The 2024 Dodge Durango: The muscle SUV has macho appears and a formidable vary of engines

Rugged and brimming with efficiency, the 2024 Dodge Durango is a midsize 3-row SUV with superlative towing, distinctive appears, and an armory of highly effective V8 engines. Pricing begins at $40,420.

Where most midsize SUV rivals — and there are numerous midsize SUVs — appear happy with being SUV-shaped minivans, the Durango is unapologetic for sticking to its unique SUV roots. Dodge’s entry is about engine efficiency, towing functionality, and rugged journey. It’s powerful, nearly to the purpose of brutish. Yet, it might probably nonetheless transport a household in consolation. It could not have the family-hauling cachet of the Kia
000270,
-0.68%
Telluride, Honda
HMC,
-0.62%
Pilot, or Toyota
TM,
-0.75%
Grand Highlander, however the Dodge Durango is a family-friendly workhorse, preferrred for towing a ship or trailer and even spending a day on a racetrack.

See: The all-new 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander: This 3-row midsize SUV affords expanded cabin area and a broad selection of trims

What’s new for 2024

For 2024, Dodge made blind-spot monitoring commonplace throughout the Durango lineup. Because of the Durango’s function as a tow car, that blind-spot-monitoring system acknowledges when a trailer is connected. Maybe one motive for thus little change is that 2024 is Durango’s closing 12 months. The rumor is that its alternative will put on a revived Stealth nameplate.

2024 Dodge Durango pricing

The 2024 Dodge Durango


Dodge

The 2024 Dodge Durango begins at $40,420. This value is for the entry-level SXT trim. There are a complete of six core Durango trim ranges, capped off with the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat at $94,095. All-wheel drive is commonplace for the SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat trims, however a $2,000 choice for all decrease trims. If we have been purchasing for a Durango, we’d go for the GT and stick to the V6 as a result of it’s properly outfitted and the V6 has sufficient grunt to fulfill most midsize SUV drivers.

The Durango’s listed base value is about common for the section’s three-row entries. For instance, the Toyota Grand Highlander is $43,070, whereas the Honda Pilot is $37,090.

Durango SXT $40,420
Durango GT $42,920
Durango R/T $53,520
Durango Citadel $54,420
Durango SRT 392 $73,195
Durango SRT Hellcat $94,095

These are the producer’s instructed retail costs and don’t embody the $1,595 factory-to-dealer supply charge (vacation spot cost).

Before shopping for the Dodge Durango, examine the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you must actually pay. The Dodge Durango has a barely below-average document for retaining its worth amongst three-row midsize SUVs. The class leaders on this regard embody the Hyundai Palisade, Subaru Ascent, and Honda Pilot, that are all above common in holding worth.

See: The 2024 Honda Pilot vs. the Kia Telluride: How these 2 high SUVs evaluate

Power, journey, and dealing with

The 2024 Dodge Durango


Dodge

The commonplace 293-horsepower V6 engine within the Durango gives loads of energy for on a regular basis driving. Among mainstream midsize 3-row SUVs, solely the Buick Enclave (310 hp) and the Ford
F,
-1.66%
Explorer (300 hp) boast extra ponies below the hood. Even with its base V6, the Durango is within the high tier of midsize SUV efficiency. Several rivals have turbocharged 4-cylinder powerplants as their commonplace propulsion. Some base engines on this section have anemic freeway passing means with a full load of passengers, however we haven’t encountered that drawback in our testing with the Durango’s V6.

In its SXT guise with the bottom V6, the Durango’s journey is a bit stiff however snug. A muscle automotive in its soul, even on the backside rung of efficiency, the V6-armed Durango delivers better-than-average driving dynamics. However, should you’re purchasing for a Durango, there’s likelihood it’s since you’re keen on its V8 engine choices. The most inexpensive 5.7-liter V8 within the R/T fashions provides satisfying brawn (360 hp) to the Durango with a titillating exhaust be aware to match.

Read: The 10 most unreliable autos for 2024, in line with Consumer Reports

Upgrading to the SRT 392 trim with its 475-hp 6.4-liter V8 is the place you start getting efficiency that’s arduous to match in a 3-row SUV at this value level. More than simply an engine improve, it additionally provides Brembo brakes and a Bilstein active-damping suspension system, considerably enhancing stopping energy and dealing with. We discover the SRT 392 a blast to drive, but it surely’s in all probability extra thrilling than most drivers will consider crucial or well worth the huge bump in value. That goes double for the thrilling SRT Hellcat mannequin, one of the crucial potent manufacturing SUVs available on the market. It borrows the 710-hp supercharged V8 engine from the SRT Hellcat variants of the Dodge Charger and Challenger, reworking this SUV right into a 6-seat rocket (second-row captain’s chairs are commonplace within the Hellcat).

We’ve spent a whole bunch of hours driving and evaluating this era of midsize SUVs, together with the Dodge Durango.

Fuel economic system

The Durango’s mileage resides on the decrease finish of the midsize SUV mileage spectrum. Most rivals posting comparable fuel-economy numbers present all-wheel drive as commonplace. However, even the V6-powered 3-row Nissan Pathfinder manages 23 mpg. As you may anticipate, the Durango’s fuel-economy chief is the V6 with rear-wheel drive (RWD) that delivers 21 mpg in combined metropolis/freeway driving. The gasoline economic system solely goes downhill from the V6. The 5.7 V8’s quantity is 17 mpg. Neither the V6’s nor the smallest V8’s mileage varies with the addition of all-wheel drive (AWD). The two larger V8s are solely paired with all-wheel drive. The 6.4L V8 will get 15 mpg, whereas the supercharged 6.2L V8 within the SRT Hellcat delivers 13 mpg. You can discover extra Durango gasoline economic system info on the EPA’s web site.

See: The 2024 Nissan Pathfinder: Rugged attractiveness, a well-appointed cabin and high security scores

3-row cabin

The inside of the 2024 Dodge Durango is spacious and sensible. We discovered the third row (33.5 inches of legroom) a bit cramped for adults, however it’s the identical because the Honda Pilot and the Chevy Traverse. The first two rows, nonetheless, are spacious. The Durango boasts above-average cargo room for a midsize SUV, including to its practicality. It has roughly the identical cargo area behind the third-row seat because the Subaru Ascent however lower than the Kia Telluride. Available second-row captain’s chairs make the second row extra snug and the third row simpler to entry. The captain’s chairs are commonplace on the SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat fashions and non-compulsory on the decrease trims. The Durango’s inside is beginning to really feel a bit dated in 2024 in comparison with extra fashionable rivals just like the Hyundai Palisade and Honda Pilot. However, you may make it really feel extra refined with choices like Nappa leather-based seating and a Harman Kardon 19-speaker audio system.

Macho exterior

The Dodge Durango has muscular styling harking back to the Dodge Charger sedan. Many household SUVs are likely to mix in with the visitors round them, however the head-turning Durango isn’t one in every of them. Like Dodge’s muscle vehicles, the Durango mannequin vary has some good visible selection. The V8-powered fashions have a extra aggressive hood, whereas the SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat fashions have distinctive wheel designs, crimson brake calipers, and SRT badging. The Durango is true in step with the midsize 3-row SUV class with dimensions resembling the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, and Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

Plus: 10 new SUVs coming quickly—and well worth the wait

Our favourite options and tech

Powerful engines
The Dodge Durango has a surprising vary of engines just like those obtainable within the Dodge Charger and Challenger. These powerplants give Durango an exhilarating efficiency, particularly for a 3-row household SUV.

Muscular styling
The Dodge Durango is not any sleeper, with macho styling to match its efficiency. It will get a meaner look as you improve to the extra highly effective V8 engines and has exterior styling choices like over-the-top stripes, head-turning paint choices, and the SRT Black package deal.

Uconnect
The Uconnect infotainment system within the Dodge Durango is feature-rich and user-friendly. The commonplace system comes with Android Auto and Apple
AAPL,
-0.52%
CarPlay. Furthermore, you possibly can improve it with navigation, Amazon
AMZN,
-0.95%
Alexa, wi-fi smartphone connectivity, and a number of choices for premium audio techniques.

Tow as much as 8,700 kilos
When correctly outfitted, the Dodge Durango boasts a formidable towing capability of as much as 8,700 kilos. That’s towing muscle similar to dearer full-size SUVs.

Seating for seven
You wouldn’t be far off should you name the Dodge Durango a 7-seat muscle automotive. 3-row seating comes commonplace. Captains chairs are commonplace within the SRT trims and non-compulsory in decrease trims.

Blacktop Package
The Blacktop Package provides a extra menacing look to the Durango with gloss black exterior trim, 20-inch black wheels, black badging, and a black headliner. It’s obtainable on the SXT, GT, and R/T trims.

Engine and transmission

Depending in your pockets, you possibly can choose from 4 engines: a V6 and three V8s. All are mated to an 8-speed computerized transmission. The Durango shines in two areas: towing and acceleration. You can tow as much as 6,200 kilos with the V6 and as much as 8,700 kilos with the 5.7-liter V8. In distinction, the Ford Explorer can tow a most of 5,600 kilos. We’re undecided precisely to whom an SUV that may speed up from zero to 60 mph in below 4.0 seconds appeals, however the SRT Hellcat can do it. In reality, in line with Dodge, the SRT Hellcat, with its supercharged V8, can attain 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. We don’t must examine direct opponents’ stats to argue; none can beat that point. Admittedly, we’re impressed by this acceleration efficiency, however not $94,000 impressed.

3-year/36,000-mile guarantee

Dodge covers the Durango with a bumper-to-bumper restricted guarantee for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is typical protection for mainstream automotive manufacturers, as is Durango’s powertrain protection for 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Check out: The vehicles, vans, EVs and SUVs with the perfect resale worth in 2024

Safety scores

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Dodge Durango an total rating of 4 Stars out of its greatest rating of 5 Stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety hasn’t reported full take a look at outcomes for the Durango, but it surely awarded Durango its highest rating of Good in three of the 4 areas examined. A shortfall found in each organizations’ testing concerned front-end collisions. The superior security applied sciences commonplace in each Durango are blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Other tech might be present in some choice packages. Nearly each rival gives extra superior security know-how as commonplace.

KBB’s automotive overview methodology.

This story initially ran on KBB.com.

Source web site: www.marketwatch.com

Rating
( No ratings yet )
Loading...