Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.No matter what, these two SUVs will get your blood boiling. The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is essentially a muscle car that happens to have three rows of seats. The Aston Martin DBX S is a hand-built luxury performance SUV designed to embarrass sports cars on mountain roads while surrounding you with handcrafted leather and carbon fiber.ND Adlen and AIHere's how they compare:Obscene Power...2026 Aston Martin DBX S2025 Dodge Durango SRT HellcatEngine4.0L twin-turbo V86.2L supercharged HEMI V8Horsepower717 hp710 hpTorque~664 lb-ft645 lb-ftTransmission9-speed automatic8-speed automaticAWDYesYes0-60 mph~3.3 sec~3.5 secTop Speed~193 mph~180 mphSeating5Up to 7Starting Price~$275,000~$115,000PerformanceThis is much closer than the price tags suggest.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Hellcat's supercharged V8 is a masterpiece of brute force. The instant torque and unmistakable whine make every full-throttle run feel like an event. It's loud, dramatic, and unapologetically American. 710 horsepower is no joke, even if it's moving just under 5,600 lbs. Once the supercharger spools up, and you'll hear it scream, it pushes you back like a giant, invisible hippopotamus has leaned against your chest.Related: 2025 Dodge DurangoThe Aston Martin takes a different approach.Its AMG-derived 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 has been upgraded with larger turbochargers inspired by the Valkyrie program, producing 717 horsepower. Weighing in at approximately 4,900 lbs, it leaps off the line like a scalded cat. It will snap your head back. Combined with extensive weight reduction, including carbon-fiber components and lightweight magnesium wheels, the DBX S feels sharper and more athletic than the already impressive DBX 707.AdvertisementAdvertisementAfter driving the DBX S, it doesn't feel as fast as it is. The cabin remains composed enough that triple-digit speeds arrive with surprising ease. The audio feedback from the V8 is unique and delightful.The Dodge Durango Hellcat yells at traffic and makes the daily commute a hoot, but (with a 13 mpg combined rating) expensive. Still, waiting in a car line to pick up your kid at a Los Angeles school filled with EVs and hybrids, you (might) feel rather smug. I genuinely laughed when a parent shook their head at my excess. Maybe that's the point?DodgeView the 4 images of this gallery on the original articleHandlingThis is where the Aston earns its premium. The regular DBX is an outstanding driver, but Aston Martin ups the ante with more power, a far more driver-centric suspension setup and a stiffer platform.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Durango handles remarkably well for a large SUV, but physics eventually catches up. You feel its weight in tighter corners. It plows a bit, and you will upset the applecart when you power into a corner full-boil. It has a better suspension setup for everyday driving (compared to the DBX S), and it feels less intimidating to drive.The DBX S almost disguises its size. The steering is more precise, body control is exceptional, and it transitions through corners with a confidence that seems impossible for a vehicle this tall. It's one of the few SUVs that can genuinely keep pace with exotic sports cars on a challenging road. I have direct experience with this.... still, it doesn't feel like any other modern Aston Martin.Aston Martin USAView the 4 images of this gallery on the original articleLuxuryThere's really no contest.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Durango offers comfortable seats, modern technology, and a functional interior. I happen to like those seats as they are supportive and still hold my ape-like frame. The rest is functional, but not that luxurious.The Aston surrounds you with handcrafted leather, aluminum, carbon fiber, and meticulous attention to detail. Every control feels deliberate, every surface expensive. Not everyone likes the trim colors, and I'll admit, they feel a bit "boy racer" for an Aston Martin. Still, you can't deny the workmanship.Even if you aren't looking at the badge, you'd know which one costs nearly three times as much.View the 2 images of this gallery on the original articlePracticalityHere's where the Dodge fights back.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Durango seats up to seven people, has considerably more cargo flexibility, and can tow 8,700 pounds when properly equipped. It also costs less than half as much.If you need one vehicle to handle family duty, road trips, and occasional drag-strip fun, the Dodge makes a compelling case.The Aston is more of a grand touring SUV for five people.GabiwabiView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleCharacterThe biggest difference isn't horsepower. It's personality. If you fire these monsters in one direction, they shrug off their heavy curbweight and barrel forward like cannonballs.The Durango SRT Hellcat feels like a celebration of American excess. It's loud, charismatic, and gloriously immature in the best possible way. It will corner, but it would rather you keep things simple. Push it too much, and you'll be reminded that this is based on an older platform, but that's only when you go overboard.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Aston Martin DBX S is sophisticated, but it still has a wild side. As I described after driving it, it's "modern and sleek, while being tribal and primitive at the same time." I think that's an apt description. It delivers astonishing performance without constantly shouting about it. The thing is: it still doesn't feel like an Aston Martin. It's good, but I don't feel the connection to other Aston Martin products.DodgeView the 5 images of this gallery on the original articleFinal ThoughtsIf money were no object, most people would take the Aston Martin DBX S. It's one of the finest performance SUVs ever built, blending supercar performance with genuine luxury and everyday usability. Also, those folks tend to be a bit champagne and caviar, while I'm a little bit more whiskey and pretzels.Viewed through the lens of value (and I'm all about value), the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is hard to ignore. For less than half the price, you get nearly identical horsepower, blistering straight-line speed, room for the whole family, and one of the greatest V8 engines ever installed in an SUV. It has swagger, and it angers my spouse, an instant plus.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Aston Martin DBX S is the better machine, but it doesn't feel like any other Aston Martin.The Dodge Durango Hellcat is the better bargain, but it's a bit lowbrow for some.Which one you'd rather own depends on whether your heart is set on handcrafted British luxury or supercharged American muscle.Related: The 2026 RAM 1500 Tungsten: Is This The Most Luxurious Pickup?This story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the SUV section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
+19 others
