Dodge Durango SUV. 3rd generation, 2014 restyling
The Dodge Durango is a six- or seven-seater SUV, positioned as a family car that offers sporty features, plenty of space, various options, V8 engines and a memorable exterior.
Design
Dodge unveiled the restyled Durango at the 2013 New York International Auto Show. The new Durango demonstrates sportier and more elegant features, which are clearly inspired by the Rallye model. Moreover, the SUV has the redesigned taillights similar to the Charger and Dart models. The restyled version was subjected to constant improvements. For example, in 2021, the company has slightly upgraded the bumper and headlights, while offering three new types of radiator grille and six types of wheels.
Taking into account the design changes that occurred in 2021, we can say that the new Dodge Durango now looks very cool, expensive and luxury, which is exactly what the Americans like and look for in a vehicle.
Interior
The 2020/2021 Dodge Durango can boast of a constantly improved and well-equipped interior, offering:
- 20-inch thin-film transistor display;
- heated front and second seats and steering wheel;
- 6-way electric passenger seat with 4-way lumbar adjustment;
- two-position driver’s seat with memory function;
- electric tailgate;
- Uconnect for smartphone application integration;
- upgraded voice control unit and much, much more.
The Durango’s interior is one of the best in the class, starting from finishing to the on-board computer, without yielding to the most pretentious European brands.
The restyled Durango received surprisingly good reviews, although previously all the enthusiastic words were directed only to the ‘pillars’ or new Dodge models, such as the Charger, Dart and so on. The experts have finally seen that the Durango’s interior is one of the best in the class, starting from finishing to the on-board computer, without yielding to the most pretentious European brands.
The Durango has almost the same flaws as other SUVs of the same class. Thus, there is not too much space between the second and third rows, and the All Blacks team obviously will not fit there. Plus, there is no enough headroom for the third row passengers, so don’t try to sit Shaquille O’Neal there. But on the other hand, it is noted that all the seats are comfortable. At the same time, with the second and third row seats folded down, the volume of cargo space is 2.3 cubic meters, which is quite a lot, but less than that of many competitors.
Engines
The restyled Dodge Durango is equipped with a 3.6-liter 6-cylinder engine with 290 hp or 295 hp with the Rallye package. By the way, this quite moderate engine allows the Durango to accelerate to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds, which is not brilliant, but a good result. There is also a 5.7-liter 8-cylinder engine with 360 hp, which can tow a solid 3.3 tons, and this is more than most of the restyled Durango’s counterparts can offer. The transmission is an 8-speed automatic transmission, which impressed connoisseurs with smooth shifting and improved fuel efficiency.
In 2016, the SUV has acquired an advanced Pentastar Upgrade V6 engine, which is not distinguished by power (it remained within 295 hp), but its additional functions, including stop/start functions, adjustable valve lift, improved torque dynamics by 15%, new exhaust gas recirculation cooling and friction reduction options.
Powerful Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
The 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is the most powerful version with a capacity of 710 hp! And that’s exactly what we expect from such large SUVs. The powerful engine, a true scientific and technological achievement of Dodge, is accompanied by an 8-speed automatic transmission and many options to maintain such power and speed, from special tires to the braking system. And even the sound system is designed to dampen the wild howl of the engine, in which even soundproofing cannot help.
Dodge introduced the Hellcat in 2021, and all 2,000 first cars were sold instantly. But unfortunately, this SUV does not meet the safety standards introduced in 2021. The authorities allowed this extraordinary vehicle to exist for only a year. It’s a very sad fact.
Trim levels
The 2020/2021 Dodge Durango is available in four trim levels: SXT, Limited, R/T, and Citadel. The SXT standard version includes:
- 18-inch alloy wheels;
- automatic headlights;
- fog lights;
- heated side mirrors;
- cruise control;
- three-zone automatic climate control and much more;
- several additional packages for comfort, safety, environmental friendliness.
The Limited has the same equipment as the previous trim level, but additionally offers:
- remote ignition;
- six-way passenger seats;
- Dodge Uconnect system, which provides voice control, text-to-speech capability, emergency roadside assistance, streaming internet radio, Wi-Fi, and more;
The R/T trim level contains everything the Limited has, but comes with a V8 engine, 20-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, xenon headlights, an electric tailgate, and an advanced infotainment system.
The Citadel is the same R/T, but with a bias towards technological comfort rather than speed, that is, it has such options as automatic high beam control, automatic wipers, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, navigation system with traffic updates and other Internet features. The R/T and Citadel trims also offer a group of advanced options, which includes adaptive cruise control, a forward collision warning and mitigation system, a blind spot monitoring system with rear cross traffic alert, additional entertainment options…
Safety
Safety of the 2021 Dodge Durango is provided by anti-lock disc brakes, stability and traction control, trailer swing control, front side airbags and full length side airbags. Additional safety options are available depending on a trim level. For example, the Limited, Citadel and R/T versions have a blind spot monitoring system with cross-traffic alert, and an active safety system that activates brakes when a potential collision is detected.
In national tests, the restyled Durango received four stars out of five for overall protection, four stars for overall forward collision safety and five stars for overall side impact safety. In tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the SUV received the highest possible rating in crash tests.
