haulers and large boats
- Acadia (all trims): up to 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg), light utility trailers
3. Cabin Character: Driver-Focused Cockpit vs Tech-Forward Cruising
Inside, the Durango sticks with a driver-centric cockpit: a 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen with navigation, traditional gauges, and steering-wheel paddle shifters on performance trims. The R/T 392 adds an M-gate manual shifter for sequential-style gear changes, and the SRT Hellcat pairs adaptive Bilstein dampers with selectable Drive Modes for a genuinely sport-tuned feel.
The Acadia pairs a 15-inch infotainment touchscreen and an 11-inch driver display, both larger than the Durango's, with standard Rear Camera Mirror and available Super Cruise hands-free driving on compatible roads, a 3-year trial included. But the Durango's cockpit is built around control, not automation: paddle shifters, an M-gate manual shifter on the R/T 392, and selectable Drive Modes with adaptive Bilstein dampers on the SRT Hellcat, tuned for a driver who wants to feel the road.
Key Takeaway: The Acadia focuses on digital automation and screen space, while the Durango stays true to dynamic driver engagement and tactile performance controls.
4. Seating and Cargo for Real Family Life
Seating tells a similar story. The Durango offers 5-passenger configurations on the SXT and SRT Hellcat, and 7-passenger seating on GT, GT HEMI V8, and Jailbreak builds, which can also be ordered in 5-, 6-, or 7-passenger layouts. The Acadia's Elevation trim seats 8, while AT4, Denali, and Denali Ultimate seat 7.
Cargo space favours the Acadia on paper: a maximum of 2,761 litres behind the front seats compares to the Durango's 2,409.8 litres. But once a trailer enters the picture, that gap matters less. Loading gear in the trailer instead of stacking it behind the third row plays to the Durango's towing capacity, up to 8,700 lbs (3,946 kg) on its top trims, capability the Acadia's 5,000-lb limit cannot match.
Key Takeaway: The Acadia offers slightly more interior volume, but the Durango's massive towing limits allow you to move larger cargo configurations externally with ease.
5. Safety and Driver Assistance Built Around Towing
The Durango's standard safety suite includes Blind-Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Path detection, upgraded with a Trailer Tow Detection System on trailer-equipped models, plus standard trailer-sway control and seven standard airbags. Those are towing-specific protections most three-row SUVs treat as optional.
The Acadia's driver-assist list runs deep too, with standard HD Surround Vision, Rear Camera Mirror, Hitch Guidance, and Hitch View, plus Super Cruise available on every trim and standard on Denali Ultimate for hands-free driving on mapped highways. That is a wider net of automation. But for a family towing a trailer through Alberta's highways, trailer-aware blind-spot detection and standard sway control address the moments that matter most behind the wheel.
Key Takeaway: The Acadia features high-tech hands-free highway cruising, whereas the Durango focuses its engineering on protective and active towing-specific safety assists.
The Durango's Case for Performance-Minded Families
For families who tow boats, campers, or trailers, and want an SUV that feels quick doing it, the Durango's engine lineup makes the stronger case. A 295-horsepower V6 that already out-tows the Acadia's turbo four, a 360-horsepower HEMI V8 for everyday muscle, and a 710-horsepower SRT Hellcat for outright speed all point toward the same conclusion: more power and more towing capacity, trim for trim.
For performance-minded families in Alberta who need a three-row SUV that can pull real weight and still feel like a Dodge, the Durango is the clear choice, backed by towing ratings up to 8,700 lbs (3,946 kg) and a driver-focused cockpit the Acadia's tech-forward cabin does not try to match.
