Aside from the same-under-the-skin Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and Trackhawk models, the Dodge Durango is the sportiest SUV available.
With the big Hemi engine and tough-looking stance, make sure the children are buckled in tight before heading off to the family Thanksgiving dinner. This is one SUV that will outperform most vehicles in a straight line and for its size and original intentions, handles better than its looks would have you believe. The SRT people at FCA got this right.
LIKES
This is a very smooth-shifting SUV with more than enough acceleration, providing 0-100 kph sprints in the 4.5-second range and the large Brembo brakes provide adequate stopping power.
The Durango’s fit and finish are very good, as are the vehicle’s sightlines. The seating arrangement (five or seven passengers) is well-thought out, with the rear seats simple to fold down for cargo carrying. The four driving modes distribute power through the transfer case to where it’s needed, with a 40/60 front/rear power bias in auto mode, to a 30/70 front/rear power bias for track mode.
WHAT’S BEST
The Durango SRT Sounds great, the dash displays show a great deal of vehicle information and it has the chunkiest steering wheel on the market.
WHAT’S WORST
The Fuel mileage is poor and the price as tested is not cheap.
WHAT’S INTERESTING
The “392” badges on the Durango’s front fenders refer to the engine’s size in cubic inches, the same size as the legendary first-generation Chrysler Hemi “Fire Power” engine from 1958.
OVERALL
This ultimate mom-mobile is loud and brassy with its “go big or go home” attitude. FCA nailed the Durango’s character. It has an old-school muscle car aspect to it, especially under heavy acceleration, and the sound emitted from the dual four-inch exhaust tips is pure 1960s, but unlike the brutes of the muscle car era, the Durango is able to harness the power with its suspension and brakes, making for a well-rounded performance package.
DETAILS
BASE PRICE: $72,495
PRICE AS TESTED: $85,072
ENGINE: 6.4-liter V8, fuel-injected.
POWER/TORQUE: 475 HP, 470 LB-FT torque.
FUEL MILEAGE: 11.5-17.5 L/100 km overall.
DRIVETRAIN: All-wheel-drive / 8-speed automatic / 3.70 final drives / Adaptive Bilstein shock absorbers / Four-piston Brembo brakes / 295/45ZR20 Pirelli Scorpion tires.
SPECIFICATIONS: Wheelbase: 3,043 MM (119.8”) / Ground clearance: 203 MM (8”) / Weight (GVWR): 2,948 KG (6,500 LB) / Payload: 612 KG (1,350 LB) / Towing capacity: 3,946 KG (8,700 LB) / Fuel capacity: 93.1 L (20.48 gal).
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