Dodge Durango SRT – Beautifully American

Overview

Big and loud are two things that people around the world typically associate with Americans. The Durango SRT certainly is big and loud, but it adds a third quality to this list – it is fast. This is a massive 3-row SUV that is powered by a 6.4-liter V8 with an exhaust that would anger every HOA within 30 miles. The SRT department never fails to deliver incredible vehicles that no one ever thought would exist, but everyone loves nonetheless.

Appearance

The Durango SRT is one of the most aggressive looking SUVs that I have ever seen, I personally think that it has inspired much of the modern styling that is seen in the industry today. For example, the fourth generation Honda Pilot (read my review of that vehicle here) really does look quite similar to the Durango. The Durango also adopted this styling very early on and it hasn’t changed much over the years. For good reason of course, when you look this good there really isn’t a reason to change at all.

The front end is about as aggressive as they come, and the front grille is surprisingly solid (much more so than the clip-on plastic found on most modern vehicles). The side profile is nothing special, but it is far from bad. And the rear is quite nice, featuring some beautifully positioned exhaust tips and just the right curves.

The interior is a nice place to be as well, there are quite a few different seat combinations that one can choose from. It can be configured with five, six and seven seats. I personally really like the idea of 6 seats, with 2 people per row you guarantee that each passenger will be comfortable, and no one will need to squeeze in the middle. Of course, this removes the possibility of you carrying more than 6 passengers but that is a trade-off I am willing to make for comfort. With all 3 rows of seats up, the space in the trunk is somewhat small but still more than useable. There is an indentation in the driver-side of the trunk to also offer more storage space when all 3 rows are in use. It is quite easy to fold down the seats from the trunk as well, and given the size of this vehicle there is plenty of space with the seats folded down.

The interior will come with all the creature comforts that you have come to expect from modern SUVs, with the addition of SRT performance menus. Many of the materials in the Durango are premium, the front seats are very comfortable and overall the interior is a nice place to be. Reviewers have had little complaints about the interior of this vehicle, however some have noted annoyance with the infotainment system. Some reviewers claim that the system is too complicated and is difficult to navigate while driving (which you must do if you want to activate heated/cooled seats or change your performance settings). I can agree with this to a certain extent, common functions like heated seats should have dedicated tactile buttons, but performance settings being hidden under menus is something that I find to be acceptable. But it is worth noting that newer models of the Durango will have dedicated buttons for this in the center column.

One more thing to mention before moving on is that some reviewers did note that the earlier Durango’s (2018ish) had plenty of plastic chrome in the interior that greatly degraded both its quality and appeal. However, newer model years do seem to have cut down on this.

Performance

This SUV is no slouch when it comes to performance, in fact many may struggle to find another 3 row SUV that performs as well as this does. Powering this monster is 6.4-liter Hemi V8 producing an adequate 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of toque. This motor is mated to an automatic 8 speed ZF transmission that shifts amazingly fast, which transfers the power to an AWD drive system capable of sending up 70% of the power to the rear wheels. This propels the SUV from 0-100 km/h in 4.1 seconds while also allowing it to tow nearly 9000 pounds. That is a staggering level of versatility for a vehicle in this class.

The AWD system allows this vehicle to handle like it is a RWD sedan, behaving much smaller than it is. It has adaptive dampers in its suspension allowing drivers to stiffen or loosen the ride on demand. Some reviewers have noted that the suspension in track mode is quite stiff and is really only suited for use on perfect roads, or of course at the track. The only 3 row SUV with a better AWD system might be the fourth generation Honda Pilot, but the Durango outclasses it performance wise in every other metric.

6 piston Brembo brakes are used to stop this massive American beast. The rotors are nearly the same diameter as the wheels on some sedans out there. I am pleased to see that this SUV has been equipped with suitable brakes for the power that it makes, I feel that I see far too many vehicles that make plenty of power but lack braking power.

Overall, this SUV is no slouch and is up there with the best in its class for performance.

Final Thoughts

There is no question, the SRT Durango is an incredible SUV, but one must also consider its market. Most of the people looking to buy SUVs are typically parents who don’t want a minivan. Now not wanting a minivan may of course mean that they would appreciate the performance that the Durango can offer, but at the same time there is a cost to that. People would likely be driving these vehicles everyday, and that V8 will not be getting the best gas mileage.

Another thing to consider would be the maintenance cost, these performance parts will not be cheap to replace. A brake job alone would cost a fortune compared to an economy vehicle. Would I want to own one? Hell yeah. I am just saying that Dodge may need to consider that they are targeting a niche market here. They are targeting individuals who need larger vehicles, value performance and can afford performance.

So, to conclude is it a great SUV? Yes. Is it the best vehicle for you and your family to daily drive? No, unless you can afford it.